The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-09-28
SEVENTH INSTALlMENT


For the three in the little launch Il
was night OF unforgettable terror.
The elements seemed united to de-
stroy them. The wind howled and
the sea roared like monsters ravening
for their prey. But at last a pale, faint
light began to overspread the eastern
sky. 1t was a cold, gray dawn, but
to those in the launch It was the most
beautiful that they had ever Seen, for
1t showed them the misty outline OF
an island rising, not half mile away.
above the storm-lashed sea.
That's not Middle island" said
Morissey, staring intently. "If It was
we could see the radio station. It
must be one OF the North Farallons.
II hooks like an ugly shore to land
on, with wind like this blowing.
But, as they forged slowly nearer
they saw with relief that what ap-
peared from a distance to be a solid
rampant of rock was broken here and
there by fissures which widened into
coves and inlets, and that these coves
and inlets had, for the most part,
sandy shores on which small boat
such as theirs could be beached with.
out serious danger of being wrecked.
Just as the first rays OF the rising
sun gilded the tops of the cliffs the
launch glided between the barrier
reefs into the smooth waters of one
Of these coves and Hope staggered
ashore with Cleo In his arms.
Laying her gently on the shingle. he
stripped off her water-soaked shoes
while Morissey hastily collected pile
OF dfiftwood and saturated II with gas.
oiine. Soon they were warming their
chilled bodies and benumbed limbs be.
fore blazing fire. In the base OF the
cliff behind them centuries of erosion
had produced u cave as large as good
sized room, and into this cave Hope
and Morissey carried the cushions
from the launch and some tarpaulins,
which they found in one of the lock-
ers.
Now, Cleo" said Hope, you had
better go in and undress and dry your
clothes in front of the fire. II you
don't, we will have a girl with pneu-
monia on our hands. While you are
getting dry Morissey and | will try
to climb to the top Of the cliffs and
see II there is any food or shelter
on the island"
The ascent OF the cliffs proved even
more difficult than Hope had antici-
psted, for. though he and Morissey
penetrated several OF the assures in
the expectation of finding a path to
the top. they came each time to mar
row crevices or unscalable walls Of
rock Their patience was eventually
rewarded. however. by discovering q
narrow and precipitous trail which led
them. after half an hours hard climb
ing. to the tableland which formed the
roof. as Il were, of the island.
The best thing for us to do, Morris
sey," said Hope. "is to separate. You
follow the line OF the cliffs in one
direction and ri go in the other. Well
work right around until we meet each
other again."
AYE, aye, SIR" said Morissey obe-
diently, and off he started.
For nearly an hour Hope walked
steadily, clambering over rocks and
bowlders, pushing his way through
dense underbrush, scrambling across
Savines. so wild, 30 deserted. was
the appearance of the island, that the
young officer had almost abandoned
hope Of its having any inhabitants,
when, rounding a shoulder of rock, he
saw against the skyline the figure OF
a man. In response to Hopes shout
the stranger, a tall, sun-bronzed man
OF middle age, came scrambling down
the rocl.y hillside.
Il had no idea that there was any
one else on the island" he said. in
pleasant. well-modulated voice
What are you doing over here?
Fishing?"
NO" said Hope; I'm a shipwrecked
sailor, and though I'm not exactly
starving, will be II | have to 90
without food much longer" and he
related briefly their experiences in
the storm and how they had found
refuge on the island.
by the way" he added. do you
happen to have any gasoline? We
can't get away from here until we
get some"
Il can give you and your friends
something to eat" was the answer,
"but I haven't any gasoline. I'm only
here myself because of the storm.
came over from Middle island In q
skin yesterday morning intending to
Jake some soundingr and go back In
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