Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-01-14

himself in this rock with mining uten-
sis and a few rough stores? He could
not be castaway. There is the 1ndl-
cation of purpose, of preparation, OF
method combined with ignorance, for
none who knew the ways of Dyaks and
Chinese pirates would venture to 1--we
here alone, if he could help it, and
if he really were alone" The thing
was a mystery, would probably re-
main mystery for ever.
"Be it steel or be it lead,
Anyhow the man is dead"
There was relief in hearing his own
voice. He could hum, and think, and
act. Aiming himself with the axe he
attacked the bushes and branches OF
trees in front of the cave. He cut a
fresh approach to the well, and threw
the litter over the skeleton. At first he
was inclined to bury it where it lay,
but he disliked the idea of Iris walk
ing unconsciously over the place. NO
time could be wasted that day. He
would seize an early opportunity TO
act as grave-digger.
After an absence of little more than
an hour he rejoined the girl. She saw
him from affair, and wondered whence
he obtained the axe he shouldered.
"You are a successful explorer"
she cried when he drew near.
eyes, Miss Deane. I have found wa
ter. implements, shelter, even light.
"What sort of light-spiritual or
material?
coil"
"Oh!"
Iris could not remain serious for
many consecutive minutes, but she
gathered that he was in no mood for
frivolity..
"And the Shelters it house?"
she continued.
mo, a cave If you are sufficiently
rested you might come and take pos
session
Her eyes danced with excitement.
He told her what he had seen, with
reservations, and she ran on before
him to witness these marvels.
'"Why did you make new path to
the well?" she inquired after a rapid
survey.
"A new PATH" The pertinent ques-
ton staggered him.
Eyes, the people who lived here
must have had some sort of free pas
sage"
He lied easily. 81 have only cleared
away recent growth" he said.
"And why did they dig cave? 1t
surely would be much more simple to
build house from all these trees.
''There you puzzle me-, he said
frankly.
They entered the cavern but little
way and now came out
"These empty cartridges are funny.
They suggest fort, battle" Wo-
man-like, her words were carelessly
0roTonnn6 with
inductive force.
Embarked on the toboggan slope of
untruth the sailor slid smoothly down.
wards.
events have colored your imagin-
alton. Miss Deane. Even in England
men often preserve such things for
future use They can be reloaded.
eyes, I have seen keepers do that.
This is different There is an air Of
There is lot to be DONE" broke
in jerks emphatically. eve must
climb the hill and get back here in
time to light another fire before the
sun goes down. want to prop a can
vas sheet in front of the cave, and
try to devise lamp"
"Must 1 sleep inside?" demanded
Iris.
eyes Where else?"
There was a pause, mere Whit OF
awkwardness.
II will mount guard outside" went
on jerks. He was trying to improve
the edge of the axe by grinding it on
a soft stone.
The girl went into the cave again.
She was inquisitive, uneasy.
That arrangement---- she be-
gan, but ended in sharp cry of ter
ror. The dispossesed birds had re-
turned during the sailors absence.
'I will kill them" he shouted IN
anger.
"Please don't. There has been
enough of death in this place already"
The words Jared on his ears Then
he felt that she could only alluoe 10
the victims of the wreck.
II was going to say" she explained.
"that we must devise a partition. There
is no help for it until you construct
a sort of house. Candidly, | do not
like this hole in the rock 1t is vault,
a tomb"
'You told me that I was in COM
mand vet you dispute my orders.
He strove hard to appear brusquely
good-humored, indifferent, though for
one of his mould he was absurdly IT.
ritable. The cause was over-straln,
but that explanation escaped him.
quite true But if sleeping in the
cold, in dew or rain, is bad for me, 1t
must be equally bad for you And with
outyou | am helpless, you know.
His arms twitched to give her a re-
assuring hug. In some respects she
was so childlike; her big blue eyes
were so ingenious. He laughed sar-
donically, and the harsh note clashed
with her frank candor. Here, at least,
she was utterly deceived. His change
full moods were incomprehensible.
IT will serve you to the best of my
ability, Miss Deane," he exclaimed.
1--WE must hope for a speedy res
cue, and 1 am Injured to exposure. 1t