Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-16
TWO YEARS VAcA ITO \.
BY JULES VERNE,
OAov Of "1hc Tour of the World IN -
Days" "20. 900 Lcdg',cs Under
the Seas" Eto.

JuIatcly tDe HlBnebJ DOlUG on Jne lSlhHu
was not more that two hundred feet In
height, and from the summit of Auckland
Hill the young colonists had never been
able TO even see the opposite shore Of Fam
lily Lake; consequently no smoke or light
would be visible above the eastern horl'
zon, and H. would be necessary TO reach
a point several hundred feet higher for the
range of vision TO extend to the rock OF
Deception Bay.
Suddenly there occurred TO Brian's mind
an expedient 80 hazardous, and one might
almost say so Ridiculous, that he ut first
unceremoniously rejected It, but it still
haunted him with such obstinaCy that IL
finally quite took possession Of his brain.
The reader has probably not forgotten
the intended experiment with the kite and
the cause Of It's pOStpOncmcnL After the
arrival OF Kate with the intelligence that
the crew Of the severn" were wandering
about the eastern part OF the island, the
coonists were, Of course, obliged TO aban
don the plan Of raising n kite that could
be distinctly seen from every part OF the
island. But. M the kite could no longer
be used M n signal, would il not be posi-
BILE to utilize IL In this reconnaissance so
necessary TO the security Of the colony'
Yes, this was the idea that had captlvat-
ed Brinn's Imagination. He remembered
TO have read in some English newspaper
that sometime near the close Of the last
century woman Ind had the courage TO
ascend into the air suspended from II kite
which had been constructed especially for
this perllous ascent
Would not lad certainly have courage
TO attempt what n woman had succeeded
I'm accomplishing Even If the attempt
was attended with some danger, what Of
thatp The risk was nothing IN proportion
to the importance Of the result which
might be attained, md by taking every
possible precautIOn might there not be "A
very good chance of bringing tho venture
TO n successful tcrmnntIonf SO Brian,
though unable to calculate with math.
cmatical eXnctitude the power necessary
to raise nm apparatus OF this Kind, said to
himself that this apparatus existed and
that IL would only be necessary 10 increase
it's dimensions and make IT more substan-
tial. Then, by raising ones self several
hundred feet In the mir, In the middle OF
the night by means Of IT,, ono might per-
haps succeed In discovering the light OF n
fire In that portion Of the lake lying be-
tween the lake and Deception Bay.
The reader may shrug his shoulders Mt
the brave lads idea, but it had taken such
entire possession of his mind hat he had
finally come TO tho conclusion that his
plan was not only practicable but much
less dangerous than 1t at first appeared to
him,
II was necessary for him to bring his
M al IN p
however. so on the evening of the 4th
of Nol,.lbor he assembled Gordon, Dono-
van, Wilcox, Webb, and Baxter together,
and told them of his desire to utilize the
kite.
"UtIlzo IT," repeated Wilcox; "what do
you mean by thntP Do you propose to
raise IT IN the airS"
"UnqucstIonnbly, as 1t was made for
ain the duy-timop asked Baxter.
"No Baxter, for In that case IL would
not escape the notice of Waston, while
IN the night"
"But IT you fastcn n lantern to IL it will
be iust ~ certain to attract his attention."
remarked Donovan.
$50 shall not fnstcn II lantern TO it."
"rhcn what good win 1t doY' asked
Gordon,
at may enable NJ to see If those men
are sim on the island"
And Brian, though rather dubious as TO
the manner in which his scheme might be
received briefly explained his plan.
His comrades cvincrd no inclination to
laugh, however; indeed, with the cXccp-
ton of Gordon, who scarcely believed that
Brian was in earnest they all seemed dis.
posed to approve the scheme, for these
boys had now become 50 accustomed to
danger that u nocturnal ascension, even
under such unfnNurahle conditions, seem.
cd perfectly Icasihlc besides. they were
willing To undertake anything that would
be likely 10 restore them To their former
safe condition,
"But the weight OF any one of us would
be too great for the kite we have con
struCtcd, " remarked Donovan.
"Unqucstionably 30 1t viii he necessary
both To enlarge and strengthen It, replied
Brian.
at remains to he proved whether II Kite
could ever stand the strain upon It," ven
turcd Wilcox,
"Oh, there can be no douGt on that
SCORE declared Baxter.
Besides, IL has been done, added Brian,
citing the case OF the lady who had made
the snmc experiment ana successfully u
hundred years before then. "Evrrything
depends" he added, "upon the dimensions
Of the kite and the power of the wind
when the kite is raised
nlow high do you think It win be ne
ccssary to go, BrHuW asked DuNtcr
81 think 10y ascending to a height OF six
or seven hundred feet one could command
view of every part of the island
"Ict us try IT, and right away cN
claimed Service, eagerly 81 have had
enough OF this crampcd-up sort OF life
"Aud am tired OF being unable TO visit
our traps" cried Wilcox.
"And am tired of not being allowed to
fire u single shot" added Donovan.
Tomorrow, then" said Brian.
Altrrward, when he and Gordon (nund
themselves alone together the latter ask
cd
Are Won really in earnest about this
kite businessh
al at least intend TO try Il, Gordon"
at will be q dangerous operation"
"Perhaps not 80 dangerous as you
think"
But who among us would be willing to
risk his life in the attempt|