Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-01-28
"The Wings
of the Morning"
Copyrighted by E. j. Clode)
CHAPTER VI
SOME EXPLANATIONS
BY LOUIS TRACY


transient, but for the hour they ex-
or had gone through such mental
stress before it was yet noon that he
was benumbed, wholly incapable of
further sensation. Seneca tells how
the island of Theresaea arose in a
moment from the sea, thereby astound-
ing ancient mariners, as well it might.
Had this manifestation been repeated
within cables length from the reef,
jerks was in mood to accept it is be-
fitting the new order of things.
Being in good condition, he soon
recovered his physical powers. He
was outwardly little the worse for the
encounter with the devil-fsh. The skin
around his mouth was sore. His waist
and legs were bruised. One sweep of
the axe had cut clean through the
bullying leather of his left boot with
out touching the flesh. In a word, he
was practically uninjured.
He had the doglike habit of Shak-
ing himself at the close of fray. He
did so now when he stood up. Iris
showed clearer signs of the ordeal.
Her face was drawn and haggard, the
pupils of her eyes dilated. She was
gazing into depths, illimitable, unex
plored Compassion awoke at sight of
her.
Come" said jerks, gently. Let us
get back to the island"
He quietly resumed predominance,
helping her over the rough pathway
of the reef, almost lifting her when
the difficulties were great.
He did not ask her how it happened
that she came so speedily to his as
sistance Enough that she had done it,
daring all for his sake. She was weak
and trembling. With the acute vision
of the soul she saw again, and yet
again, the deadly malice of the octo
pus, the divine despair of the man.
Reaching the firm sand, she could
walk alone. She limped. Instantly her
companions b1unted emotions quick
ened into life. He caught her arm and
said hoarsely-
Are you hurt in any way?"
The question brought her back from
dreamland. A waking nightmare was
happily shattered into dim fragments.
She even strove to smile unconcern-
eddy
"It is nothing" she murmured. 81
L
sprain. Merely a blow, bit of skin
rubbed off, above my ankle"
LET me carry you"
"The ideal Garry me! I will race
you to the cave" 1t was no idle jest
She wanted to run-to get away from
that inky blotch in the green water
you are sure it is a trifle?"
quite sure. My stocking chafes a
little; that is ALL See, will show
you"
She stopped, and with the quick
skill of woman, rolled down the stock
ing on her right leg. Modestly daring,
she stretched out her foot and slightly
lifted her dress. On the outer side of
the tapering limb was an ugly bruise,
scratched deeply by the coral.
He exhibited due surgical interest.
His manner, his words, became pro-
fessional.
1--WE will soon put that right" he
said. "a strip off your muslin dress,
soaked in brandy, will"
Brandy" she exclaimed.
YES; we have some, you know. 1t
can be applied both ways, inside and
out"
This was better. They were steadily
drifting back to the commonplace.
Whilst she stitched together some
muslin strips he knocked the head
off bottle of brandy. They each
drank small quantity, and the gen.
erous spirit brought color to their
wan cheeks. The sailor showed Iris
how to fasten a bandage by twisting
the muslin round the upper part of
his boot. For the first time she saw
the cut made by the axe.
"Did-the thing-grip you there"
she nervously inquired.
There, and elsewhere. All over at
once, it felt like. The beast attacked
me with five arms"
She shuddered. II don't know how
you could fight it," she said. How
strong, how brave you must be-"
This amused him. "The veriest cow
ard will try to save his own life." he
answered. IF you use such adjectives
to me, what words can / find to do
justice to you, who dared to come
close to such vile-looking creature
and kill it. must thank my stars that
you carried the revolver"
"Ah!" she said, that reminds me.
You do not practice what you preach.
4 lOuAO yOOl pAoIOA AA1S On LnC oLOAC
in the cave. That is one reason why
followed YOU"
1t was quite true He laid the wea-
pom aside when delving at the rock.
and forgot to replace it in his belt.
at was stupid of me-" he admitted;
"but l am not sorry"
"Why?"
Because, as it is, owe you my
life"
you owe me nothing" she snapped.
at is very thoughtless of you to run
such risks. What will become of me
if anything happens to you? My point
of view is purely selfish, you see."
quite so. Purely selfish" He smiled
sadly. Selfish people of your type are
somewhat rare, Miss Deane"
Not conversation worth noting,
perhaps, save in SO far as it is typical
of the trite utteranees of people striv-