Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-01-07
CHAPTER III
DISCOVERIES

DISCOVERIES
The sailor lost no time in idle be-
wiIderment. He searched carefully for
traces of the missing Lascars. He came
to the conclusion that the bodies had
been dragged from off the sun-dr1ed
rocks into the lagoon by some agency
the nature of which he could not even
conjecture.
They were lying many feet above the
sea-level when he last saw them, little
more than half an hour earlier. AT
that point the beach shelved rapidly.
He could look far into the depths Of
the rapidly clearing water. Nothing
was visible there save several vari-
cites of small fish,
The incident puzzled and annoyed
him. Still thinking about it, he SAT
down on the highest rock and pulled
off his heavy boots to empty the water
out He also Invested himself of his
stockings and spread them out to dry.
The action reminded him of Miss
Deane's necessities. He hurried to a
point whence h ecould call out to her
and recommend her to dry some of her
clothing during his absence. He re-
tired even more quickly, fearing lest
he should be seen. Iris had already
displayed to the sunlight large por-
ton of her costume.
Without further delay he set about
a disagreeable but necessary task.
From the pockets of the first officer
and doctor he secured two revolvers
and a supply of cartridges, evidently
intended to settle any dispute which
might have arisen between the ships
officers and the native members of
the crew. He hoped the cartridges
were uninjured; but he could not test
them at the moment for fear of alarm
ing Miss Deane.
Both officers carried pocket-books
and pencils. In one of these, contain
ing dry leaves, the sailor made care
full inventory of the money and other
valuable effects he found upon the
dead, besides noting names and docu-
ments where possible. Curiously
enough, the capitalist of this island
morgue was a Lascar jemadar. who
in a belt around his waist boarded
more than one hundred pounds in
gold The sailor tied in handkerchief
all the money he collected, and ranged
pocket-books, letters and jewelry in
separate little heaps. Then he stripped
the men of their boots and outer
clothing. He could not tell how long
the girl might be detained on the
island before help came, and fresh
garments were essential. 1t would be
foolish sentimentality to trust to stores
thrown ashore from the ship.
Nevertheless, when it became ne
cessary to search and disrobe the
women he almost broke down. For an
instant he softened. Gulping back his
emotions with a savage imprecation
he doggedly persevered. At last he
paused to consider what should be
done with the bodies. His first intent
was to scoop a large hole in the sand
with a piece of timber; but when he
took into consideration the magn1-
tude of the labor involved, requiring
many hours of hard work and a waste
of precious time which might be of in
finite value to his helpless companion
and himself, he was forced to abandon
the project. It was not only 1mprac-
ticable but dangerous.
Again he had to set his teeth with
grim resolution One by one the bodies
were shot into the lagoon from the
little quay of rock. He knew they
would not be seen again.
He was quite unnerved now. He
felt as if he had committed a colossal
crime. In the smooth water of the cove
a number of black films were cutting
arrow-shaped ripples. The sharks were
soon busy. He shuddered. Goes Prov
idence had ferried him and the girl
across that very place few hours
ago. How wonderful that he and she
should be snatched from the sea whilst
hundreds persisted! Why was it? And
those others-why were they denied
rescue? For an instant he was nearer
to prayer than he had been for years.
Some lurking fiend of recollection
sprang from out the vista of bygone
years and choked back the impulse.
He arose and shook himself like a
dog. There was much to be done. He
gathered the clothes and other articles
into heap and placed portions of
shattered packing-cases near-to mis-
lead Iris. Whilst thus engaged he
kicked up out of the sand rusty
kriss, or Malay sword The presence
of this implement startled him. He
examined it slowly and thrust it out
of sight.
Then he went back to her, after
donning his stockings and boots, now
thoroughly dry.
Are you ready now, MISS Dedu0
he sang out cheerily.
Ready? I have been waiting for
you"
jerks chuckled quietly IT must
guard my tongue; it betrays me-" he
said to himself
Iris Joined him. BY some mysteri-
Gus means she had effected great i'm
provement in her appearance. Yet
there were manifest gaps.
IF only | had needle and thread
' she began.
IF that is ALL said the sailor,
fumbling in his pockets. He produced
shabby little hussif. containing a
thimble, scissors, needles and some
skeins of unbleached thread. Case and
contents were sodden or rusted with
salt water, but the girl fastened up
on this treasure with a sigh of deep
content.
"Now. please" she cried. 81 want
a telegraph office and a ship"
1t was impossible to resist the in
lection Of her high spirits This time