Henry C. Rowland

“ Nails were drawn or dug from box and cask, the smashed ends of the boat neatly spliced and caulked with cotton fibers.
On the ninth day a bright idea suddenly seized the Baronet. He called the Banker, the Artist, and the Mate aside.
"I say, you chaps, I've been thinking that the grub is getting jolly low, and that the Countess is not getting enough to eat. She's a game little thing, and never whimpers; but she's going downhill fast. We men have got to cut down our rations—what?"
Knapp smiled a tired smile.
"Women don't need as much food as men, anyway. ”

“ The Banker awoke with a gasp. "Are you awake, Knapp?" he asked querulously. "I'm as cold as death. Can't you build up that fire?" He raised himself on his elbow and saw the Countess.
"If you're going to sit up by the fire, Celeste, do you mind if I take your piece of canvas? Who'd ever think that it could be so cold down here in the tropics!" he grumbled. "You know my lungs aren't very strong, Celeste, and the first thing you know I'll be having pneumonia!"
He tugged the scrap of sail partly off the Baronet. "I say, Knapp, just tuck that thing around my feet, will you? ”

“ Get in the boat!"
"No," said the Mate, "I'm going to stop here until you send a schooner for me. It won't be very long. This tub wouldn't be safe with my extra weight in her when it breezes up this afternoon." He was wading behind the boat, shoving her through the shallows ahead of him. The Countess could not see his face as he was leaning over, the better to throw his weight against the stern.
"You're all right now. There's nothing more that I can do. Sir Henry understands about the courses, and as soon as you get clear of the island you can hoist your sail and get a fine fair wind. ”

“ Knapp rose slowly to his feet and took off his cap.
"Our Father—" she began, and the others joined in; all but the Banker, who took the opportunity to clean the Countess's unfinished shell of chowder.
"The Lord's Prayer doesn't seem to quite fill all of the requirements," cheerfully remarked the Mate when he had finished, "but it's the only one I know; and, after all, the "daily bread" part is the most important for us."
When they awoke in the morning the Artist was missing. The Countess was the first to find his writing in the sand. ”

“ When you get to Maue you can send a schooner——"
"Celeste, sit down!" snapped the Banker. "You'll upset the boat if you don't look out!"
"Yes; sit down. Celeste," said the Baronet. "We've arranged it all, and it's the best way——"
Splash The Countess had leaped nimbly into the water and was wading, waist deep, back to the beach before the Mate could intercept her.
At the edge of the water she turned.
"And you would leave J-J-Jordin Knapp so—alone, desolated—even as you left me on the vessel? Mais non! He have stay by me, an' I will remain with him. ”

“ The three men sat down and watched the preparation of the chowder in silence, Knapp meanwhile munching a biscuit. Presently he arose.
"Tm going to take a pasear around the island. Want some exercise?" he asked the Baronet.
"Thanks, awfully; but I've had enough for one day, I fancy. It doesn't take long to do the place. You can walk all the way around it in twenty minutes."
Knapp picked up the cover of the biscuit tin, and, going to the water's edge, filled it carefully, and placed it in the sun. ”

“ Have you—aw—anything to suggest?"
"Darn little," said the Mate, who had finished his survey. "There isn't enough material to work on."
"Shall we carry the Countess to the camp?" asked the Banker.
"Better carry the camp to the Countess," said the Baronet. "It's more portable, and won't be disturbed by moving."
"How much of a camp have you got?" asked the Mate.
"An artist, a Jap mess boy, and the articles before mentioned," replied the Baronet.
The Banker sat on the sand, and with his shovel shielded the Countess's eyes from the sun-rays. ”

“ The Mate dug his foot in the sand, and gnawed the end of his new bristling mustache.
"Is there any other reason, Celeste?" he asked in a voice like the echo of the surf.
She raised her head, and the sunlight shone on her face. The little hands were tightly clasped.
"Ah, yes; there is more. I have known many men in many country, many who have the wit, the resource, the courage, the heart of gold. But never have I known a man who have them all, as this gran' man; and he has, beside—" she turned and covered her face with her hands—"mon cœur!" she sobbed softly.
"Oh, h—!" growled the Banker ”

“ The Baronet nodded. "What are the chances of being taken off, Knapp?" he asked.
"Darn slim. Accidental, you might say. Everything passing gives this island a wide berth on account of the others on either side of us. Now, if we could manage to get to the next island;—but I don't quite see how we can." He wandered off down the beach.
Illustration: "'Countess, .. do you believe in God and heaven and all that?'"
When he returned an hour later, the Countess and the Banker had joined the group around the fire. ”

“ The island goes about as far as you can see in each direction. There is saved from the wreck of the yacht one lady, five men, one can of biscuits, one boat compass, one hatchet, one dipper, a jar of marmalade, and about a dozen matches—besides such uninventoried articles as may be scattered along the beach. ”

“ The bare, gleaming arms flashed down and outward. She turned and faced them defiantly, her back to the man she would not desert, her bosom rising and falling. Before her stretched salvation and the sea ”