Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-14
TWO YEARS VACA TON.
BY JULES VERNE,
cor OF .'Thc TJstr ~ the Wortd ~ -
Daus," 100, 900 Leagues Under
the Seas, Etc.


ment the smaller lads watching theii
comrade the while with feeling of min
pled envy and anxiety, though when the
decisive moment came they evinced no de
sire for Service to take them up behind
him The elder boys shrugged their Shout
ders, and Gordon even tried to dissnade
Service from an experiment which seemed
to him really dangerous, but the lad being
obstinate, it was fiually decided to Jet him
have his own way
While Garrett and Baxter held the ami.
NAL, whose eyes were covered with the
flaps of her bride, Service after several
vain attempts, finally succeeded in spring.
ing upon her back: then, in a not altogeth.
or steady voice:
Let gol' he cried.
The nGRdolD, deprived Of the use of her
eyes, remained mOtionless for moment,
held by the sturdy lad who was pressing
his knees vigorously into the animals
sides: but as soon ms the binders were
raised, by means of the same rope that
served as reins. she made prodigious
bound and started off in the direction OF
the forest.
Service, having lost all control of his
mettlesome steed, tried in vain TO stop hel
by replacing the binders, but with one
jerk the ostrich freed herself from the
bride. This slipped down upon her neck
to which Service chung desperately with
both arms, until violent jerk threw him
heavily to the ground just as the ANNA
was about to disappear among the trees Of
the Trap Woods.
Services companions ran to his assist
ance and when they reached him, the os
trich was already out of sight Very for
tuuately Service, having fallen upon 4
clump Of thick grass, was not injured II
the least.
1.-The horrid BEAST" he exclaimed, terri.
bly, crestfallen. oh! if could only catch
her aCain!"
You're not very likely TO do that
laughed Donovan, evidently enjoying tn,
lads discontinue
''Your friend Jack was evidently bet
ter horse-trainer than youare, said Webb
'My ostrich wasn't tame enough" sale
Service rucfully.
"And never would be-" replied Gordon
'cNever mind, Service: YOU would never
have been able TO do anything with the
bird; but don't forget in future that all
the statements in that charming work of
fiction by your friend Wyss are not to be
implicitly believed
Early in November the weather seemed
favorable for an exploration of the west
shore of Family Lake. The sky was clear
and the air so mild that there would be
no imprudence in spending few nights
out of doors. 1t was of course, the sports
men Of the party who were to take part in
this expedition, but this time Gordon
thought 1t advisable to accompany them;
while those who remained at the French
Cave would be left in charge of Brian and
! Garnett Later, bat before the end of
summer. Brian himself would head an
other exploring party for the purpose of
visiting the eastern side of the lake in the
yawl.
This programme having been decided
upon, on the morning of the 9Th of No
vember, Gordon. Donovan, Baxter, Will
cox, Webb, Cross and Service departed on
their mission.
There was to be no change in the daily
life Of the residents of the cave during the
party's absence Except in the hours
that were set apart for study, Iverson,
Jenkins, Dole and Costar continued to fish
In the lake or river, as usual-this being
their favorite diversion. Though Moko
did not accompany the young explorers,
the reader must not think for a moment
that they were reduced to the verge of
starvation, for was not Service with them?
Service who had served such a faithful
apprenticeship under Moko rs to now be
able to compete with that excellent cook
in skill! What IN opportunity for the
display of his culinary talents this eXpe-
dition would afford himl Besides, who
knows but he entertained some hopes Of
again finding his ostrich'
Gordon, Donovan, and Wilcox were
armed with guns in addition to the revolt
yer each member of the party carried in
his belt Some hunting knives, and a
couple of hatchets completed their equip
ments. If possible, they wished to reserve
their ammunition for use in case an attack
or for the capture of any needful game
which could not be secured in a less costly
manner. The lasso and the "bolas," which
had been carefully repaired, were carried
for this purpose by Baxter, who had be-
come quite an adept in handling them,
though up to this time he had practiced
only upon inanimate objects.
Gordon also thought it advisable to take
the Halkett boat with them as it could
be shut up like a valise, and weighed only
about ten pounds. Two streams empty
lug into the lake appeared upon the map,
and the boat would enable the lads to
cross these streams if they were not ford
able.
According to Baudoin's map, copy Of
which Gordon took with him for consul
tation and verihcation, as the case might
be. the west shore of The lake was about
eighteen miles in length so it would take
the party only about three days to go and
return if all went we'll.
Leaving the Trap Woods TO the left of
them, Gordon and his companions, pre-
teded by Fan, walked briskly up the sandy
shore of the lake Heretofore in their ex-
cursions. they had gone only two miles
from the cave in this direction. Beyond
this point the ground was nearly covered
with clumps Of tall bushes which delayed
their progress considerably. They had
proceeded but a short distance, however,
when Fan stopped at one of the many
holes they had noticed in the ground and
began TO scratch and bark furiously. She
evidently felt sure Of the presence Of some
animal that would prove an easy prey, and
~ - 4