Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-28
CHAPTER NNU

PREPARATIONS tNk tNE \ENNt\tNt\ WIN
TEB-RRtAN'S PROrON Al. ..Nt~ EFpNlTTRE
IN COMPANY wlru 1NC> AND NoNu~ttE
TRIP ACROSS FAMILY LA&E-EA>r RIVER
THE SEA TO ruE EASTWARD RETURN
TO THE FRENCH CANE.
In thcs, southern ATTITUDES il was the
middle Of summer when the New Year of
1861 began, one week atyerward,
1t was now nearly ten months since the
youthful mariners had been cast upon this
island at least eighteen hundred miles
from New Zealand,
In the interval that had elapsed, their
situation had been growing more and more
tolerable Indeed, they had good reason
to feel that all the necesSaries of daily life
were now assured them; but there seemed
to be little OF no prospect of a termination
To this dreary exile Their only chance OF
escape must come from the outside world;
and If thus did not come before the end OF
the warm season, the little colony would
be Obliged To endure the rigors of a second
Antarctic winter
Up to the present time they had man
aged TO entirely escape any serious illness.
Both the large and small boys We're IN the
best possible health; for, thanks to Cor
don, who stood firm, in spite Of occasional
protests against his severity, no impru.
deuce or excess of any kind HAD been com
mitted. Nevertheless, they could not
count upon entire immunity from the all,
mpnts to which children of this age are
subject, 50, though the present was toIer-
ably comfortable, the future was fraught
with anxiety. The necessity for leaving
the island was imperative, and was the
thought ever uppcrmost in Brian's mind;
but with the frail yawl-t only boat they
posSeSseu--how could they venture to un-
dertalc voyage that might prove n long
one if the island was not one of a group,
or If the nearest continent was several
hundred miles away Even il two or
three of the strongest aud hardest should
volunteer to start out in search OF other
land to the eastward. what chance would
they have of reaching it, As for con-
structing vessel large enough TO uavi.
gate the Pacific, could they hope to do
that? No, certainly not, This was un-
questiouably too great an undertaking for
them: and rack his brain rs he might,
Brian could devise no practicable plan for
their escape.
There was nothing left for them, conse-
qucntly, but to wait and in the meantime,
employ themselves in making their pres
ent quarters as comfortable as possible,
Each lad set cheerfully to work, ENperi-
euce had shown them what IA winter was
in this latitude. They knew now that it
would keep them close prisoners in the
cave for weeks and even months; and 1t
was only prudent to guard against cold
and hunger-the two enemies most to be
feared
TO fight the cold successfully in the cave
was merely question of fuel; and the au-
tumn, short rs it was, had not passed be-
fore Gordon had stored away sufficient
wood to feed the stoves night and day.
The animals must also be thought of. TO
shelter them in the cave would be not only
unpleasant, but imprudent, from "A san-
tary point of view; hence the necessity of
making the shed closer, and of construct
ing fireplace by which the building
could be heated a little, II necessary; and
this was the work to which Baxter, Brian,
Service, and MOko devoted themselves
during the first month of the new year
The no less important task of providing
sufficient food for the winter season was
assumed by Donovan and his usual com
paniOns in the chase They visited the
traps and snares every day, and all the
game not required for daily consumption
helped to swell the store reserved for the
winter in the shape Of salt and smoked
meat, which Moko was preparing with his
usual care, They were consequently sure
of an ample supply Of fuel, no matter how
long and severe the winter might be.
Of gsI,
was also imperatiye-at least Of the region
lying to the east of Family Lake Did this
region consist Of forests marshes, or sand
duncsy and did it offer any new resources
which might be utilizedf
One day, in conversation between
Brian and Gordon upon this subject, the
former remarked
Though Baudoin's map appears to be
correct in the main, it seems to me that it
would be well to ascertain something
about that portion of the Pacific lying east
of us We are more fortunate than my
fellow couutrymun, iuasmuch as we have
an excellent spy glass at our disposal; aud
vino knows butwe might succeed IN dis
corning IaDd that he was unable TO see'
His map represents the island as Isolated;
but very possibly It is not"
You are still of the same opinion, |
see, - replied Gordon.
"Yes; aud in your secret heart am sure
you agree with me, and feel that all our
efforts should be directed TO regmuing our
native land rs soon as possible"
Very well; as you insist, wewlIl organ.
ize an expedition
"An expedition in which all are to take
partg inquired Brian.
'No: IT seems TO me that six or seven Of
our comrades"
Il think that would be TOO many, Cor.
don. With party Of that size we should
be obliged TO 20 around by the north OF
south end Of the lake: and this route would
not only take a great deal Of t.,ue, but
prove very fatiguing."
what would You suggest then, BrianF
think much the best pla1 would be
to cross the lake IN the yawl, and IN That
case. only two or three persons can 90"
But who will sail the bOat''
"MokO" replied Brian. He under
stands the management Of a small boat
tolerabiy well; aud know little some
thing about il myself With the aid Of a
sail--if the wind is in our fayor-and with
our oars-if the wind be against ps-we
can easily make the five or six miles
which, according 10 the map, lies between
us aud the river that flows through the
forests in the eastern part Of the island;