Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-08-28


top of one of the Douvres pinnacles.
He assembled the pinnacle by means of
knotted cord; every time he made
his way up or down he risked his life.
but there his bed must be, for time
was everything. And for weeks he
lived on the Douvres rocks at his work
work that demanded the knowledge
of a sailor, a carpenter. an engineer,
a blacksmith.
Incredible TOLL To repair pulley
blocks and construct hosting tackle:
to reshape broken joists and make old
sails into Irvine; to cut iron bars into
files. 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; 80 he
gathered the tiny shellfish from the
rocks and hunted the crabs which ran
in and out of crevices.
One day he pursued a 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 q
Tightening cord; its steady persistence
like that Of a screw. A second cold
coil wound itself around his body;
third, a fourth, fifth dashed them.
selves around him. He could scarcely
breathe.
Suddenly a round Shiny mass dart
ed toward him. It was the head of
the devil-fish.
Gilliatt had his knife; his left arm
was still free. The monster stretched
out sixth tentacle for the free arm;
which would mean Gilliatt's sure
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 man.
Around the ribs was a leather belt.
On the belt was a name: Clubin. At
tached to the belt was fiat, tightly
sealed little iron box. Within the box
were three sheets Of paper, Bank of
England notes of 1000 each; in all,
$4,000 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
{, distance. Once, seeing her with her
uncle, he had dared to pass quite near.
He fancied that she smiled.
He walked noiselessly now toward
Lethferry's house. He saw above him
the windows of Deruchette's room. In
the garden he saw Deruchette herself.
A nightingale was singing. The night
was inexpressibly silent.
There was someone with Deruchette.
It was a 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 a sovereign, which Gill
latt had refused saying it was no
matter. The curate had then pressed
upon him a Bible.
The curate had the beauty of pale
head and face of pictured angel. He
spoke a language which echoed the
rhythm of the sacred psalms. He
spoke 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. II
will build hull around Them he said.
81 shall have to borrow, but my credit
is good. Only for that villain of
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 Gllllatt, are the Io,OOo
francs" Ee handed Lethierry the lit
tie iron box with the three 1,000-franc
notes.
Lethierry embraced him. "You more
than-man he exclaimed. "You shall
marry Deruchette at once"
81 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 Gild-Holm-'Ur rock
to see the Cashmere pass. The tide
was coming in. but the Cashmere was
coming out. She moved slowly in the
light breeze. The tide crept up on
Gild-Holm-'U but Gilliatt's eyes were
for the Cashmere. The tide crept
higher-to Gilliatt's knees-but in a
spot of sunlight on the Cashmere were
r. Al