Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-01-27

slow, did not Ut once Seize Hoiu uPo
4 my heart.
Frantlcally l sprang for the eDtranc
:. on the cove The floor of the cave wa
sloplng and the water deepened swift
" as | advanced. SoonI was founder
ing to my knees and on the instant
great wave rushed In, drenching me t
the waist dazing me with its spra
- and uproar, anc driving me back t.
: the Tar end Of the cave.
With dreadful hollow sucking
sound the surge retreated. l stag
gered toward the archway that wa.
my only door to life. The water waf
deeper now, and swiftly came anoth
, or fierce thrush of the sea that drove
me back.
, fled TO the far end of tho cave, but
the sea pursued me. Swiftly the wa
ter climbed-it flung me against the
wall, then dragged me back. I
clutched at the naked rock with bleed
Ing fingers.
Again, after paroxyssn during
which l had seemed to stand q great
there came to me a moment u calm.
l knew that my one tenuous thread
Of hope lay In launching myse{f into
that wild flood that was tearing
through the cove. / was not a strong
swimmer, but buoyant one. 1 might
| find refuge on some half-submerged
rock on the shores Of the coye-at
least l should perish in the open, in
the sunlight, not trapped like des-
perate rat. And 1 began to fight my
way to- ,rd the opening.
And then a dreadful vision flashed
across my mind. weighted down my
feet like lead, choked back even tho
cry from my frozen lips. Sharks
The black cutting fin, the livid belly,
the dreadful jaws opening-no, no.
better to die here, better the clean
embrace Of the waters-if indeed the
sharks did not come into the cave.
And then l think 1 went quite mad.
| remember trying to climb up to the
ledge which hung beetling fifteen feet
above. Afterward my poor hands
showed how desperately. And I re-
member that once 1 slipped and went
clear under, and how I choked and
strangled In the salt water. For my
mouth was always open, screaming,
screaming continually.
And when l saw the boat fighting its
way inch by inch into the cave l was
sure that 1t was a vision, and that
only my own wild beseeching of him
to save me had made the face of Du-
gald Shaw arise before my dying eyes.
Dugald Shaw was still mending the
boat on the shore of the cove, and
this was q mocking phantom.
Only the warm human clasp Of the
arms that drew me into the boa,
made me believe In him.
The boat bobbed quietly In the eddy
at the far end Of the cave, while wet
sobbing, choking heap chung to Du
gald Shaw. I clasped him about the
neck and would not let him go, fol-
: fear that I should find myself alone
again, perishing In the dark water. Ny
head was on his breast, and he wa!
; pressing back my wet hair with strong
and tender hands.
What was this he was saylng7 my
, lassie, my little, little lassieI'
, And no less Incredible than this II
was to feel his cheek pressed, very
gently, against my hair
' After a little my self-control came
| back to me. I stopped my senseless
| childish crying, lifted my head and
' tried to speak. l could only whisper,
You came, you Gamer
"Of course l Gamer he said husk-
q lily. There, don't tremble so-you are
! safe-safe in my arms''
. After a while he lifted me into the
stern and began to maneuver the boat
out of the cave. 1 suppose at another
4 time | should have realized the peril
4 of it. The fierce flow through the
l, archway all but swamped us, the or
A rent threatened to hurl us against the
! rocks, but l felt no fear. He had
4 come to save me, and he would. All
at once the dreadful shadow of the
cavern was left behind, and the SUM-
\ shine immersed my chilled body like
\ a draught of wine. l lay huddled in
4 the stern, my cheek upon my hand,
\ as he rowed swiftly across the cove and
\ drove the boat upon the beach.
Everybody but Captain Magnus was
! assembled there, including Crusoe.
Crusoe II was who had given warning
! Of my danger. Like a wise little dog.
when | ignored his adlnonltions he had
run home. At first his uneaslness and
troubled barking had got no notice.
Once or twice the ScOtchman. worried
by his fretfuness had ordered him
away. Then across his preoccupled
mind there flashed doubt. He laid
down his tools and spoke 70 the ami.
nal. Instantly CrusOe dashed for ths
rocks, barking and crying with eager.
ness.
Then Mr. Shaw understood IA
snntehed the painter OF the boat snd
drngsed u down the beach. He vs.
showing on as Cookie. reused by
. cn'Soe's barking, appeared from the
atIII ~