Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-04
CHAPTER xvuI-tConttpued) }

At THE rivers edge across from the little
IA Island Billy came to a halt. He had
reached the point near midnight. and
hesitated to cross over and disturb the party
at that hour
At last, however he decided to cross
quietly and lie down near her hut until
morning.
The crossing was most dificult for he
was very weak; but at last he came to
the opposite shore and drew himself up,
to lie painting for few minutes on the
sloping bank. Then he crawled on again
up to the top, and, staggering to his feet,
made his way cautiously toward the two
huts.
All was quiet. He assumed that the party
was asleep, and so he lay down near the
rude shelter he had constructed for Bar
bara Harding
II was broad daylight when he awoke--
the sun was fully three hours high, and yet
no one was stirring
For the first time misgivings commenced
to assail Billy's mind. Could it be pos
sble? He crossed over to his own hut
and entered--it was deserted Then he ran
TO Barbara's-it, too, was unoccupied.
They had gone!
Presently It occurred to him that the
party might have returned TO the coast to
get the marines. and that even now they
we're searching for him He hastened TO
took up his wearsome journey.
That night he reached the coast. Early
the next morning he commenced his search
for the man-o'.wer. BY walking entirely
around the Island he should find her, he
felt sure.
Shortly after noon he scaled a high prom
ontory which jutted out into the sea. From
It's summit he had unobstructed view Of
the broad Pacific.
His heart leaped to his throat. for there
but n short distance out were a great bat
tleship and a trim, white yacht--the Alaska
and the Lotus! They were steamlng slowly
out to sea.
He was just in time. Filled with hap
piness, the mucker ran to the point of the
promontory, and, stripping of his shirt.
waved It high above his head the while he
shouted at the top OF his lungs.
But the vessels kept on their course, Civ
ing no answering signal.
For half an hour the man continued his
futile efforts to attract the attention OF some
one on board either craft but to his dis.
may he saw them grow smaller and smaller,
until in few hours they passed over the
rim of the world, disappearing from his
view forever.
Weak. wounded and despairing, Billy
sank to the ground, buryinE his face in his
arms, and there the moon found him when
she rose He was still there when she
passed from the western sky.
For three months Billy Byrne lived his
lonely life upon the wild island. The trap.
ping and fishing were good, and there was
plentiful supply of water. He regalned
his lost strength, recovering entirely from
his wounds.
The natives did not molest him, for he
had stumbled upon section Of the shore
which they considered taboo. and to which
none of them would come under any cir.
cumstances
One morning at the beginning of his
fourth month of solitude, the mucker saw
a smudge Of smoke upon the horizon. Slow
ly 1t increased in volume. and the speck be.
meath II resolved itself into the hull of
steamship.
Closer and closer to the island 1t came.
Billy gathered together a quantity Of dry
brush and lighted signal fire on the lofty
point from which he had seen the Alaska
and the Lotus disappear. AS II COM
nenced to blaze freely he threw fresh,
green boughs upon II until n vertical coll
umn of smoke arose high above the Island.
In breathless suspense Billy watched the
movements OF the steamship.
At first II seemed that she would pass
without taking notice of his signal. but
at last he saw that she was changing her
course and moving directly toward the
island.
Close in she came. for the sea was calm
and the water deep; and when Billy was
frantic waving, he hurried, stumbling and
falling, down the steep face of the cliff
to the tiny beach at its foot.
Already boat had been lowered and
was putting in for land Billy waded out
to the end of the short, shelving beach and
waited.
The sight that met the eyes of the res
cuers was one that filed them with awe |
They saw before them a huge giant OF |
white man. half naked except for a few
tattered rags. who wore the longsword of |
an ancient Samurai at his side, a modern |
revolver at his hip, and bore In his brawny |
hand the heavy war spear OF a head-hunter. |
Long. black hair, and a huge beard |
covered the mans head and face but clear |
gray eyes shone from out of the tangle, |
and broad grin welcomed them
"Oh, you white mem" shouted the |
mucker you certainly do look good TO
me I"
Six months later a smooth-faced giant in |
ill-htting sea togs stroled up Sixth ave-
nue., New York. 1t was Billy Byrne-broke |
but happy; Grand avenue was less than a ]
miles away!