Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-02
CHAPTER XXI.

I
CHAPTER XXI.
BRIAN's IpRA-KITE- BUILDING AN UNCOM
PLETEp EXPERIMENr-KATE-r THE SUR
yIvORS OF THE "SEVERN''-TlIE DANGERS
ENCOUNTERED BY DONOVAN AND HIS COM
RADES-BRIAN's RECONSIDERATION
The departure Of Donovan and his par
tisaus cast deep gloom over the remnin-
lag inmates of the French Cave. Brian
certainly had no reason to reproach him.
SELF but he was even more deeply affected
by it than the Others probably because 1t
was on his account that the separation
had taken place.
Gordon vainly endeavored to console
him by sayilg
"They will return, Brian. and much
sooner than they think. Obstinate as
| Donovan is, circumstances will tie too
much for them. Before bad weather
comes on | will bet you anything posses
that they will have rejoined us
Brian shook his head sadly not daring
! to trust himself to speak. 1t is true that
events might occur which would result IN
briug ing back the absent ones, but these
events would perforce be Of the gravcst
nature.
Before the return of cold weather."
Gordon had said. Were the young colon
lists indeed doomed to spend a third win
| ter on Chairman Island? Was there no
possibility Of succOr for them' Was this
! part OF the Pacific never visited in sum neT
by merchant vessels, and was the signal
! hoisted upon Auckland Hill never to at
tract attention.
This signal being only about two hun
dred feet above the level of the sea, wa
visible only for comparatively short dis
lance, it is true; so, after n vain attempt
to devise some plan for the construction
of n sea-wOrthy vessel with Baxter Brian
racked his brain to invent some means of
! raising this signal to a greater height.
He often spoke of it, aud finally one day
he told Baxter that he thought it might
not be impossible to employ kite for this
purpose.
1--WE have plenty OF canvas and linen"
he remarked; land by making it sufficient
ly large, it might rise to height of per
haps one thousand feet"
Except on days when there was no
wind, =" replied Baxter, laughing.
Such days are rare; and in calm wealth
err we should be no worse off than we are
now" replied Brian.
The plan is worth trying, perhaps"
conceded Baxter. Besides, if the kite is
| visible for distance of sixty miles in the
day time" continued Brian, "it would
also be visible at night if we tied one OF
our lanterns either to the body of the kite
or to its tail"
The disclosure of this new project excit
| ed universal delight.
The smaller BOYS were especially enthus.
iastic at the prospect of kite that would
so greatly surpass any they had ever be.
fore seen.
eve viii have to put an immensely long
tail on in" said one of the boys.
Let paint a big grnning head OF
Punch on it," cried another.
Baxter and Brian began work on 10 the
second dav after their comrades depart lre
from the French Cave.
How ,uey will open their eyes when
they see our monster kitep' exclaimed
Service what pity it is that Uly friends
the RobinsOns never thought of sending
up kite"
"Will it be visible from every part OF the
islandF" inquired Garnett,
Not only from every part OF our island,
but from a great distance on the surround
ing ocean," replied Brian.
Can they see it from Auckland" asked
Dole.
alas, no." answered Brian, smiling
sadly ut the idea. but when Donovan
and the Others see it, it may induce them
to return to u.s."
From which 1t was apparent that Brian
was ever thinking OF the absent ones, and
that his fondest hope was that this un-
fortunate separation would come to @
speedy end.
That day and those Immediately follow
ing were devoted to the construction OF
the kite. which Baxter proDOsed To make
| octagonat In form. The strong but light
frame was made Of some Of the tough reeds
that ablunded on the banks OF the lake.
and over the frame Brian stretched one OF
the thin pieces of rubber cloth which had
been used to cover the skylights on the
schooner-a material endered so imperme-
able by its coating of rubber, that the
wind could not penetrate its fibers.
1t is needless 10 say that the kite was to
be adorned with a magnificent tail in
tended TO steady 1t as IT scared proudly in
" the air.
1t was so substantially made that any
one of the young colonlsts might have as
Ctnueu INTO Jhe ar upon IL, II need De
that Is TO say, it would easily have sup
ported the weight Of anyone Of them, but
that was hardly the question. IL was suf
Gcient that the kite was strong enough to
resist a strong breeze, and large enough TO
attain high altitude, and TO he visible q
distance Of fifty or sixty miles.
| OF course such a kite as this could not
be managed by hand power In strong
breeze il would drag the entire colony
around IN the most unceremonious man
ner, 80 he rope appended TO it was to be
fastened around 5 windlass, which had
been brought from the yacht. and which
was now securely fastened in the ground
10 order that it might successfully resist
the tracLiye power Of the Giant Of the
| Air" the name the little lads. with Que