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the door of the room which Helen and Netta jointly occupied. He had spent most of the night in a lover-like rapture, pacing the deck and await ing his fate. "If Helen does not encourage me," he tragically decided, "I shall leave the Neptune at the next port. I could not remain and see her won by a rival." And the day had dawned and Helen had appeared. In honor of the day she wore an underskirt formed of stars and stripes and two dainty silken flags in her hair, but no ro sette and only the same kindly gra cious smile on her lips. Then a riotous morning of fire crackers and feasting and music but not for Roy. HiB heart was heavy until Helen had suggested the 'run away cruise. And now lost along a bewildering archipelago of barren islets, the sun swinging low in the golden west and Helen radiant, and gentle, and encouraging. A flash of supreme happiness en wrapt Roy. He drove the boat around a cluster of little islands and gained a free space, but neither up nor down shore was yacht visible. "You see, Miss Perry," 'he said helplessly, "no sign of the Neptune. Too bad!" He had a plan formed in his mind to get around the island. And nearer he shore to follow its contour first north, then south until he could lo cate the yacht. A glance at the full gauge told him that thefeat was im practicable. "The gasoline is giving out," he re ported grewaomely. "Then we cannot go much further?" inquired Helen. . "Less than & mile probably." "There, is an island with a high ridge of rocks at one end," suggested she, indicating "the point of view. "Yes, I Bee it." "We might take the glass and see if we cannot make oiit the Neptune the height will help, don't you think?;'- - "If we can reach the island," said" Roy and started ttie boat in its direc-, tlon. Just barely the engine lasted out till the island was reached. Helen carried the telescope. Roy shoulder ed a repeating rifle. They left the boat and began the climb of a narrow ledge of rock that arose like some monument. It was no easy Journey: When they came to the top they found it to resemble some natural fortification. There was a cave-like, depression, some dead trees and its open space looked down upon the point where they had landed. "Why, look!" suddenly exclaimed Helen. "The mischief!" echoed Roy. Twenty canoes filled with dUBky savages surrounded the motor boat. Acting on an unhappy, impulse to frighten them away, Roy shouted down at them and then fired the gutt twice. With angry cries the natives rowed to a short distance. Theri-the canoes were steadied. A shower of pebbles directed" from -slings, arrows j and darts came raining upon the way farers aloft. ,( - r, , "This is serious ! declared R6y so licitously, andhejied hlsv,fair com panion back"intb"tb.eshelter of the cave. She emerged "thence as, he fell, struck, by a rock from .below. She soothed his wounded, head with her handkerchief. Then she ran back into the cave. To reappear, however, startlingly! At a glance Roy saw what she had done. Helen, had removed her under skirt of stars and stripes. She ran to the edge of the rock waving the red, white and blue, a true banner to the angry mob belc . "They see it! they know it!" she cried exultingly, and this was true. One by otte the belligerepts paddled away. Somewhere they had learned the power and glory of that protect ing flag. Then the excited ready misB sug gested that they gather Up all-the dry . C- .. i S 1, J&Au mi fciilaliriiMi taaammmmambmamamm