Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-12-31

third Sir John Tozer. The rest were
passengers and members of the crew.
They were all dead; some had been
! peacefully drowned, others were fear
! fully mangled by the rocks. Two of
the Lascars, bearing signs of dread
full injuries, were lying on a cluster
of low rocks overhanging the water.
The remainder rested on the sand.
The sailor exhibited no visible emo
ton whilst he conducted his sad
scrutiny When he was assured that
this silent company was beyond NOR
| tai help he at once strobe away
| towards the nearest belt of trees. He
could not tell how long the search for
water might be protracted, and there
was pressing need for it.
When he reached the first clump of
| brushWood he uttered delighted eX-
clamation. There, growing in prodigal
luXuriance, was the beneficent pitch
er-plant, whose large curled-up leaf,
shaped like a teacup, not only holds
lasting quantity of rain-water, but
mixes Herewith it's own palatable and
natural juices.
With his knife he severed two of
| the leaves, swearing emphatically the
while on account of his damaged fin
ger, and fastened to Iris with the
precious beverage. She heard him and
managed to raise herself on an ell
bow The poor girls eyes glistened at
the prospect of relief. Without word
| of question or surprise she swallowed
the contents of both leaves.
Then she found utterance. How odd
| it tastes! What is it?" she inquired.
| But the eagerness with which she
| quenched her thirst renewed his own
momentarily forgotten torture. His
| tongue seemed to swell. He was abso-
lutely unable to reply.
| The water revived him like magic
draught. Her quick intuition told her
what had happened.
"You have had none yourself" she
cried. go at once and get some. And
please bring me some more"
! He required no second bidding. Al
ter hastily gulping down the contents
of several leaves he returned with a
| further supply. Iris was now sitting
up. The sun had burst royalty through
the clouds, and her chilled limbs were
gaining some degree of warmth and
| elasticity.
|
other delicious draught.
"The leaf of the pitcher-plant. Ma
ture it not always cruel. In an I'M
usually generous mood she devised
! this method of storing water"
Miss Deane reached out her hand
| for more. Her troubled brain refused
| to wonder at such reply from an or
binary seaman. The sailor deliberately
spilled the contents of remaining
| leaf on the sand.
"No, madam" he replied, with an
odd mixture of Difference and firm
ness. mo more at present. l must tlrst
procure you some food"
She looked up at him in momentary
silence.
"The ship is lost?" she said after a
pause.
eyes, madam"
care we the only people saved?"
ct fear So"
''Is this desert island?"
"I think not, madam. 1t may, by
chance. be temporarily uninhabited.
but fishermen from China come to all
these places to collect tOrtoise-shell
and beche-de-mer. have seen no 9TH
er living beings except ourselves; new
ertheless, the islanders may live on
the south side"
Another pause. Amidst the thrilling
sensations of the moment Iris found
herself idly specializing as to the
meaning of beche-demer, and why
this common sailor pronounced french
so well. Her thoughts reverted to the
steamer.
at surely cannot be possible that
the Sirdar has gone to pieces-a mag
nifcent vessel of her size and
strength"
He answered quietly-"It is too
true, madam. I suppose you hard!y
knew she struck, it happened so sud
denly. Afterwards, fortunately for
YOU, YOU were unconscious"
"How do you know?" she inquired
quickly. A flood of vivid recollection
was pouring in upon her.
"T-er-well, happened to be near
YOU, madam, when the ship broke up,
and we-er-drifted ashore together.
She rose and faced him. II remem-
Der now" she cried Historically. You
caught me as I was thrown into the
corridor. We fell into the sea when
the vessel turned over. You have saved
my life. Were it not for you I could
not possibly have escaped"
She gazed at him more earnestly,
seeing that he blushed beneath the
crust of salt and sand that covered
his face. "Why." she went on with
growing excitement, "you are the
steward I noticed in the saloon yes
terday. How is it that you are dressed
as a sailor?'
He answered readily enough. There
was an accident on board during the
gale. madam I am fair sailor but
a poor steward. so I applied for
transfer. As the crew were short
handed my offer was accepted
Iris was now looking at him intent
ly.
"You saved my life" she repeated
slowly. 1t seemed that this obvious
fact NEEDED to be indelibly established
in her mind Indeed the girl was over
wrought by all that she had gone
through. Only by degrees were heI
thoughts marshaling themselves with
lucid Conference As yet, she recalled
so many dramatic incidents that they
failed to assume due proportion.
But quickly there came memories OF
CAPTAIN Ross, of Sir John and Lady
Tozer, of the doctor, her maid. the
hundred and one Municipalities of her
pleasant life aboard ship. Could it be
that they were all dead? The notion
was monstrous. But its CHASTITY slgnl-