Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-08-29

on the Island, and we longed to 90
ashore. With our scurvy-swollen legs
we could hardly stand. however. II
WOULDN'T do To be hauled ashore as
eripples. II would not increase these
warriors respect for Germans as fight
Ing men: cripples do not fare we'll
among savage peoples. and we Thought
II best not TO reveal our impotence.
So we refused the natives invitations
10 pnrtake of their hospitality. told
them we must hurry on to fight the
British. and asked for fresh water and
bananas They brought great gonrds
full OF water and lunches of bananas
We drew up to the dock and they
hnnded these precious supplies down
for us.
We had our till of bananas and Wa
Ter, and. with shouts resounding from
the shore, set sail again. This lucky
spot was Niue. an outlying isle Of the
FIJI group. The sun blazed down upon
US. but fair wind carried US along
briskly The first day after leaving
Niue we fell better. The second day
ne we're on the rnnd TO high good
health. II is amazing the curative
effect of fresh fruit. especially ba
nanas. when you are suffering from
scurvy. They seem to put new III.
and blood into you and draw the sick
ness right OUT Of the body as though
some nnee and marvellous poultIce had
been applied.
Our cure was completed at the Isle
Of Kninfanga. II is quite large Isle
and Inhabited ny more natives.
We came to The main body OF the
Fills. and smiled into large gulf sur
rounded by distant islands. II was
night. and we decided to wait till
morning TO see huw many ships were
passing and what Island they were
bound for. We reefed our sails and
threw out our sen anchor that sack.
like drag OF canvas that keeps boni
from turning broadside TO the wind
and waves and from drifting too fast
We lay down for decent nights
sleep. We would need all our ener9
giles for the morrow.
A sudden shout. awakened. II
was just daybreak. Straight ahead
was wild white line OF surf II
broke over long. low coral reef, and
just behind 1t WIS high cliff We
had run into strong current during
the night Krauss had awakened just
| In time 10 see that II had carried us
| perilonsly near the reef The wind
| was sweeping us toward the breakers
"Raise SAIL" shouted.
We scrambled framicnly and raised
the canvas The wind was inshore
| We could not hend into It. We were
being blown slowly. inexoruhy onto
| the reef
People accustomed to the surfs along
| ordinary coasts have no Idea of what
breakers are like off the Islands Of
| the South Pacific The surf all over
| the Pacific Is particularly strong. But
when II breaks over mid-oceanit
coral reef nothing can live In 1t. The
strongest swimmer Is sure to he
dashed to pieces against the Jagged
coral.
Of our moving against the wind and
backing away from the reef Slowly
slowly we were nearing 1t. The break
ers roared like thunder. In q few mo
ments we would be flung into thai
denfh trap OF water and coral
Pistol In hand | shouted something
TO the effect that | didn't intend to be
ground to death by the breakers OF
that jagged coral.
The others looked for their pistols
One could not find his. Between the
pull of the current and the pnwer OF
our sails, we were drifting along ths
reef, edging toward H. The wine
gave us an extra push. We were In
the backwash. only few yards away
from the breakers. And still one mar
| could mot find TITS ptstut, Instructive
~, we all waited And that wns wha1
saved our lives. Suddenly we saw the
reef drop away, slanting back al {
sharp angle, and a moment later W.
were drifting parallel TO the coral
Ii was then that discovered there
were two kinds of breathing. In times
OF terrible danger. the breath comes
In short. quick puffs. The danger
gone, you breathe deeply. BY Joe
when we goi clear Of that reef
breathed such breath that II seemed
TO go right down TO my heels. sal
looking at my hoys' faces When VIZ
got our pistols ready. their faces hae
SET tense. as II cast from bronze. VIII
the danger past, their faces held tht
same SET expression. II wns an hour
| before their old expressions came bach
| ngnln. Two of my fellows fount
| patches OF gray In their hair after
ward. tMaybe they had been there
for years only to be discovered now =
| Another's leg was absolutely blue Ii
| spots. In those frghtfui moments he
| had, without knowing Il, grnsped his
| thigh In clutch like o drowning man
| | tell you. by Joe II was the hand o1
| God TINT put the curve In thnt reef
| When one OF the boys. ! don't know
| which, said In surprise, ave are
/ Ia a 4 a