The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-11-27
PART TWO
The Rising Orchestra


lines Of gray merging into a myriad
pearly tints. Birds awoke in the for
est; rustled amid the leaves shook
their wings; then flew forth to hunt
for breakfast; their brilliant plumage
reflected the suns rays in thousand
bright hues as they flashed from be
meath the shadowy trees
Upon the sloping shore of tiny
cove. the waters of the lagoon tapped
in gentle, ripping murmur. Farther
away. the surf of the open sea doomed
like distant thunder against the bar
rier reef; waves swirled angrily
through the gap which formed an
inlet.
Partly telescoped upon a Jagged
promontory jutting inland from the
entrance. rising and falling helplessly
at the mercy of the tide foaming
through. loomed a mass of something
dark. 1t looked strange, shapeless.
forlornly tragic, as If flung down by
ruthless hand and forgotten.
Upon the ground of the opposite
cove. near heap of wet coats, little
rivulets trickling from her drenched
garments. lay the inert form of girl.
A man, likewise sodden from head to
foot, knelt beside her, anxiously fore
ing brandy between her pale lips from
small pocket-fiask. Presently he
paused. sudden dread in his heart,
and with his head close to her wet
blouse. listened. Then. with
renewed energy. he set vigorously to
work again.
At last she gave a little quivering
sigh. Her hands moved gropingly,
Soon. with another. longer sigh, she
opened her eyes and gazed blankly. as
one newly awakened from troubled
dream. into his face. Raising hand
to her head. tine vacant gaze changed
to one of feeble wonder.
"Why. are you-hurt" she half
whispered.
Until then he had not recognized
that the stream trickling down his
face was blood. With his fingers he
traced what was apparently long
Jagged cut stretching from his temple
to the left ear: 1t smarted when
touched Taking the wet handkerchief
from his pocket. he sat back and
dabbed at 1t with the clumsy move
ments of a man unused TO troubling
over personal injuries. His look was
still fixed upon the girls face.
AS she gazed round the unfamiliar
scene, an expression of bewlderment
crept into her eyes. Remembrance
slowly returning. this merged into con-
cern. then fear. Quickly
grew to terror. Sitting up
right, she turned wildly to the man at
her side
"Where are we? Where are we?'
1--WE crashed on that reef" he re-
piled quietly. "The last engine gave
out"
"But-how-did we get hereT'
II found you in the water. and swan
In" '-r
Fearfully she looked toward the
dark mass. as II measuring mentally
the distance from shore. scarcely un-
derstandIng the full meaning OF this
feat. Then she looked about her as II
seeking somebody finally
turned to him. mutely asking the ques,
tIon her troubling lips dared not
frame.
He laid hand upon her shoulder
instinctively fortifying her for the
complete realization of the dread tha'
was dawning in her brain.
She caught his arm in a feverish
grip. her eyes wild. captain Croft
tell me! The others? Where
is Aunt Dolly?" :.
A look, so full Of anguish that II
seemed as though the soul behinu
were in the tortures of hell was her
only answer.
She gazed, awestruck, for breath
less moment, at his haggard eyes ana
drawn blood stained face, at the rea-
lures usually SO cloaked with reserve
now betraying unbearable agony
then, with hoarse moaning cry she
collapsed in an abandonment Of horror
Presently Croft raised his head. ana
stood up. He gave one long look sea-
...-a - tbo Urove Of such unlimited