The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-10-04

1nefd the torn emphatic fronds OF
banana trees could be seen
Among all the landing-places they
chose the nearest. q bare point Of
old dead black waveworn coral upon
which there was q great gatherine
OF driftwood. Their great need AZ
the moment was water, so they
made the raft secure and scrambled
over broken coral and trudged along
beaches and came before long to q
stable stream Of cold and sweet
water.
They drank and they bathed, and
Helen drank and bathed and then
they hurried back to the raft, for the
sun was going down and there was
much to be done TO prepare for the
first night ashore.
While Bowers unloaded the raft
and carried their gear beyond the
reach Of any sudden change in the
weather. Ivy gathered driftwood
and built a fire-a fire. that Is to
say. which would be a fire when II
was lighted.
II ever they saw a passing ship
they would light this fire and when
It was burning aercely. they would
throw green stun on Il to make q
great dark smoke and this they
would gather under a wet blanket
and let go In periodic dark bursts
which could not but be noticed.
THE sun went down IN glory. but
1 they had their back to it. They
had agreed to camp where night
found them and not to worry about
permanent habitation until the
next day. They would make a little
FIRE and heat some Of the canned
things.
They had had nothing in which to
fetch supply of water from the
streams but having finished the I'M
loading. Bowers had gone after
green coconuts. There were many
near at hand to be had for tho
trouble of chopping step or two in
the sloping trunk OF young tree
Engrossed upon this business. he
heard Ivy calling to him at the top
OF her lungs. She had turned sea.
ward. having finished her business
with the driftwood. and there mile
beyond the barrier-reef. suddenly ar
rived as it seemed out Of nowhere.
slowly steamed a spruce gray gun
boat.
Bowers had no sooner emerged
from the coconut grove than be too
perceived the gunboat He could
have laughed aloud. What a piece Of
luck! A rescuing ship to be sig
nailed. a bonfire already laid. and a
blanket.
Not far from where Ivy had laid
the fire. he had piled all the gear
from the raft. He dug about with his
hands for matches. They had been
packed that morning. together with
the canned things. salt and sugar
and so forth. into blankets wet from
the heavy rain OF the previous
night.
They were damp through and
through. He was not able to strike
a light.
Meanwhile the gunboat was not
standing still. In a general direction
she wills standing along the barrier
reef ind moving further and fur
Their away. There was just a chance.
That damned elephant-rifle which
he had never firedl It would make a
noise like young cannon.
With fingers which now shook
from excitement. he unstrapped the
elephant-rifleis case and ierked
back the lid. but instead of the
ominous brown barrels and the
welI-ciled walnut stock. spools of
copper wire met the eye. lead sink
ers. and pieces OF broken metal. His
heart almost stood still.
He opened the remaining gun
cases with the same distressing re-
suits. Except for an Ak and his
poeket-knife, he was without weap-
ons.
Kneeling beside the last Of the
rayished gun-cases. "The damned
swine stole my guns" he said. And
presently he added: And that's q
pretty kettle OF fish. -.
He got to his feet and slid an arm
around her. Together they watched
the receding gunboat She was
turning In a great sweep to star
board. and when at last the dark.
ness closed down upon her and she
vanished from view. she was head
ed for Borneo.
Never mind. darling" said Bow
ers. "rve got you and tomorrow Ia
another day."
From somewhere In the jungle
not far OF there sounded the full
throated angry roar Of a tiger.
They had forgotten all about the
tigers. The hair on Bowers scalp
tingled.
Must have missed hts KILL" was
all that he said. Ivy did not speak.
| (cesyiSAt, 1854. b. Gosssr~srr Kosris)
sowars makes. tomorrow. an