The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

428 A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, He led her along the shore. They had not gone ten yards when she stopped with a little cry. ‘“What’s that? See it just below us there?”’ Her eyes were sharper than his. ‘It’s part of the wreck,’’ he replied. ‘‘ The whole shore will be strewn with it before morning.’’ 8 ‘“Ah! but there is something bound to it, too.’?’ She trembled with more than the cold. ‘‘Is it a body? What became of Mr. Monckton ?’’ Thorne made no reply. He ran down to the water’s edge. ‘“ Glorious !’’ he shouted. ‘It’s my raft. And here’s the valise.’’ He pulled out his knife, cut it free, and came staggering back to her side with the drenched bag. ‘‘ Why do you burden yourself with that?’’ she asked. ‘It’s more precious than gold to us now,’’ he replied. ‘‘ ‘What do you mean ?”? ‘You will see once we find our refuge,’’ he said, trying to speak lightly, They had not far to go before they came upon just such a place as Thorne had hoped to find. He had noticed the porous ‘formation of the cliff and expected there were cavities of some size in it. An opening, before which the sea in some gieat gale had thrown up a barrier of sand and driftwood, yawned hospitably. Thorne hurried his companion toward it. ‘Suppose there is something in there,”’ Sydney suggested timidly, ‘Then we will kill and eat it,’’ declared the young man, laughing. But to reassure her he plunged ahead and entered the cavity alone. She heard him shout to her from within. ~ Come on!’’ he cried. “It is capital. The floor seems as dry asa bone, and the roof overhangs the mouth of the cave and shelters it from the sea,”’ : She followed him hesitatingly. ‘' Wait—stay just where you are till I light a match,’’ he said. ‘“A match, after having been in the sea?’’ demanded Sydney. ‘A match can be carried in a water tight safe, my dear young lady. It is quite evident that you were never cast away before.” In a moment a pleasant little flame sprang up in one corner. ‘Thorne ran for more wood. ‘There was a great quantity just at the mouth of the cave— a : the débris from former wrecks. Soon a roaring fire lit up the whole place and its grateful warmth imparted new life to their chilled bodies. | Isn’t it glorious?’’ he cried, heaping on the fuel. “‘ Stull, we are ina semi trophical latitude, and when the sun shines it must be hot enough here.”” ‘ But you are prodigal with the fuel,’’ she said. ‘‘ There is plenty—cords of it,’’ he returned, and went out for more to prove his assertion. Soon he came staggering back under the weight of a great plank which he threw down at one side. ‘‘ This is too big to burn, and I can’t break it up,’’ he remarked, ‘‘ but it will make us a good seat.’’ BC aa pe a he) Dy ASEM em Shaedas 4 4 be lo )