Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-02
TWO YEARS VACA TON.
BY JULES VERNE,
BY JULES VERNE,
Ckcr Of "T'he Tour Of the World ~ .
Ddys," 30, 900 Leagues Under
The Seas" Etc

Tor SAalge IN the weather seemed lnml-
nent, and they felt that they had no time
to lose The wind was rising fast but
wind alone mad no terrors for these de-
termined boys; but if torrents of rain &C
companied it, as was usually the case,
they would be compelled to abandon the
expedition and return to Bear Rock with.
out delay.
They strobe briskly along, though they
were obliged to struggle against strong
and constantly increasing wind. Indeed,
1t became more and more evident that 8
tempest was impending and about five
o'clock!vivid flashes of lightning illumined
the entire sky followed by dealening peals
Of thunder.
Donovan and his companions tramped
bravely on, for the thought that they were
nearly at their journeys end encouraged
them. There was little danger OF rain
while the wind was raging with such fury
but If 1t did come, they could seek shell
ter beneath the trees of Beech Forest.
which still lay to the left of them, besides,
the coast could not be far off now. ltwas
about eight o'clock when the sullen roar
of distant surf first reached their ears. 1t
was growing dark very rapidly, and they
must needs quicken their pace II they
wished to get look at the sea before day
light fed. Painting for breath, they
rushed on until they came In sight OF
rocky beach about quarter of a mile
wide, on which foam crested waves were
wildly breaking.
In spite of their fatigue the boys still
had strength enough left to run, for they
were resolved to have at least one look at
this part OF the Pacific before darkness
l,I 4 - lI,,o
sea, or merely u marrow channel separating
them from a continent or a neighboring
island'
Suddenly Wilcox, who was few steps
In advance OF the others, paused and point
ed TO dark object that was lying ON the
beach some distance Off.
1t was boat lying on her starboard
side, and little further up on the beach
near some punches OF sea-weed left by the
receding tide, lay the bodies of two men.
For q moment the lads stood silent and
motionless, then they darted toward the
spot where the bodies were lying; then,
suddenly overcome with terror, and quite
unmindful OF the fact that spark of life
might still inger In these bodies, they
precipitately fed to seek a shelter beneath
the trees.
ness, except when q vivid flash OF light
ming illumined the entire landscape with
startling dstinctness, but these flashes
soon ceased altogether, and in the intense
gloom the bowling of the wind seemed to
increase the thunderous roar of the angry
sea.
What gale it vast Trees were break
ing and falling on every side, and the for
paptoi nj Inn nj "a
but 1t was impossible to remain on the
beach where the sharp sand caught up by
the wind cut ones face like so much bird
shot.
Donovan, Wilcox, Webb, and Cross re-
manned in the forest all night without dar-
ing to close their eyes for a single instant
They suffered, too, terribly from the cold,
for it was impossible to light fire on &C
count of the wind, which would have scat
tered the sparks and brands in every di-
rection at the imminent risk of setting fire
to the dead branches that everywhere
strewed the ground.
Excitement, too, would have effectually
prevented them from sleeping in any case.
Whence had this boat Gomez To what
nationality did these shipwrecked men be-
longf Could it be that there was really
other lands in close proximity to this is
landP Or was this boat which had been
driven out Of her course by the violence of
the gale'
All these suppositions were equally
plausible, and during the rare intervals Of
comparative calm the boys discussed them
with great earncstness. Sometimes, too,
when the wind ahated little they fanced
they could hear cries in the distance, and
rs they eagerly listened asked themselves
II other victims of the wreck might not be
wandering to and fro on the beachi But
no, they were surely the dupes OF their
Imagination. Nevertheless, they now said
to themselves that they had done very
wrong to yield to that first impulse of I'M
reasoning terror and longed to return to
the beach. But how could they find their
way in the intense darkness to and across
beach covered by the waters Of the ris-
Ing tide2 How, too, could they hope to
hnd the spot where the shattered vessel
was lying-the spot where those lifeless
bodies were stretched upon the sand'
Besides. both moral and physical
strength were lacking Despite the fact
that they had been thrown upon their own
resources so long that they had begun TO
regard themselves as men, they became
children again in the presence of the first
human beings they had met since the
wreck of the "Si Jughi."
They finally recovered their self-control
ut least in measure, and their duty then
became clear. As soon as daybreak came
they would return to the beach, dig a grave
in the sand and bury the.two men after ut
tering prayer for the repose of their
souls.
How interminable the night appeared
II seemed as If morning would never come
to dispel the horrors that haunted them.
II they could only nave gained some idea
Of the flight Of time by consulting their
watches, but it was utterly impossible to
light a match even by carefully screening
It with their blankets. Cross, who made
the attempt. was Obliged to abandon it.
At last the first gray light Of dawn APP
peared in the east. the wind had abated
but little, and the now low and threaten
Ing clouds indicated rain in the near fU-
ture-at least before the lads could hope
to make their way back to Bear Rock.
Still they could not leave the spot until
after they had performed their duty TO the