Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-05-08
BY MlSADVENTUREI
| BY GERTRUDE {. TUNEL!us.
Scopyright, 1918, Western Newspaper Z

OU" ueSlSlEileu JlIuSell, DuI &hoo
Pearce considered him the best of men
and was not far amiss, and her father,
who was Dow's employer, had reason
to thank this loyal, industrious young
fellow for keeping his small and Strug-
Cling business afloat through all kinds
OF ricisSitudes.
Mr. Pearce had been too Ill for
year to do much more than assume the
direction Of affairs. He owned barge,
clumsy, old, and safe for close coast
service only. He lived few leagues
down the Australian coast from Mel
bourne, and for twenty years had fol-
lowed the conveying Of merchandise
from port to port, especially bulk stuff.
cutting steamer rates. The barge had
q sail and tiller and was scarcely sea-
worthy, and could be operated by one
man.
I've got cargo-ice," reported
Pearce one day. 1.-The conIgnorS will
load and all care taken off your hands
at the other end. Pick out spell OF
clear weather for the go, Rufus, for
hardly think the craft will stand many
more voyages"
Rufus started on his voyage week
later. Above the hold, Grated, were
two hundred ice cream freezerS and
several barrels of coarse rock salt, for
the cargo was designated for firm en-
gagged in the manufacture of ice cream.
Il think, myself, the old tub is at its
last gasp" Rufus told Ada. IF fate
downs her on this trip, maybe it will
be good thing, for we make so little.
I would like to strike out into some
new field It's this wretched pinching
and seraping to get dollar ahead that
is putting off our marriage
But it doesn't wear out our love,
dear" reminded Ada Sweetly.
Everything augured an easy, pleas
ant voyage The old barge behaved ad-
mirably for two days. The third night,
however, fifty miles from any port, Ru-
fus found himself in the grasp Of a
fierce storm. With dismay he let the
unwieldy craft drift, the playthng OF
the waves, for there was nothing else
to do With daybreak there came
dense fog and q stern northeaSter tEat
drove the barge ahead like an arrow
shot from a bow The straining craft
groaned and Shivered. No land was in
sight, the great broad sail had been
ripped to tatterS and the rudder had
burst its lashings. Rufus had lost ac'
count Of bearings, the fog did not Lift
and that night the wind increased. In
the utter darkness, just before day
break, with crash the barge struck
rocks, the PROV was battered into
kindling wood the bulky mass turned
over on its side and Rufus ciung to the
upper rail, awaiting daybreak.
Its coral reef and an island be-
yond," he calculated, as morning
showed him q coaStline fringed with
trees. He had made up package OF
food and, strapping half dozen OF the
freezer pals together, utilized them as
q float to get ashore.
Rufus sat down and rested when he
reached the beach. The tropical air
told him that he must have voyaged
many hundred miles. He was blocking
out q blind course along the coast
when q blaring trumpet blast, followed
by the clash of cymbalS, caused him to
observe procession at Il short dlS-
tance. Borne IN q palanquin shoul-
dered by half dozen duSky fellows, all
hands nearly nude, WIS great, portly
savage, decorated with metal orna-
mentS.
The inference was palpable. Rufus
had landed on some isolated island in
habited BY savages-this was their au-
gust monarch on journey. They might
be cannibalS, and at this thought Ru-
fus started TO hide, but he was OBJ
served and put on bold front, await
ing the approach of the procession.
Following it were some cattle yoked
together. The procession halted and
the king, aIighting, studied Rufus with
curiosity. Then he inquisitiveiy point
ed to the ice cream pals.
A bright thought StrGch huius.
Through gestures he impaired to the
dusky monarch that he would swim to
the barge and return with something
that would explain the situation. The
king nodded and Rufus struck out for
the wreck. He returned, floating
great cake of ice ahead of him. and
tied to his shoulders the cannlster that
held the crafts supply of sugar.
One hour later Rufus was at a stage
of wild jubilation. He had made OF
the king real friend and the latter
not only rewarded him richly but indi-
Gated that he should be conveyed to
the mainland.
Yes, I'm here and the barge and its
cargo demolished or devoured," report
ed Rufus to Ada, and her father one
month later, and he told of the wreck.
"And then" he recited, y treated
them. They had COWS, and therefore
milk. had sugar and ice. | made