The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-12-11

mornings sufferings. The sense of
| powerlessness which had attacked BAR
bara with such violence in the aftar-
noon now attacked him. Again and
aealn ne strove to turn his thoughts
from the wrecked mass out there upon
the reef; from the dark waters and
the monsters which infested them
where those friends, strong and full of
life not many hours ago. now lay hid
den. What awful fate, worse than
mere drowning, had been theirs?
He strove to restrain his mental agony.
dragging his mind away, for down that
road madness lay. =. There were ma
tives, possibly cannibals, upon this Is.
land. to be faced sooner or later
| Therein. to his mind, lay hope. For
surely they We're in touch with civili-
zation? During his travels he had
picked up good number of dialects
employed among Polynesian and Mela-
nesian natives. With luck he might
find means of rescue through their en-
terprise, If they had any. But this was
doubtful. He knew well the character
istics of the Pacific: knew the trade
routes. the ports of call. the features
| of islands in touch with civilization,
the features of many practically un-
known. Intercourse with strange
natives, too. meant considerable risk.
with woman in his care. AT that
thought, the same strange thrill shot
through his frame which he had ex-
perienced in the morning; the awful
loneliness of spirit semed to fall from
him.
Scattering his reflections, stran-
gled, terrified cry came from the hut
He sat up, alert in moment All had
been quiet hitherto. The draught
dropped into the milk had done its
work. He had been fortunate in res
cuing the case of medicines and first
aid necessities from the machine
Again, louder, another cry smote upon
his ears. He sprang to his feet . E.
Reaction had come upon Barbara
awakening from the heavy effects of
the drug, SO vividly that she was al
most delirious. The little hut seemed
to swing round and round. now darting
suddenly up toward the sky, now
dropping, as stone into limitless
space. And ever, from the four quar-
tiers of the globe roared what seemed
like ten thousand trains. -. To
escape was impossible. for somebody
| had barricaded the door the
| hut rushed down now toward the dark
| fathOmless waters they closed
above her head, and everywhere black
hands surrounded her-hlack leering
| faces came close. . With Shriek
of terror she covered against the wall.
when the door opened then perceivng
| freedom, she ran blindy toward the
starlight without.
| A pair of arms caught her upon the
threshold. Half-demented she strug-
gled In their hold, gasping hard sobs.
But they closed more tightly; and their
protective warmth shut out the lurking
dangers. Gradually she grew calmer;
the nightmare sensations of returning
consciousness abated. Ceasing to strug-
gle, she leaned exhausted against him,
her arms clinging to one of his, the
waves of her long hair falling across
his breast.
So for several minutes they remained
two derelict beings hurled, helpless
pawns. over the boundary line of civil
lied life into world yet in Its in
fancy-each conscious of sense of
comfort in each others nearness.
Presently he straightened himself.
With two fingers he felt her brow and
cheek; they were of little more thai.
normal heat He stroked back the
hair clustering over her forehead; and
she stirred, raising her head.
"You must lie down again and sleep"
he said. drawing her toward the bed
of coats. But her grasp frightened
upon his arm.
you are not going-far away? It
it's like vault in here-full or
death" Her voice rose unnaturally.
81 won't leave you at ALL" he said
huriedly. but with decision which
obviously relieved her. ITS not safe
for either of us-alone-tonight."
Her eyes wandered over his face,
in the dim starlight. in dazed man.
ner, while she sank back upon the
coats with long signing breath.
one mana SUN ciusptu III heiS' p"e
other arm passed under her head for
a pillow. he remained upon the ground
by her side. The turmoil of his own
spirit seemed unaccountably soothed.
Though never sleeping, comforting
drowsy numbness replaced the sharp
suffering of his mind.
But when the early light of dawn
pierced through the aperture II
brought with it the remembrance of
mans hand-casp, the trust in one
honest brown eye. the Shade in place
of the other The wonderful
peace which seemed to have descended
upon the little hut. lulling his mind
filling it, during those hours OF close
protection and companionship with
] -omethIng esauisitely beautiful aipei'