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

lit onC dohSu, Ny Wdy VI POAlIC SOA
versation.
No." he growled
81 only thought so because you ap-
pear to know all sorts of lodges for
prolonging existence-things I never
heard Of"
"Broiled ham-and biscuits-for in
stance?"
At another time Iris would have
snapped a thin for the retort. Still
humbly regretful for her previous at
titude she answered meekly-
Eyes, in this manner of cooking
| them, l mean. But there are other
items-methods of lighting fires, find
ing water, knowing what fruits and
other articles may be found on desert
islands, such as plantains and cocoa
nuts, certain sorts of birds-and
beche-de-mer."
| For the life of her she could not
tell why she tackled on that weird item
to her list.
| The sailor inquired, more civilly-
"Then you are acquainted with ire
pang?"
'Who?"
"Trepang beche-de-mer, you
know"
| Iris made a desperate guess Eyes, .
she said, demurely. "It makes beauti-
| full backs for hair brushes. And it
looks so nice as a frame for platino-
type photographs. l have
jerks swallowed a large piece of
| ham and became very red. t last
he managed to say-"I beg ycwr par
don. You are thinking of tortoise
she'll Beche-de-mer is sort of ma
rine slug"
"How odd!" said Iris.
| She had discovered at an early age
the tactical value of this remark, and
the experience of maturer years con-
firmed the success of juvenile efforts
to upset the equanimity of governes-
ses. Even the sailor was silenced.
Talk ceased until the meal was
ended. jerks sprang lightly to his feet.
Rest and food had restored his facul-
| ties The girl thought dreamily, as he
stood there in his rough attire, that
| she had never seen a fine man. He
was tall, sinewy, and we'll formed In
repose his face was pleasant, if mas
terfu1 It's somewhat ,sullen, self-con-
| tanned expression was occasional and
acquired She wondered how he could
be so energetic. Personally she was
consumed with sleepiness.
He produced a revolver.
| do you mind if / fire shot to test
these cartridges?' he inquired. "The
powder is all right, but the illuminate
in the caps may be damaged"
She agreed promptly. He pointed
| the weapon at a cluster of cocoanuts,
and there was loud report. Two nuts
fell to the ground, and the air was
filled with shrill screams and the flap
ping of innumerable wings. Iris was
momentarily dismayed, but her senses
confirmed the sailors explanation
"Sea-b birds"
He reloaded the empty chamber, and
was about to say something, when a
queer sound, exactly resembling the
gurgling of water poured from a
large bottle, fell upon their ears. It
came from the interior of the grove,
and the two exchanged quick look
of amazed questioning. jerks took a
hasty step in the direction of the
noise, but he stopped and laughed
at his own expense. Iris liked the
sound of his mirth. 1t was genuine,
not forced.
ST remember now" he explained
"The wou-wou monkey cries in that
peculiar MARBLE The presence of the
animal here shows that the island has
been inhabited at some time
"You remembers" repeated the girl
"Then you have been in this part OF
the world before?"
mo I mean I have read about it. .
Twice in half an hour had he CURLY
declined to indulge in personal rem
iniscences.
"Can you use revolver" he went
on.
"My father taught me- He thinks ev-
cry woman should know how to de-
| fend herself if need be"
Excellent. Well, Miss Deane, you
must try to sleep for a couple of
hours I purpose examining the coast
| for some distance on each side. Should
you want me, q shot will be the best
sort of signal"
ST am very tired" she admitted.
"But your"
ooh, am all right feel restless;
| that is, I mean / will net be able TO
sleep until night comes, and before
we climb the hill to survey our do
main 1 want to find better quarters
than we now possess"
Perhaps, were she less fatigued, she
would have caught the vague anxiety,
the note of distrust, in his voice. But
the carpet of sand and leaves on which
she lay was very seductive, Her eyes
closed. She nestled into comfortable
position, and slept.
The man looked at her steadily for
! a little while. Then he moved the re-
volver out of harms way to a spot
where she must see it instantly,
pulled his sou'wester well over his
ewes and walked off quietly.
They were flung ashore on the
northwest side of the island Except
for the cove formed by the coral reef,
with it's mysterious palm-tree grow
| ing apparently in the midst of the
waves, the shape of the coast was
roughly that of the concave side of
bow, the two visible extremities be-
| ing about three-quarters of a mile
apart.
He guessed, by the way in which the
sea raced past these points, that the
| land did not extend beyond them. Be-
| hind him it rose Steeply to a cOnSid-