Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1876-10-12

| nv my lHhI VI human pelnB having
a fixed purpose
In few minutes the dog stopped. -
The colonists, who had arrived at sort
of glade surrounded by high trees, look
ed all about them, but neither in the un-
derbrush nor between the tree trunks
could they discover thing
What is it Top?" said Smith.
Top, barking louder, ran to the foot Of
gigantic pine.
Suddenly Pencroff exclaimed -
This is capital"
Whats that? 2" asked Spilctt.
We've been hunting for some wsif
on the sea or land"
"Well?"
"And here it is in the airv'
And the sailor pointed out mass Of
faded cloth caught on the summit of the
Ess2s, a piece of WHICH Top had found on
: the ground.
: But that is no waifr' exclaimed Spi-
lett.
Indeed it is" answered Pencroff.
GLOW is it ~
ut is all that is left of our balloon, Of
our ship, which is stranded on the top Of
this tree"
Pencrof was not mistaken, and hc
added, with shout -
And there is good stuff in it which
will keep us in linen for years. 1t will
make US handkerchiefs and shirts. Aha,
Mr. Spilett what do you say of an is
land where shirts grow on the trees ~
1t was, indeed, fortunate thing for
the colonists that the aerostat, after hav-
ing made its last bound into the air, had
fallen again on the island. They could
either keep the envelope in its present
shape, in case they might desire to at
tempt new flight through the air, or.
after having taken off the varnish, they
could make use of its hundreds of ellis Of
good cotton cloth. At these thoughts
all shared Pencrof's joy.
1t was no easy task to take down this
envelope from the tree top. But Neb,
Herbert, and the sailor climbed " t-.iS.;
and after two hours Of hard work not on
IL Sht tthe eisstfSs mounting v-ases - - -
quivalent to a large quantity of cordage
and ropes, together with the iron ring
and the anchor, lay upon the ground
The envelope, excepting the rent was in
good order, and only its lower end had
been torn away
1t was a gift from heaven.
Nevertheless, Mr. Smith said tho
sailor, "if we ever do decide to leave the
island it won't be in balloon, hope.
These air ships don't always go the way
you want them to, as we have found out
If you will let me have my way, we will
: build a ship of twenty tons, and you
2 will allow me to cut from this cloth
! foresail and jib. The rest of it will do
t for clothes"
eve will see about it, PcncroT," an
h swered Smith.
$ And meanwhile it must all be put
: away carefully" said Ncb
t In truth, they could not think of car
y rying all this weight of material to Gram
h ite House; and while waiting for prop
er means of removing it, it was import
e ant not to leave it texposed to the wealth
: er. The colonists, uniting their eforss.
succeeded in dragging it to the shore.
/ where thoy discovered a cave so situated
that neither wind, rain, nor sea could
, get at it.
cit is wardrobe" said Pencrofr;
y ''but since it does not lock, it will be
prudent to hide the opening, not, per-
e haps from two-footcd, but from four
Je footed thieves"
BY o'clock everything was stored
1t away, and after having named the little
6 inlet, Balloon Harbor, they took the road
for Claw Cape Pencrof and the engi-
st neer discussed several projects, which it
a would be well to attend to at once The
IS first thing was to build bridge across
- the Mercy, and, as the canoo was too
d small, to bring the balloon over in the
cart. Then to build decked launch,
which Pencroff would make cutter rigged
a and in which they could make voyages
of igation-around the island;
then, etc
], In the meantime the night approached
Y and it was already dark when the colo
nists reached Jetsam Point, where they
: had discovered the precious box But
It here, as elsewhere, there was nothing to
a indicate shipwreck, and it became nee
t essary to adopt the opinions expressed
j by Smith.
e The four miles from Jetsam Point to
Granite House were QUICKLY traversed,
; but nit, it was n n'.ss - % lonist'
of the Mercy. There the river was
eighty feet wide, and Pencroff who had
undertaken to overcome the difficulty of
crossing it, set to work tmust be ad-
mitted that the colonists were fatigued.
e The tramp had been long, and the Incl
dent of the balloon had not rested their
r arms or legs They were therefore anI-
: ious to get back to Granite House to sup
: per and bed and if they had only had
c the bridge, in quarter of an hour they
: could have been at home.
a TTO BE cOyTISUKD.l