The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. - 425 something to Thorne as he went up. But the passenger kept on to his own quarters. If they were to be cast away upon a desert island the ship biscuit and salt meat Pepper had produced would not last long. Sydney could not subsist on such food. It was for her welfare he thought. He seized a valise and tumbled a lot of his canned provisions into it. Then he rushed to her cabin and tore open the door. Everything was in confusion, but he found her workbox. He threw that into the valise also, and followed it with several small articles from the drawer of her dressing - case. ‘Then he started for the deck. . As he mounted the stairs a great wave met him and swept him back into the flooded cabin. But he clung to the valise and got upon his feet again. It was pitch dark in the place. It was almost as dark outside. As he reached the deck once more not a soul was in sight. He staggered out upon the slippery planks and shouted hoarsely. No voice replied, but by his side there suddenly appeared the form of a man. Thorne recoiled and threw up his arm to shield his head from the blow he saw was about to fall. But the weapon descended and Thorne fell to the wave swept deck and lay prone, stunned and motionless ! CHAPTER XI.—Cast AwWaAy. Nicut had now shut down upon the wind beaten sea. Occasionally splashes of rain churned the waves to foam, or a vivid flash of lightning lit up the awful scene, while the thunder muttered overhead. ‘The tropical typhoon had passed almost as quickly as it had risen ; but it had left in its wake a tempest of wind and rain, beneath which the stoutest bark might stagger. The Naida, caught between the huge jaws of the reef, reeled and shook be- neath every blow the sea dealt her. RS The masts had quickly wrenched themselves free. Their falling had driven the two boats, with their human freight, from the brig’s side. And when they were pushed off and rowed desperately for the unknown coast, they left the unconscious form of Howard Thorne lying upon the deck. very wave, as it rolled solemnly up behind, broke high above the quarter, and poured its tons upon tons of water inboard. The roaring, turbulent stream, confined for the moment between the yet unbroken bulwarks, swept everything movable forward. It rolled the inanimate body of ‘Thorne over and over into the scuppers. But it could not break his hold upon the valise. He clung to that with a death grip. The rough treatment, however, aroused him at last. ‘The blow dealt by his unknown assailant had glanced from his arm to his head. ‘The arm hung all but helpless by his side; but it had saved his head. He struggled into a sitting posture between two waves. The roar of the breakers under the brig's bow deafened him ; the confusion of the elements was all about : yet with returning consciousness came the activity of mind that belongs to the physically brave man. The wreck would not hold together long under the terrific onslaught of the waves. If he would save himself he must work quickly. He clung to CoMmMiclooolks 5}