The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-04-01
why we cannot still manage with

out it,"
But think of the coffee!"
cried. IT'S good coffee, too.
know. l took It from Larsen 8
private stores. And look at that
good wood"
! confess, / wanted the coffee
badly; and l learned, not long
afterward, that the berry was
likewise little weakness OF
Maud's. Besides. we had been
so long on a cold diet that we
were numb inside as well as out
Anything warm would have been
gratifying. But | complained nc
more, and set about making q
tent of the sail for Maud.
l had looked upon il as a sim
pie task, what of the oars, mast
boom, and spirit. to say nothing OF
plenty of lines. But as ! was with
out experience, and as every de-
tail was an experiment and every
successful detail an invention, the
day was well gone before heI
shelter was an accomplished fact
And then, that night, 1t rained
and she was flooded out and driv.
en- back into the boat.
The next morning, dug O
shallow ditch around the tent
and, an hour later, a sudden gust
of wind, whipping over the rocky
wall behind US, picked up the
tent and smashed it down on the
sand thirty yards away.
Maud laughed at my crestfaller
expression, and ! said, LAS sooT
as the wind abates intend go
Ing In the obat to explore the is
land. There must be a station
somewhere, and men. And ships
, must visit the station. Some gov.
eminent must protect all these
seals. But i wish to have you
comfortable before / start"
| II should like to 60 with you,'
was all she said.
/ 1T would be better II you re-
manned. You have had enough OF
hardship. 1t is a miracle that you
have survived. And It won't bt
comfortable in the boat, rowinf
, and sailing in this rainy weather
What you need is rest, and
should like you to remain and gel
it"
Something suspiciously akin t.
moistness dimmed her beautiful
,eyes before she dropped them ant
partly turned away her head.
" n should prefer going will
syou,7 she said in a low voice, il
which there was just a hint o
appeal.
II might be able to help yo,
a." her voice broke,-"a little
And If anything should happen t.
you, think of me left here alone.
"Oh, l intend being very care,
full" l answered. And / shall
not go SO far but what ! can gel
back before night. Yes, all sale
| and done, ! think it vastly better
for you to remain, and sleep, ant
rest. and do nothing"
She turned and looked me in
the eyes. Her gaze was unfal.
tering, but soft.
please, please" she said, oh
so softly.
/ stiffened myself to refuse
and shook my head. Still she
waited and looked at me. 1 tried
to word my refusal, but wavered
/ saw the glad light spring into
her. eyes and knew that l had
lost. 1t was impossible to say nc
after that.
The wind died down in the
afternoon, and we were pre-
pared to start the following
morning. There was no way Of
penetrating the island from oul
cove, for the walls rose perpen
dicularly from the beach, and
on either side Of the cove, rose
from the deep water.
Morning broke dull and gray
but calm, and / was awake early
and had the boat in readiness.
Fool! Imbecile! Yahoo!"
shouted, when l thought it wa,
meet to arouse Maud; but thil
time / shouted in merriment al
/ danced about the beach, bare
headed, in mock despair.
Her head appeared under thu
flap of the sail.
"What now?" she asked sleep
| lily, and, withal, curiously.
"Coffee!" cried. What d.
you say to a cup of coffee? no
coffee? piping hot?"
| "My!" she murmured, "yo,
startled me, and you are cruel
Here l have been composing M!
soul to do without 1t, and herr
you are vexing me with you
| vain suggestions"
Watch me-" I said.
i From under clefts among tn,
lrocks l gathered few dry stick
and chips. These / whitfield init
shavings or split into kindling
From my notebook / tore out I
4 page, IND from the ammunition
box took q shotgun shell. Re
knioying the wads from the latte
with my knife. emptied thu
| powder on a flat rock. Next
med the primer. or cap. from
| IN shell, and laid 1t on the rocl
| In the midst Of the scatteret
powder. All was ready. Maus
tstill watched from the tent. Hold
ling the M ner in my left hand.