The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-21

In another minute the clumsy little craft
had swung clear of the bank and was NOV
ing slowly down stream. in the shadow OF
the great trees that grew to the waters
edge. Brace Barlow watched it until it be-
came part of the shadows, and he could
no longer distinguish the white-beaded
figure bending over the long sweep, that
was made to do duty as . steering oar or
rudder. Then he again mounted the seat
of bis light wagon and started on bis long
homeward drive, feeling more lonely than
he had ever felt IN all his life.
The craft on which the old man and the
sleeping boy were now slowly drifting
down the broad, mopnlit stream. was q
tiny house-boat, such as are common on all
American rivers. 1t had floated down.
empty and ownerless, with the high waters
of the preceding spring. and had stranded
and had been left by the receding food. at
the point where Uncle Phin discovered 1t
some weeks before 1t was a small, fat
bottomed scow. on which was built low
house, 10 feet long and 8 wide. This house
contained but single room; and beyond
il, at either end, the deck of the scow pro-
jected about four feet At each end of the
house was a door. and on each side q
square hole or window that closed with q
wooden shutter.
At the stern was steering oar, as has
been stated. 1t hung on q swivel and its
long handle projected up over the end of
the roof, on which the steersman stood.
From each side of the roof hung long,
heavy sweep, by means of which the craft
might be slowly propelled, or turned in any
desired direction. When not in use, the
lower ends OF these could be lifted from the
water by ropes attached to their blades.
and fastened to the sides of the house. A
rude rudder reached from each end of the
little end decks to the top Of the roof. The
whole affair was strong and in good condi-
ton: but rough and implanted.
When il came down with the food and
stranded on the river bank, it contained
nothing in the shape of furniture save q
couple of rude hunks built against the
sides, the same number of rough benches.
ana several shelves put up here and there
In convenient corners.
Uncle Phin had not thought of making
use of this stranded craft when he first
found it among the trees that he was
marking to be cut down for frewood.
He slept in it one night, and merely
regarded it as a convenient shelter
that he could occupy when working in
that distant and lonely place. When
however. he and Arthur conceived the idea
of running away. and he made up his
mind that if they did. it must be to travel
in the direction of Dalecourt, a vision of
the little old house-bost crossed his mind.
If it could only be got into the water,
and should prove to be tight and sound.
how easy and pleasant it would be to float
down the river on it. Whenever they had
gone as far as they saw fit by water, they
could probably sell the boat for enough
money to meet their expenses on the rest
of the journey. 1t seemed fine scheme.
and Uncle Phin FASTENED to lay it before
Brace Barlow and ask his advice concern
ing it
The young man listened to it with great
interest, and then they drove over to take
look at the stranded craft. After a care.
ful examination Brace said that, with
little calking of its seams, the boat could
be made tight and riverworthy. and that
Uncle Phin's plan seemed to him a first
class one. He Furthermore offered his own
labor. and the use of his team, to help pre-
pare the craft for its voyage, and get il
once more atoat.
This offer was most gladly accepted, and
the two succeeding days had been busy
ones for both men and horses II was
found necessary to make several trips back
and forth between Brace Barlow's house
and the Ark. as he called the boat. There
they calked her open seams and smeared
them thickly with pitch. They con.
structed rude track of straight young
tree trunks from the boat 10 the water.
into which, aided by rollers long levers
and the horses, they finally succeeded in
launching her. After this they had the
sweeps to make. and. as they had no stove.
Uncle Phin built rude fireplace in the
middle OF the floor, near one end of the cabin.
This he did by forming square of large
rocks, filing it with small stones and
covering the whole with q thick LAYER of
earth. They filed the hunks with sweet
fresh straw and made pillows of two -four
sacks stuffed with the same material.
Brace Barlow covered one of these hunks
with coarse sheet and blanket drawn
from his own slender stock of household
goods. Uncle Phin had his own bedding.
that consisted of thin old army blanket
and battered comforter. He also had an
ak, that was the only piece OF valuable
property that he possessed
Then Brace Barlow bought several cook
ing utensils, q few dishes and q small sup
ply of provisions, to which he added pota.
toes and dozen eggs from his own little
farm.
When all this had been accomplished the