The north Mississippi herald., 1920-08-27

up vi one OF the DouvreS plnnacleS.
lie ascended the pinnacle by means of
a knotted cord; every time he made
MS way up or down he risked his life,
out there his bed must be, for time
was everything. And for weeks he
llved on the Douvres rocks at his work
work that demanded the knowledge
of sailor, a carpenter. an engineer
a blacksmith.
Incredible toll! To repair pulley
blocks and construct hoisting tackle;
to reshape broken joists and make old
sails into twine; to cut iron bars into
hles and long spikes; to take apart
and stow the paddle wheels, to re-
sharpen hatchets and renew saw teeth
these were but the beginning of his
preparations.
And more than toll. Part of the
food which he had brought with him
was washed into the sea, and he dared
not leave the wreck unguarded to sail
TO Guernsey for fresh supply; so he
gathered the tiny shellfish from the
rocks and hunted the crabs which ran
in and out of crevices.
One day he pursued crab into a
cave. While peering about, up to his
waist in water, he felt something
rough, cold Shiny coil itself around his
right arm. Its pressure was like
tightening cord; It's steady persistence
like that of screw. A second cold
coil wound itself around his body; a
third fourth, fifth lashed them
selves around him. He could scarcely
breathe.
ed toward him. 1t was the head Of
the devil-fish.
Gilliatt had his knife; his left arm
was still free. The monster stretched
out a sixth tentacle for the free arm;
which would mean Gilllatt's sure
death; but with one superb circular
stroke Gilliatt whipped off the Shiny
head. The tentacles relaxed, fell
away; he was dead.
Gilliatt had still to get his crab. He
looked into the deeper recesses of the
cave; and found the skeleton of a man.
Around the ribs was leather belt.
On the belt was name: Clubin. At
tached to the belt was a flat, tightly
sealed little iron box. Within the box
were three sheets of paper, Bank of
England notes Of 1000 each; in all,
10000 francs.
But the engines were what he had
come for. He toiled on and one eve
ming he sailed into st. Sampson and
tied his sloop, weighted down with
the Durande's engines. to Lethierry's
wharf. He hummed plaintive air
which he had once heard Deruchette,
play on her piano.
1t was five years since Gilliatt had
first seen Deruchette. In all that time
he had never spoken to her. He knew
her as men know the morning star, at
a distance. Once, seeing her with her
uncle, he had dared to pass quite near.
He fancled that she smiled.
He walked noiselessly now toward
Lethierrys house. He saw above him
the windows of Deruchette's room. In
the garden he saw Deruchette herself.
al nightingale was singing. The night
was inexpressibly silent.
There was someone with Deruchette.
It was man, the young Episcopalian
curate whose life, Gilliatt recalled. he
had once saved from the high tide OF
the Gild-Holm-'Ur rock. The curate
had offered him sovereign, which Gill
liatt had refused, saying 1t was no
matter. The curate had then pressed
upon him Bible.
The curate had the beauty of pale
head and face of pictured angel. He
spoke language which echoed the
rhythm of the sacred psalms. He
smoke now. Deruchette spoke. Their
speech was of love. They embraced.
Gilliatt stole off in the night.
Lethierry was transported at the re-
covery of his wonderful engines. Il
will build hull around them," he said.
ST shall have to borrow, but my credit
is good. Only for that villain OF a
Clubin--see, here is note from Ran
taine. He gave Clubin for me, he
says, $4,000 francs, equal to what he
stole from me with interest"
"Here." said Gilliatt, "are the 10000
francs" He handed Lethierry the lit
tie iron box with the three 1,OOO-franc
notes.
Lethierry embraced him. "You more
than-man!" he exclaimed. "You shall
marry Deruchette at once!"
ST shall not marry Deruchette."
Lethierry insisted. He stormed. Gil
liatt was like iron. Lethierry grew
redder. Gilliatt paler. Gilliatt had
his way. Deruchette and the curate
were married. They set sail for Eng
land on the packet Cashmere.
Gilliatt crossed at low tide on the
stones which led to Glld-Holm-' rock
to see the Cashmere pass. The tide
was coming in, but the Cashmere was
coming out. She moved slowly III the
light breeze. The tide crept up on
Gild-Holm-'Ur, but Gilliatt's eyes were
for the Cashmere. The tide crept
higher-to Giliatt's knees-but In a
spot of sunlight on the Cashmere were
Deruchette and the curate. Her head
was on his shoulder, his arm around
Ill