Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-12-14

to fit snug into the pipe, and the
large end three times as big
Harry twisted the pipe five times
around broken limb of tree that
lay near. or inches in diameter.
and thus made a coil. leaving about
two feet of the pipe straight at the
top of the coil aud a foot or more at
the bottom. The pipe was inclined
to be unruly at first, but Harry
found that with strong bot slow
pressure it would bend very neatly.
Here's the plug said Theo, re-
turning with it.
Yes. and now I'll show you.'
Harry said. Get me the hatchet
from SAMSON for a minute. Now
then He inserted the small end
of the plug into the end of the pipe,
and struck it six or eight smart
blows with the hatchet. This drove
the plug in, and enlarged the bore
of the end of the pipe to more than
double its original size. Then he
took the plug out.
Now get me a big spike out of
the boat and drive the end into any
piece of wood. for a handle. Won
know. Then heat the spike red lot
in the fire.
While Theo was doing this Harry
fitted the enlarged end of the pipe
to the spout of the teakettle and
gently pounded it down snug and
tight with the hatchet. When the
spike WAS not enough. he melted
the edges of the pipe and thus sold
cred it to the bettle.
Now bring the water jug out Of
the boat, and that rusty tin pail you
use for bailing,' be ordered.
Theo brought the pail and jug
and Harry managed to cut a small
hole through the side of the pail,
almost at the bottom, through which
he thrust the straight end of pipe
from the lower part of the coil. .hus
fixing the coil in the pail, and stuff
fling pieces of his handkerchief in
the hole beside the pipe to make it
water-tight. Then he bent down
about three inches of the end of the
pipe that protruded from the pail,
like water spigot.
The copper kettle, the coil of pipe
and the tin were thus Joined to.
gether, with the coil inside the pail,
and the kettle higher than all.
Now, Theo.' said the thirsty
young scientist, you build me a
little hearth of stones to hold the
kettle just where it is now: and you,
SAMSON, get the other old pan out
OF the boat and dip me up some
water
Harry scraped away sand on the
side of the pail furthest from the
fire until the mouth of the water
jug was brought on level with the
bottom of the pail, with the bent
end of pipe running into it.
There we are.' he exclaimed.
you fill the pail to the top, Sam
som, and then fill the kettle one
quarter full of clean sea water. Now
for the fire, Theo"
In a few minutes there was a
roaring fire under the kettle, for
fuel was plenty.
Iii, boss, that kittle III soon be-
gin to sing" Theo shouted, as the
I FIRE cracked and roared.
'Kettle.' said Harry. There is
| no Kettle here.
Why Theo answered, there's
my old copper kittle that | make
my tea out Of
No, Harry corrected him. That
is not kettle any more, it is q
'retort.' This coil of pipe is q
worm The water jug is re
ceiver.' The whole apparatus is a
'still.' ] am going to distil water
now and you shall both have drink
in very few minutes
The boss don't expect to bile
down sea water into fresh water,
does he, boss Theo asked.
III tell you what | expect pres
entity Harry answered.
A few minutes later the kettle
began to sing. Too much steam
escaped around the lid, and Harry
tore a piece of lining from his coat,
wet it in the pail, and placed it over
the joints. Thea he lay down on
the sand aud put his ear close to
the water jug.
Drop! drop. he heard. But be
said not a word.
Drop, drop. drop. Still he said