Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-06-26

Tor although every HltlIlDtL VI tllC IIllit
party was anxious to know if the sea real
ly surrounded them upon all sides. il
would be the height of imprudence to rush
into an unknown country just as winter
was coming on, even if they found that
they were on continent. How coElc
they endure the fatigue and hardshipS o. &
tourney of several hundred miles at thai
season of The year, Would even the most
vigorous of them have strength to reach
the goal? No; to be attended with any
chance of success, such an undertaking
must be attempted only when the days
were long and when one had not the IN
clement weather of winter to fear; conse-
quently they would have TO reconcile
themselves to spending the cold season IN
their present quarters on the Slough"
Meanwhile Gordon had done his best to
ascertain in what part of the ocean the
shipwreck had occurred. Stieler's Atlas
contained a number of maps and charts OF
the Pacific, and the only islands given up
on these maps little to the north of the
route usually followed from Auckland to
South America, were Easter Island and
the island of j uan Fernandez, upon which
Alexander Selkirk spent so many years OF
his life South of these there was no land
until the boundless wastes of the Antarctic
Ocean were reached. TO the eastward
there were only the islands of the Chloe
and Madre-deDios archipelagoes, on the
coast of Chill, and south Of these, the ar.
chipelagoes of the Strait of Magellan or
the Terra del Fuego, upon which the seas
of Cape Horn break with such appalling
violence If the schooner had been cast
upon one of these last islands the lads
would have to travel several hundred
miles to reach the inhabited regions of
Chilli La Plata or the Argentine Repub-
lie; and what assistance could they hope
for in these lonely desert wastes where
dangers of every kind threaten the travel
erl
With such a prospect before them, they
must proceed with the utmost caution if
they would avoid certain death AT least
such was the opinion of Gordon. Brian
and Baxter fully agreed with him, and
even Donovan and his adherents were fin
ally obliged to admit it.
The intended visit to the body of water
seen to the east of them was not aban-
dOncd, though by reason of the bad wealth.
er the boys were obliged to postpone it for
more than a fortnight. Rain fell from
morning until night, and the wind blew
with frightful violence, but the lads were
not idle though it was impossible for them
to leave the schooner. The vessel needed
constant repairs now, for the seams in her
sides were beginning to open, and the deck
was no longer water-tight; consequently
one of the very first things to be done was
to fad a more substantial shelter, for even
Il the party should conclude to make their
way eastward this would be an impossi-
biiity for five or six months, and the
"SlOughi" certainly would not last so long.
If it should become necessary to abandon
the vessel in midwinter, where would they
find a refuge, since the west side of the
cliff contained no nook or crevice which
could be utilized, Therefore it was on
the opposite side. sheltered from the sea
winds, that they must seek refuge, and
if need be build house large enough for
their little company. In the meantime,
steps must be taken to keep out not only
the water but Troublesome draughts. Cor
don would even have used the extra sails
to cover the deck had he not been unwll-
ing to sacrifice the heavy canvas which
would serve for tent IL they were obliged
to camp in the open air, so he contented
himself to spreading some tarpaulin over
the worst leaks In the meantime the
cargo was carefully packed, baled and Is.
beled, in order that it could be speedily
transported to place of shelter under the
trees, if necessary.
When the storm abated for few hours
Donovan, Webb aud Wilcox went out tc
shoot pigeons, which MOko served up in
different styles with more or less success
while Garnett, Service, Cross, and the lit
tie boys. sometimes accompanied by Jack
devoted their attention to fishing; and sc
thiclllv lid the water TEEN with fish OF
every kind that it was amusing to listen tC
the ordinations OF the young fishermen
when they drew in their nets.
al have some. 1 have some ma%nificent
ones. Oh, how hig they areH' Jenkin!
would cry rapturouS!y.
And mine are rvra larger than yOursr
exclaimed lversun, who had been obliged
to call Dole to his assistance.
''Fhey are going to get away from usr
cried CoStar, aud then everyone wouiC
has en- to their aid.
Hold tight, hold tight; and above nj
pull your nets out quieklyr' Garnett o.
Service would cXclaim.
Then 10y their united efforts, they would
succeed in dragging the seine up on th'
beach, and none too soon, Tor in the shoa
water there was always a large number o
those ferocoUs lampreys which play such
havoc with fish; but though they lost
many In this way, those that remained af
forded an abundant supply for their table.
The cod was a special favyrite. either
eaten fresh or sailed. As for the fishing
at the mouth of the river that yielded
only some very mediocre specimens of
gudgeons.
On the 9th of March more important
capture led to a very COmical Incident
The rain having ceased in the afternoon,
the Younger children went down to the
river with their tishiug-tackle Suddenly
loud cries resnuuded-cries of delight, it
Is true, though they were also cries foc
help.
Gordon, Brian, Service. and Moko, who
were busy aboard the schooner. stopped
work. and fastening in the direction from
which the cries proceeded soon traversed
the five or six hundred yards that separ-
ated them from the river
Come! come quickn cried jenkins.
Eyes, come ard see Costar and his fiery
steed, shouted Iverson.
Hurry, Brian. hurry, or it will get
away from us" added Jenkins.
stop. stop-take me off! I'm afraidr'
yelled Costar, gesticulating frautically.
Get up! get up!' cried Dole, who had
taken a seat behind CoStar on the moving
mass which proved to be a turtle of gigan-
tic size, one of those enormous monsters
which are most frequently found resting
on the surface of the water. This one,
surprised upon the beach, was now trying
TO make its way back to its native ele-
ment. In vain the children who had fast
ened n rope about its neck endeavored &c
detain the powerful animal 1t was NOV.
ing slowly but surely toward the sea,
dragging its captors with it. Out of pure
mischievousaesS Jenkins had placed Cos.
tar on the turtles back, and Dole, seated
sstraddle behind him, was holding the
little fellow fast in spite of his shrieEs o.
terror which became more and more piero
ing as the turtle neared the sea
Hold tight, hold tight, Costar!" cried
Gordon.
And take care that your horse doesn't
take the bit in his teethr' shouted Service
Brian could not help laughing. There
was really danger. for "a soon 80 Dole let
so his hold Costar could easily slip ID the
ground. 1t was highly important that the
animal should be captured, however, and
1t was quite evident that even If Brian
and the others should unite their efforts
with those of the little children they would
still be unable 10 check it, so some way to
check its progress must promptly be de
yised before IL reached the water where If