Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-08-05
CHAPTER VII.
An Unfinished Game Of Cards,

One evening as | returned to the
ship unusually worn out and dishenrt-
ened | asked Tom how the stores were
holding out. He answered Cheerfuly
that they would last another week and
leave US enough 10 get home.
"Well, shall We stick out the other
week or not, Tom? | don't want to
in myself"
MAY MS well stick 1t out, sar, now
we've gone so far. Then Well have
lone all We can, and there's certain
satisfaction in doing that sar."
SO next morning we went at II
again. and the next, and the next
again, and then on the fourth day,
When our week was drawing to its
close, something at last happened to
change the grim mOnotony of our days.
1t was shortly after the lunch hour.
Tom and |, who We're now working too
far apart to hear each others halloos,
had fired our revolvers once or twice
to show that all was right with us.
But, for no reason I can give. | sud
denly got feeling that all was not
right with the old man. SO l fired my
revolver and gave him time for Il re-
ply. But there was no answer. Again
| fired. Still no answer. | was on the
point of firing again when l heard
something coming through the brush
behind Inc. 1t was Sailor racing
toward me over the jagged rocks.
Evidently there was something wrong,
Something wrong with old Tom,
Snilor?" | asked. as though he could
answer me. And indeed he did answer
as plainly as dog could do, wagying
his tail and whining and turning to 20
back with me in the direction whence
he had come.
"Off we 90, then, old chap" and as
he ran ahead, | followed him as fast
rs | could.
1t took me the best part of an hour
to get to where Tom had been work
ing. Sailor brushed his way ahead,
pushing through the scrub with canine
importance. Presently, at the top OF
slight elevation, came among the
bushes to II softer spot where the soil
had given way. and saw that 1t was
the mouth of shaft like Il wide chin.
ney ilue, the earth of which had evil
IDENTIFY fallen in. Here Sailor stopped
and whlncd. paving the earth, and at
the same time ! heard moaning I'M
derneath.
as that you, Tom?" called. Thank
God, the old chap was not dead at all
events.
"Thank the Lord. It's you. sar," he
cried. -I'm all right, but I've had
bad falkland can't seem able to
move"
Hold on and keep up your heart
I'll be with you in II minute | called
down to him.
"Mind yourself, sar," he called cheer.
lily, and indeed It was Il problem to get
down to him without precipitating the
loose earth and rock that were ready
to make landslide down the hole, and
perhaps bury him forever.
But, looking about, | found another
natural tunnel In the side of the hill.
Into this was able to worm myself,
and in the dim light found the old man
and put my flask to his lips.
Anything broken, do you think"
Tom didn't think so. He had evi.
IDENTIFY been stunned by his fall, and
another pull at my flask set him on
his feet. But as helped him up, and,
striking n light, we began to look
around the hole he had tumbled into,
he gave a piercing shrek and fell on
his knees, jabbering with fear.
'The ghosts! the ghosts" he
screamed.
And the sight that met our eyes was
certainly one to try the nerves. Two
figures sat at table--one with his
hat tilted slightly and one leaning side
ways In his chair In careless sort Of
attitude. They Aeeemad to be nlaying