Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-05-31

ready before he came. The dressing
was, of course, a very simple affair; to
put my arms and legs into my red mail
lot and button it did not take many sec
| Onds, but the previous bath or washing
took little longer.
/ went to the Shooting Star to get
everything ready Tor our expedition, and
was just stepping out again when / found
myself face to face, not with my host,
but with his daughter. 1t was pleasant
surprise. But she did not give me any
time to give. expression to my feelings.
Stranger" said she, with a faint flush
on her cheeks, and with her soft lus-
trous eyes looking earnestly into my face,
take care of my father, and-and-take
care of yourselfr'
Before / could reply she was gone. |
should mention that she called me
| name. The Marsians call each other
simply by their names without any pref
atory unmeaning titles.
| Five minutes after, the upper rim of
| the rising sun showed itself on the hori-
zon, and at the same moment her father
made his appearance.
Stranger" he said, II am ready"
$50 am /, Kaf," I replied, and so say
ing, we at once took our places in the
Shooting Star. In another minute the
machine was in motion.
made it fly straight to one of the four
angles of the town, and thence made
complete circuit all round the walls, at
height of about 500 feet during which
we could detect no sign of the dreaded
Dergdunin.
KAT proposed that we should extend our
accommodating further, circling round the
town in spiral curve of wider and wider
speed, SO as to leave no part of the sur
rounding country unexplored. l thought
the suggestion a good one, and was
q fn H.
served the whole family of the Kaflins,
the mother, daughter and two sons, is
sue from the interior of the house and
make their appearance on the roof.
They began making signs to us to come
down, gesticulating with much energy
and animation.
Down accordingly we went till the
Shooting Star was within a few inches
from the roof where they were standing.
At that distance, held it stationary and
opened the door.
"Dayn haunt" (What is it?) asked
Kafiin.
"Layk mishe falv leev." Oet me go
with you), said the two sons Toh and
Sob, simultaneously. The mother and
daughter said nothing.
KAT considered the request for mo-
ment or two in silence. Then he said to
me:
us there room for one more in the ma
chine?'
On my answering that there was he
turned to the younger and said:
"Soh, you have had experience of the
machine already, so it is your brothers
turn now. Besides, you are too young
for this expedition
The matter having been thus settled to
the satisfaction of the elder, though to
I the disappointment of the younger, the
former eagerly jumped in and sat down
beside his father. The others came for
ward and shook hands with us before we
started. The mother and daughter
looked anxious and sorrowful. There
was no kissing. Amongst these people
this token of affection is never shown be-
tween parents and children, and in pub
lie not even between husband and wife,
except on the occasion Of the marriage
ceremony, after which 1T is considered
good maners to reserve this demOnstra-
ton of affection to the privacy OF their
rooms.
/ was the last with whom Rec shook
hands, and noticed with pleasure from
the. information of her voice, as she said
"Benuckk Ieht' (Good-by; literally Bless
ing with YOU, that my individual safety
was by no means a matter of lndiffer-
ence to her.
"Rehik shin malti'' eve shall soon re-
trun), said cheerfully, as | made the
Shooting Star rise slowly into the air.
When we were about 400 feet above the
roof [ made the machine dart hOrl-
zontally towards one Of the angles OF the
town, and then began to circle swiftly
round the town at that height, IN
spiral overwhelming curve, as KAT had
proposed Kaf's family were not the only
spectators of our evolutiOns; the sentl-
nels on the ramparts watched the Shoot
ing Star also, as did few other per-
sons who were already beginning to
stir about in the. town.
'As this is the first time, that you
have been on an expedition in your ma
chine since your arrival" said KAT, my
people will no doubt send round to in
quire at my house. But my wife, lee,
will explain the matter to them, so it
will be all right. have often wondered
why you left your wonderful machine
idle all this long time on our roof. Why
did you"
partly" I said, because 1 felt SO
interested in your people, and SO happy
amongst you all, that I did not feel
much inclination for other distraction;
but partly also because l wished to
economic the resources of the machine,
as I have yet to return to my native
Tahlav, and if anything went wrong
with my machine, / am not all sure that
I should be able to repair it on your
Glintan."
KAT was silent for minute.
"Should you be very miserable" he
said, presently, eff you never returned to
Tahlav? You say you are very happy
with us now, why not stay with us?'
'Do stay with u.s." said Toh.
81 hope to come back again." | said;
"but I must return once more to Tab
law"
While we were thus conversing the
| Shooting Star was sweeping round and
round in an overwhelming curve, and at
the rate of about two miles per minute.
We were about twenty miles from
Grensum when Toh, who kept sharp
| lookout while we were talking, suddenly
| exclaimed:
1.-The Dergduninv'
CHAPTER XI.
We both looked in the direction in
j i Il 4l..ssc. c.1l,.n