EACH RAFT HAD A SMALL SUPPLY OF WATER AND A STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT ON IT. MISS BAKER AND MR. MOORE COULD SURVIVE FOR 7 TO 10 DAYS, MAYBE LONGER IF IT RAINED AND THEY CAUGHT MORE WATER. IT HAD ONLY BEEN 6 DAYS SINCE THEY HAD BEEN SET ADRIFT.   

KATHY WRITES:

It seemed as if they had drifted forever, and no matter which direction they looked, all they saw was water, water, and more water. Now and then they spotted a school of dolphin, and usually they would swim along side the raft for a matter of time. It was as if the dolphin knew there was a problem of some sort, but they didn’t know how to help.

Kathy and Loren were surviving fairly well and were especially careful with their water supply. Luckily Kathy had grabbed her “so-called” handbag/suitcase as they set sail in the life raft. Most anything needed for survival could be found in the depths of that thing - even an over-sized beach towel that had proven to be exceptional protection from the sun’s rays.

On day seven Kathy remarked, “Loren, I’m really tired of eating these cans of rations. Besides, we’re going to run out soon. I want to catch a fish.”

“And, just how do you suggest we do that? Jump in and catch them by hand?” Loren had been getting quite fussy the past 24 hours.

“I’ve got it all figured out, so just perk up!” Kathy snapped at him.

She dug into her “everything bag” and came up with hairpins. “All we have to do is twist several of these together for strength, and we have a hook, of sorts!”

Loren began to look interested, but then his face fell again as he said, “So, what if they would work? What do you suggest we use for fishing line?”

Reaching into her “bag” again, she pulled out a skein of yarn used for knitting. At long last, Loren had a smile on his face as big as the state of Texas. “What in the world are you doing with that yarn in there?”

Kathy smiled. “I had planned to knit or crochet something on the plane to Hawaii, but they took away my knitting needles and crochet hooks at the airport. I just now remembered I still had all this yarn. I think we’re in business!”

Loren was twisting the hairpins together frantically. “Hot damn – we’re gonna catch a fish for dinner,” he giggled.

LOREN WRITES:

WHEN LOREN HAD THE IMPROMPTU FISH HOOK READY, HE TIED IT TO A BRAIDED LINE KATHY HAD MADE FROM HER YARN. THEN HE OPENED ONE OF THE CANS OF SPAM, CUT OFF A SMALL CHUNK, AND BAITED THE HOOK. LOREN LET THE HOOK DOWN IN THE WATER SLOWLY UNTIL HE CAME TO THE END OF THE LINE.

HE HAD TIED A LOOP IN THE END OF THE LINE AND HAD IT LOOPED OVER HIS WRIST. THEY HAD DRIFTED ALONG FOR AN HOUR WITHOUT A BITE, WHEN LOREN ASKED KATHY TO HOLD THE LINE WHILE HE ATE THE REST OF THE CAN OF SPAM. KATHY TOOK THE LINE AND PUT THE LOOP OVER HER ARM.

“LOREN, DON’T EAT ALL OF THE SPAM, SAVE SOME OF IT FOR MORE BAIT. I JUST KNOW WE’RE …”… AT THAT TIME KATHY WAS JERKED SIDE WAYS AND ALMOST PULLED OUT OF THE RAFT. KATHY GRABBED THE LINE WITH BOTH HANDS AND LOREN GRABBED KATHY’S BELT. KATHY SCREAMED, “WE GOT A FISH!” THEN THE LINE WENT SLACK.

“WE HAD A FISH!” LOREN SAID. HE ROLLED UP THE LINE AND THE HOOK WAS GONE. “THAT HAIRPIN WIRE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD A FISH. WE’RE NEVER GOING TO GET A FISH LIKE THIS.” LOREN THREW THE REST OF THE SPAM HE HAD SAVED FOR BAIT OVERBOARD.

TWO DOLPHINS THAT HAD BEEN FOLLOWING THE RAFT SWOOPED IN AND ATE IT, AND THEN TO THE ASTONISHMENT OF LOREN AND KATHY, THE DOLPHINS BEGAN TO PUSH THE RAFT. AT FIRST KATHY THOUGHT THEY WERE TRYING TO TURN THE RAFT OVER, BUT IT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT THEY WERE MOVING IT IN ONE DIRECTION.

AFTER TWO HOURS, LOREN POINTED AHEAD AND EXCITEDLY TOLD KATHY TO LOOK. HE SAW AN ISLAND AHEAD OF THEM.

KATHY WRITES:

The dolphin didn’t stop pushing until the raft actually touched the sand beach. They each then lifted their head out of the water as if to say “farewell,” and with a splash headed back out to sea.

“I’ve heard of dolphin saving people’s lives before, but this is unbelievable. I think it must be a miracle, and just look at this paradise they chose for us,” said Kathy.

The sand was blinding white, which gradually became a lush green forest. The air was filled with songs of unfamiliar birds, and scampering sounds could be heard on the forest floor.

Loren and Kathy drug the raft up to the tree line, secured it, and almost immediately spotted several coconuts on the ground. Then the hard work began! They slammed them against rocks over and over, until they split open at long last. Collapsing on the ground, they savored the juice and then the meat inside. Nothing had tasted that good in their entire lives.

They relaxed in the shade and discussed what needed to be done, and in what order. First, was to drag dead wood from the forest floor and create a huge “S O S” on the beach.

With that done, they decided once darkness fell they would begin walking the beach looking for lights. They had no idea if the island was even inhabited. Preparing to walk all night if necessary, they both drifted off to sleep.

LOREN WRITES:

WHEN THEY WOKE UP, THEY FOUND THAT THE TIDE HAD COME IN AND WASHED THEIR “S O S” AWAY. IF THEY HAD NOT TIED THE RAFT TO A TREE, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN GONE ALSO. LOREN AND KATHY LOOKED AND COULDN’T FIND ANYMORE COCONUTS ON THE GROUND, BUT THERE WERE LOTS OF THEM IN THE TREES.

THEY DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THAT PROBLEM LATER. BESIDES IT WAS GETTING DARK. BUT WITH THE TIDE IN, THERE WAS NO BEACH TO WALK ON. THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT THAT IDEA ON HOLD ALSO.

THE DARKER IT GOT THE NOISIER THE JUNGLE BEHIND THEM BECAME. THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF WEIRD SOUNDS COMING FROM THE THICK TREES. “KATHY, I THINK WE BETTER BUILD A FIRE. WILD ANIMALS DON’T LIKE FIRE. HELP ME GATHER SOME WOOD BEFORE IT GETS PLUMB DARK. WE HAVE THE SURVIVAL KIT FROM THE RAFT AND IT HAS A STEEL FLINT IN IT TO MAKE FIRE.”

SO, LOREN AND KATHY MADE A FIRE AND KEPT IT GOING ALL NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING THE TIDE HAD GONE BACK OUT, AND THERE WAS A BEACH TO WALK ON. THEY DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE EXPLORING AND STARTED WALKING DOWN THE BEACH.

KATHY WRITES:

They walked for several miles and there was still no evidence that the island was inhabited – other than by the screeching and shrieking wildlife within the jungle.

Kathy continually gathered shells as they walked. Loren didn’t understand why, but didn’t say a word. That is, until Kathy could no longer manage them all, and asked him to carry some too.

“Just what are you going to do with all these dad-gum shells anyway? We have more important things to do than haul them around with us,” he grumbled with a frown on his face.

“Just indulge me – alright! If I have to get rid of them later I will, but they are so beautiful. They will make wonderful souvenirs once we are rescued and return home.” Kathy was fluttering her eyelashes as she spoke.

Soon they agreed to take a break, eat a coconut, and re-energize.

They were relaxing and Kathy was playing in the sand when suddenly she nearly blew the wax out of Loren’s ears. “Oh my gosh – Loren – this is a gold doubloon or something!” As she spoke she was digging frantically with one of the large clamshells she had collected. “Oh, here’s another one!”

Loren grabbed one of the dirty, encrusted items and using his shirttail, began spitting and polishing it with grains of sand. 

“Good lord, woman, I think you’re right!” He jumped up and started doing the Hand-Jive, as he sang every word to the old song.

Loren grabbed a shell and began digging too. From the backside they looked like a couple of big dogs burrowing under a fence. Sand was flying fast and furious. Now and then another coin was discovered, and they would both let out war-whoops. They had indeed discovered some loose gold coins, and knew there was probably an ancient chest loaded with treasure buried somewhere in the vicinity.

LOREN WRITES:

“WAIT A MINUTE, KATHY, STOP DIGGING. WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS FOOD. WE CAN’T EAT GOLD, AND WE STILL NEED TO EXPLORE THE ISLAND. COME ON! GET UP AND LETS GO.”

“YOU NINCOMPOOP, THIS GOLD WILL BUY US A TON OF FOOD. GET YOUR SORRY BUTT BACK DOWN HERE AND START DIGGING!”

“YELL, YOU STUPID BIMBO, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND IT?”

KATHY WOULDN’T STOP DIGGING SO LOREN WALKED ON DOWN THE BEACH. AFTER WALKING FOR TWO MORE MILES, HE CAME TO A ROCK OUTCROPPING THAT RAN OUT INTO THE WATER. THAT STOPPED ANYMORE TRAVELING DOWN THE BEACH, SO LOREN TURNED AROUND TO RETRACE HIS STEPS BACK TO KATHY.

HE SAW A COCONUT LYING AT THE HIGH TIDE MARK SO HE PICKED IT UP, BROKE IT OPEN, DRANK THE JUICE, AND ATE THE MEAT. THEN HE SAT DOWN IN THE SHADE OF A TREE TO REST. BEFORE HE KNEW IT, HE WAS SOUND ASLEEP.

WHEN HE WOKE UP HE SAW THE TIDE WAS COMING IN. HE KNEW HE HAD TO GET BACK TO KATHY TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS SAFE. HE STARTED RUNNING UP THE BEACH TOWARD WHERE HE HAD LEFT HER. HE COULDN’T SEE HER, BUT HE COULD SEE A HOLE AND SAND WAS STILL FLYING OUT OF IT.

AS LOREN RAN UP BESIDE THE HOLE, HE SAW KATHY ON HER KNEES DIGGING FRANTICLY WITH A HALF CLAM SHELL IN EACH HAND. THERE WAS A SMALL PILE OF GOLD COINS IN FRONT OF HER KNEES. THE WATER WAS GETTING CLOSER WITH EACH WAVE.

LOREN REACH DOWN, GRABBED KATHY BY THE SHOULDER AND TRIED TO PULL HER UP. SHE TURNED HER EYES ON HIM FOR JUST AN INSTANT AND WENT BACK TO DIGGING. WHEN LOREN HAD LOOKED INTO KATHY’S EYES HE SAW THAT SHE HAD (GASP) “GOLD FEVER.”

THE NEXT WAVE BROUGHT WATER INTO THE HOLE. LOREN REACHED DOWN, GRABBED KATHY’S HAIR AND PULLED JUST AS ANOTHER WAVE WASHED SAND AND WATER INTO THE HOLE. “COME ON KATHY, SNAP OUT OF IT. WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO OUR CAMPSITE BEFORE THE BEACH IS COVERED WITH WATER.”

THEY JUST BARELY MADE IT BACK TO THEIR CAMPSITE IN TIME, AS IT WAS STARTING TO GET DARK. THEY GATHERED FIRE WOOD AND BUILT A FIRE. THEY WERE BOTH TIRED AND SOON FELL ASLEEP.

THE NEXT MORNING KATHY TOLD LOREN SHE WAS GOING BACK WHERE HER GOLD WAS AND DIG IT OUT AGAIN. LOREN AGREED TO GO ALONG. BUT, KATHY COULDN’T FIND A TRACE OF WHERE SHE HAD BEEN DIGGING. THE OCEAN HAD WIPED THE BEACH CLEAN. SO, THEY WENT BACK TO THEIR CAMPSITE.

“KATHY WE HAVE TO MOVE ON UP THE BEACH. WE’VE BURNED ALL THE FIREWOOD ANYWHERE CLOSE TO HERE. BESIDES, WE WANT TO EXPLORE MORE OF THE ISLAND.” KATHY AGREED AND UNTIED THE RAFT FROM THE TREE. TOGETHER THEY STARTED PULLING IT UP THE BEACH.

AFTER THEY HAD GONE A MILE, THEY FOUND A SMALL STREAM RUNNING OUT OF THE JUNGLE INTO THE OCEAN. LOREN SCOOPED UP SOME WATER IN HIS HAND AND TASTED IT. IT WAS COOL, SWEET, FRESH WATER. THEY FLOPPED DOWN ON THEIR BELLIES AND DRANK THEIR FILL.

“KATHY THIS IS WHERE WE WILL MAKE OUR NEW CAMPSITE. THERE IS LOTS OF DEAD WOOD FOR FIRE, THE WATER IS A GOD SEND, AND LOOK - THERE ARE SEVERAL COCONUTS.”

LOREN AND KATHY BOTH BROKE OPEN A COCONUT AND ATE THE MEAT OUT OF IT. THEN THEY USED THE COCONUT SHELL AS A CUP TO DRINK WATER.

AFTER DARK, AS THEY WERE SITTING BY THEIR FIRE, LOREN TOOK THE KNIFE OUT OF THE SURVIVAL KIT IN THE RAFT. HE WAS THINKING IF HE COULD TIE IT TO A SIX- FOOT LONG STICK TO MAKE A SPEAR, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO KILL SOME ANIMAL FOR THEM TO EAT. HE KNEW THEY HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING BESIDES COCONUTS IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.

“KATHY, GIVE ME SOME OF THAT YARN YOU HAVE IN YOUR BAG.”

KATHY LOOKED AROUND AND THEN GOT A HORRIFIED LOOK ON HER FACE. “LOREN, I SET MY BAG DOWN ON THE SAND BEHIND ME WHEN I UNTIED THE RAFT FROM THE TREE! WHEN WE STARTED PULLING THE RAFT UP THE BEACH, I FORGOT TO PICK UP MY BAG. DO YOU THINK IT WILL STILL BE THERE IN THE MORNING?”

THE NEXT MORNING, JUST AS SOON AS THE SUN CAME UP, THEY WENT BACK DOWN THE BEACH TO THEIR OLD CAMPSITE. THE TIDE HAD COME IN DURING THE NIGHT AND HAD GONE BACK OUT THAT MORNING. THE OCEAN HAD CLAIMED KATHY’S BAG; AS SURE AS IT HAD TAKEN BACK HER GOLD.

WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE NEW CAMPSITE, LOREN TOLD KATHY HE WAS GOING TO WALK UP THE LITTLE STREAM AND LOOK AROUND.

KATHY WRITES:

As soon as Loren was out of sight, Kathy hightailed it back down the beach to their old campsite. She was determined to find her bag, or at least some of the contents.

Once there she began looking through the very edges of the green undergrowth. It only made sense that a tide coming in would “push” something forward before “pulling” it back out to sea. Perhaps a few items had hung up in the trees.

She looked until she was cross-eyed, had a backache, and was mad as a hatter.

“I’ve got to stretch out and get the kinks out of my back before heading back.” Kathy plopped down in the sand and began stretching this way and that, all the while keeping her eyes focused on the undergrowth.

“Holy Toledo! How could I have missed it?” She raced into the forest and retrieved her bag. It had been pushed forward all right, and being a shoulder strap bag, it had hung up on a branch. Miracle of all miracles, it had been zipped, and not one item was missing. Loren would be able to make his spear after all! Hopefully he knew how to use one – they were both ready for some meat. Maybe he could even get a fish or two if there were no critters in the jungle. Kathy had already decided she wasn’t eating anything funky – like monkey! She’d rather starve to death first.

“Loren, Loren, Loren!” Kathy was racing down the beach like she was being chased by band of pirates. She ran until she could go no further before sitting down to rest.

After catching her breath, she sat up ready to finish her trek back to the new campsite. Suddenly something flashed in her eye! Yep, a gold coin. Quite by accident she had taken her rest at the very spot the coins had been found before.

“Kathy, Kathy – where are you?” Loren was stomping down the beach and he wasn’t happy. Keeping an eye on this woman was about to wear him to a frazzle.

That’s when he spotted her digging in the sand again.

“We’re going to starve to death if we don’t get some meat in our bellies, and there you are looking for hidden treasure again.”

“Everything is wonderful, Loren. I found my bag and I found the location of the gold again. Get whatever you need out of my bag and go to work on your spear. We need a good meal because we have a lot of diggin’ to do.”

LOREN WRITES:

“KATHY YOU MAY HAVE FOUND YOUR BAG BUT YOU HAVEN’T FOUND THE LOCATION OF YOUR GOLD. THE LOCATION OF YOUR GOLD WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR OLD CAMP SITE DOWN TOWARD THAT ROCK OUTCROPPING.”

“BUT LOREN I FOUND ANOTHER GOLD COIN!”

“YOU GO AHEAD AND DIG FOR GOLD COINS IF YOU WANT TO, KATHY. NOW THAT I HAVE MY SPEAR I’M GOING HUNTING FOR SOMETHING TO EAT.”

SO LOREN LEFT KATHY DIGGING IN THE SAND AND HE WENT INTO THE JUNGLE. HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE MAKING HIS WAY THROUGH ALL THE DENSE UNDERGROWTH, BUT HE COULD HEAR THINGS MOVING AROUND JUST IN FRONT OF HIM. THEN HE HEARD AN ANIMAL OFF TO HIS LEFT AND HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS. LOREN HAD HEARD A PIG GRUNTING.

HE GOT DOWN ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES SO HE COULD SEE UNDER SOME OF THE VINES, FERNS, AND BIG GREEN LEAVES. HE COULD SEE A PIG WANDERING ALONG, STOPPING EVERY SO OFTEN TO ROOT UP A SUCCULENT MORSEL.

LOREN STARTED CRAWLING TOWARD THE PIG, HOPING TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO USE HIS SPEAR. BUT BEFORE LOREN COULD GET CLOSE, THE PIG SAW HIM AND RAN OFF.

BEING DISAPPOINTED, TIRED, AND HUNGRY, LOREN FOUND HIS WAY BACK TO THE BEACH AND KATHY. SHE WAS SITTING IN THE SHADE OF A TREE, SOBBING. WHEN SHE SAW LOREN SHE TOLD HIM SHE COULDN’T FIND ANYMORE COINS. LOREN SAT DOWN BESIDE HER AND STARTED SOBBING ALSO.

“WHAT ARE YOU CRYING ABOUT, LOREN? I DIDN’T THINK YOU WANTED ANY GOLD.”

“KATHY, I’M NOT CRYING ABOUT GOLD. I’M CRYING ABOUT THAT PIG I FOUND BUT COULDN’T GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO KILL. WE BETTER START LOOKING FOR SOME MORE COCONUTS.”

KATHY WRITES:

“I’m sick to death of those coconuts! All you’re gonna do is injure a hog with a spear of this size. Then, he’s going to turn on you and probably kill you. Give me your stupid spear and I’ll get us a fish.”

Kathy snatched the spear out of Loren’s hand and waded out into the surf. All the while Loren was yelling that she shouldn’t go too far out. How in the name of heaven did he end up in a rescue raft with her? Lost at sea was one thing, but lost at sea with Kathy was a nightmare, indeed.

“Just leave me alone, I know what I’m doing.” The water was clear and she slowly made her way along the line of the beach. Several small fish were seen, but she was waiting for something large enough to last a few days.

“Aha, I see you! Whoa…! Hey fella, take it easy on me!”

Loren could see Kathy struggling with something and went dashing into the surf. She was being thrown head over heels and water was flying 6 feet high! Realizing they would never get it on the beach using the spear, he tackled the shark and hung on for dear life. The spear came loose and Kathy tossed it onto the beach, then she grabbed onto the tail. The three of them went round and round for what seemed like an eternity. At last, the shark began to tire and they wrestled it to the beach. Luckily, the shark didn’t bite either of them during their melee.

“Kathy, we’re gonna eat like kings for days! This thing must weigh 40 lbs. I’m going to get busy cleaning it, and what we don’t plan to eat today; we’ll hang from tree limbs to dry in the sun. Run into the underbrush and see if you can find some dead limbs, we need to hang the meat in the sun. We’ll place them out on the beach where we can keep an eye on them. I’m not giving up this fish to that hog or any other critters lurking around on this island.”

“I better retrieve our spear before I do anything. Loren, look! When I tossed it onto the beach it stuck upright in the sand. Couldn’t do that again in a million years!” Kathy took off skipping down the beach and Loren just shook his head.

She gave the spear a slight tug, and it didn’t budge. She tugged again, and still nothing. Grabbing it with both hands didn’t work either, so she got down on her knees and started digging sand away from the spear tip.

Soon she found what appeared to be an old piece of wood, but as she continued to clear the sand it became evident she had found a chest of some sort. Then she saw the lock on the chest, which had rusted and was easily pried open.

Very carefully she raised the lid, even though the rest of the chest was still buried in the sand. She screamed as the sun struck the treasure and it nearly blinded her!

“Holy Toledo! Loren, Loren! Leave that fish alone and get over here. I have found lost, buried treasure and it’s not just a few coins this time.”

Loren took his time waddling down the beach. He was getting pretty fed up with Kathy and her illusions of gold coins and the like. All he wanted to do was cook some fish and enjoy the feeling of a full belly. If he ever got off the island alive, he hoped to never lay eyes on this dingy woman again.

“Holy Toledo – it’s blinding!” Loren fell on his knees in the sand and stared in disbelief. “Oh mercy, me! We’ve either got to dig up the entire chest, or remove the contents before the tide comes in tonight.” He was shielding his eyes with his hands.

Meanwhile Kathy had grabbed a handful of the jewels and was donning each finger with a ring, wrapping jewels around her neck, and cramming her pockets full of coins. “Aren’t I going to look elegant at dinner tonight?” Then she placed a strand of pearls around Loren’s neck, and rolled in the sand giggling like a child.

LOREN WRITES:

“KATHY, HAND ME THAT SPEAR. I’LL TAKE THE KNIFE OFF AND USE IT TO DIG AROUND THE CHEST OF JEWELS. WE HAVE TO MOVE IT BEFORE THE TIDE COMES IN.”

KATHY JUMPED UP AND GRABBED THE SPEAR AGAIN, AND PULLED WITH ALL HER MIGHT. SHE STILL COULDN’T PULL THE BLADE OUT OF THE WOOD; SO SHE KICKED THE SPEAR WITH HER FOOT. “AU-OH, LOREN, I BROKE IT,” KATHY SAID WITH A SOB.

“YOU BROKE WHAT, KATHY? WHAT ARE YOU CARRYING ON ABOUT?”

“LOREN, I BROKE THE BLADE OFF YOUR KNIFE. IT’S STILL STUCK IN THE LID OF THE CHEST. BUT HERE IS THE HANDLE OF YOUR KNIFE STILL TIED TO THE SPEAR SHAFT. CAN YOU USE IT TO DIG WITH?”

LOREN WAS FIT TO BE TIED. HE STOOD UP AND STARTED PULLING ON HIS HAIR. HE WAS WALKING AROUND IN CIRCLES, KICKING SAND INTO THE TREASURE CHEST. “HOW IN THE WORLD DID I EVER GET PUT IN A RAFT WITH THIS CRAZY BIMBO?”

“KATHY, WITHOUT THE KNIFE WE CAN’T SKIN AND CLEAN THAT SHARK, AND WE CAN’T GET ANYTHING ELSE TO EAT. YOU BURY YOURSELF WITH THAT TREASURE CHEST AND BE HAPPY WITH YOUR RICHES. I’M GOING TO LOOK FOR SOME MORE COCONUTS.” THUS SAYING, HE THREW THE NECKLACE THAT WAS AROUND HIS NECK BACK INTO THE CHEST, AND STOMPED OFF UP THE BEACH.

KATHY WRITES:

“Whew, what an old grump!” Kathy could not understand why Loren was in such a twit over the broken knife. “There’s more than one way to skin a cat, or a fish,” she mumbled to herself, as she continued digging through the contents of the chest. “Why doesn’t he just find a couple of nice sharp clam shells – MEN!”

Kathy decided she’d best go find some clamshells for him. She would then explain the delicate and complicated procedure to Loren; before he pulled every last hair he had right out of his head.

She began to close the lid on the buried chest, but then something caught her eye. Well, Loren would be one happy camper with this! Not only was it a good-sized knife, but it was encrusted with jewels.

“Loren, stop, wait up!” Kathy was racing down the beach to catch up with her pouting, castaway partner. When she finally did, she had both hands behind her back. “Guess which hand!”

Loren’s eyes were like steel. “I’m not guessing anything. In fact, I’m not even talking to you.” He kept on walking.

Kathy ran ahead of him, and then stopped. “Would you rather clean that fish with a sharp clam shell, or THIS?” She presented Loren with the most beautiful knife either of them had ever seen.

Loren was speechless, and started crying AGAIN as he took it from her hands! “I don’t know how much more of this, or YOU, I can take.”

LOREN WRITES:

LOREN WALKED BACK TO CAMP AND SKINNED THE SHARK. THEN HE STARTED A FIRE AND WAS ROASTING IT OVER THE COALS WHEN KATHY CAME TO CAMP. SHE HAD SAND ALL OVER HER, EVEN IN HER HAIR. BUT, SHE STILL WORE THE NECKLACE AND RINGS SHE HAD TAKEN OUT OF THE CHEST. SHE HAD JUST GOT TOO WEAK FROM HUNGER TO KEEP ON DIGGING.

“LOREN YOU’VE JUST GOT TO HELP ME. I’LL NEVER GET THAT CHEST DUG OUT OF THE SAND BEFORE THE TIDE COMES IN.”

“KATHY, WHY DON’T YOU TAKE THAT BAG OF YOURS, PUT ALL THE TREASURE IN IT AND CARRY IT TO OUR CAMP. YOU KNOW THE TIDE DOESN’T GET UP INTO OUR LITTLE GRASSY GLADE NEXT TO THE STREAM.”

“LOREN, WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME THAT A LONG TIME AGO? OH NOOO, YOU WOULD RATHER SEE ME BREAK MY BACK, SCRAPE MY FINGERS TO THE BONE, AND WORRY MYSELF TO DEATH. WELL - UP YOURS BUSTER.” KATHY GRABBED HER BAG AND STOMPED OFF DOWN THE BEACH.

LOREN SAT THERE THINKING ABOUT WHAT KATHY HAD SAID. “WORRY HERSELF TO DEATH. I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY,” HE THOUGHT. HE HAD INTENDED TO GO HELP KATHY BUT AFTER THE FIT SHE THREW, HE DECIDED HE WOULD JUST LEAN BACK AGAINST A TREE AND TAKE A NAP.

JUST BEFORE DARK, KATHY CAME BACK UP THE BEACH DRAGGING HER OVERLOADED BAG BEHIND HER. WHEN SHE GOT TO THE GRASSY GLADE SHE FLOPPED DOWN AND SAID, “YOU DON’T GET ANY OF THE TREASURE, IT’S MINE. ALL MINE! DO YOU HEAR ME? ALL MINE!” THEN SHE LAID HER HEAD ON THE BAG AND FELL ASLEEP.

THE NEXT MORNING WHEN LOREN WOKE UP KATHY WAS STILL ASLEEP. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD LET HER REST, AND HE WOULD FOLLOW THE LITTLE STREAM INTO THE JUNGLE. MAYBE HE COULD FIND SOMETHING TO EAT BESIDES COCONUTS.

AS LOREN BATTLED HIS WAY THROUGH THE THICK UNDERGROWTH, ALL HE HEARD WAS THE SONGS OF BIRDS HIGH UP IN THE TREES. HE FOUND NO PIG TRACKS THIS MORNING. HE WOULD STOP AND REST EVER SO OFTEN. ON ONE OF THESE REST STOPS HE HEARD VOICES. HUMAN VOICES, AND THEY WERE COMING HIS WAY! LOREN’S FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT A RESCUE PARTY HAD FINALLY FOUND THEM.

“HELLO, I’M OVER HERE,” LOREN SHOUTED.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING OFF THE PATH?” THE VOICE WANTED TO KNOW. “STEP ACROSS THE STREAM AND WALK THIS WAY FOR TEN FEET AND YOU’LL BE BACK ON THE PATH.”

LOREN STEPPED ACROSS THE STREAM, WALKED TEN FEET, AND CAME OUT ON A PATH AS WIDE AS A HIGHWAY. THE FIRST THING HE SAW WAS A HAWAIIAN, DRESSED IN WHITE TROUSERS AND WHITE SHIRT WITH THE LOGO OF THE MAUI HILTON HOTEL ON IT. THE NEXT THING LOREN SAW WAS TWELVE PEOPLE DRESSED IN THE MOST OUTLANDISH HAWAIIAN COSTUMES HE HAD EVER SEEN. THESE HAD TO BE TOURIST.

THE MAN DRESSED IN WHITE SAID HIS NAME WAS RIPPEN. HE WAS LEADING THIS GROUP OF TOURIST TO THE BEACH HERE ON KANOOLAWE ISLAND FOR A NOON DAY LUAU, AND TO LOOK FOR BURIED TREASURE. THAT’S WHEN RIPPEN NOTICED THE JEWEL ENCRUSTED KNIFE IN LOREN’S HAND.

“WHERE DID YOU GET THAT KNIFE, YOU BEACH BUM?” SHOUTED RIPPEN.

“WELL YOU SEE … ER, I’M NOT A BUM, BUT AH … WE BETTER GO ON TO THE BEACH. IT WILL BE EASIER TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING IF KATHY IS THERE.”

SO THE LITTLE PARADE WALKED ON UNTIL THEY CAME TO LOREN AND KATHY’S CAMP IN THE LITTLE GRASSY GLADE NEXT TO THE STREAM. KATHY WAS STILL ASLEEP. LOREN WOKE HER UP AND THEY TOLD RIPPEN THEIR STORY - ABOUT BEING SET ADRIFT IN THE RAFT AND WINDING UP HERE ON THE ISLAND, AND HOW KATHY HAD FOUND THE TREASURE AND EVERYTHING.

WHEN THEY FINISHED THEIR TALE, RIPPEN TOLD THEM THEY WERE ON THE ISLAND OF KANOOLAWE, AND IT LAY JUST OFF THE COAST OF MAUI. IT IS THE SMALLEST ISLAND IN THE HAWAIIAN CHAIN. RIPPEN TOLD THEM THAT THE TREASURE WAS ALL COSTUME JEWELRY AND WAS NOT WORTH MUCH. THE “GOLD” COINS WERE REALLY LEAD, BUT HAD BEEN PAINTED WITH GOLD COLORED ENAMEL. THE TOURISTS WERE ALWAYS ALLOWED TO KEEP THE TREASURE THEY FOUND. THE COST OF IT WAS COVERED IN THE CHARGE FOR GOING ON THE LUAU.

BECAUSE LOREN AND KATHY HADN’T HAD ANY THING TO EAT BUT COCONUTS FOR SEVERAL DAYS, RIPPEN INVITED THEM TO JOIN THE GROUP IN THE LUAU AND EAT SUCKLING PIG, SWEET POTATOES, AND PINEAPPLE.

LOREN ATE LIKE THERE WAS NO TOMORROW, WHILE KATHY ONLY PICKED AT HER FOOD, AS SHE SOBBED OVER HER “UN-TREASURE TREASURE!”