KIDNAPPED

WRITTEN BY: MUSTAFA SHAKIR

 THE ISLET
It was past midnight when David walked around the island. He took of his shoes and
paced back and forth, afraid that if he sat he might freeze. With the beginning of
dawn, he decided to trek to the top of the nearby hill, hoping to see a ship.

From the top, he could not see the Covenant nor any other sail in the distance.
Discouraged, David started walking east along the southern coast. He found no signs
of civilization. It began to rain. His clothing, wet from his swim, remained wet and
caused him to feel more miserable.

He walked along until he came to a creek which was too deep to cross. He followed
the creek until it narrowed and then grew wide again. David tried crossing at the
narrowest spot but found it was impossible. Colder, he ran back to the shore to find
the spar he had left.
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Unable to discover the spar, he waded into the sea only to view the spar twenty feet
further out then he could reach. Greatly dismayed, David threw himself on the sand
and wept. His stomach growled with hunger but David knew little of what was safe to
eat.

He caught a few snails and limpets. His first meal made him terribly sick but the second,
made up of the same elements, restored him.It rained all day and through the second.
David traveled to the other side of the island but found no homes or people. He chose
to set up a resting spot where he could view the neighboring islands of Iona and Ross.

It soothed his heart to see signs of civilization. From this spot he also hoped to view
boats passing which he might hail. On the third day, David noticed that his pocket had
ripped, allowing his money to drop out.
 CONTINUE
By midday, the sun finally came out and helped to refresh David's spirits. With the
sky clear, David noticed a ship passing, headed for Iona. Exuberantly, he shouted to
the ship. The ship's men could hear him but only laughed and continued to Iona.

For only the second time, David wept. The next time he ate the island shellfish, he
fell terribly ill. Yet when the illness passed, he was drier and better able to sleep. The
next day, the ship from the previous day miraculously returned.

David ran down to the shore to hear them speaking in Gaelic and laughing. He
finally caught the English word "tide" and came to realize that the island was
connected to land when the tides went out. He ran to the creek he had found
earlier. It was much smaller. David waded across to the main island and was saved
from his own folly.