The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26

have constructed a good stout boat. but
it was not feasible, though Jeff and Tim
would have built it had they possessed
the necessary pianking and boards. They
had provided themselves with oakum
pitch and other materials, but lhe labor of
saving out the right kind of stuff would
have taken weeks. The Irishman had
learned from his late experience, as a re-
suit of which a double-decker, as it may
be termed was planned. This consisted
1lrSt, OF a substantial framework of buoy
ant pine logs, securely nailed together,
while upon that was reared another, some
two feet high. This upper framework was
intended to bear their outfits, over which
were fastened rubber cloths. The Alaskan
lakes are often swept by terrific tempests.
the waves sometimes daShing entirely
over the RATS and boats, and Wetting
everything that is not well protected. The
upper deck serves also partially to protect
the men.
The boys spent portion of the days in
fishing. There was d notable moderation
in the weather, the snow and ice rapidly
melting. Sitting or standing on the bank.
they cast out their lines, baited with bits
of meat and met with pleasing success.
Plump, luscious whitefish, grayling and
lake trout We're landed in such
numbers that little or no other solid food
was eaten during their halt at the head
of Lake Bennett.
Work was pushed so vigorously that on
the third day the goods were carefully
piled on the upper deck secured in place,
and, with their long poles, they pushed
out from the shore on the voyage of %
miles, to the foot of the sheet of water.
They were provided with a sturdy mast,
reared near the middle of the craft, but
they did not erect a sail, for the reason
that the strong wind which was blowing
was almost directly from the north and
would have checked their progress.
This lake is so deep in many places that
the longest pole would have failed to
reach the bottom. Accordingly the I'M
Wieldy structure was pushed along the
ar Txrhn hn
viceable at all times. Each took his turn
at the work, the boys with the others, and
the progress, if slow, was sure.
Ike Hardman was in more genial spirits
than at any time since he had Joined the
company. He showed an eagerness to
help, declining to yield the pole when jeff
offered to relieve him, and venturing now
and then upon some jest with Roswell
and Frank. Their distrust, however was
not lessened, and they were too honest to
affect liking that it was impossible to
feel. They had little to say to him, and,
noticing the fact, he finally let them
alone Whatever misgiving JEFF may have
felt was Skilfully concealed, and the fell
low could have felt no suspicion that his
secret was suspected by any member of
the company.
Everything was going smoothly, when,
about the middle of the afternoon the
weather grew threatening. The sky was
darkened by thickening clouds, and the
wind which moaned dismally through the
mountain gorges, churned the fresh water
into waves that began dashing the spray
over the craft.
II reckon" said Jeff, leaning on his
pole and looking up at the sky and the
WhitecapS chasing one another over the
lake that the best plan is to go ashore
and camp until tomorrow"
Let's put up the SAIL, suggested Tim.
ITS coming from the right point"
added Hardman, also carefully noting the
signs; II may be dangerous, but we've
a chance to make good progress"
up with her then" replied Jeff, set
ting TO work at once. A strong square
sail was speedily hoisted and secured in
position on the mast. The gale had so
shifted that it came from exactly the
right quarter and as the canvas bellied
outward, the raft caught thtNimpulse and
began moving through the water at a
rate that sent the rippleS flying over the
square ends of the logs at the front. All
sat down on the upper framework, with
the exception of Jeff, who stood pole in
hand at the bow, ready to guide the
structure should it sheer in the wrong di-
rection.
The conformation of the shore and a
slight change of wind carried the raft
further out on the lake Observing that
it was getting slightly askew, Jeff pushed
the long pole downward until his hand
almost touched the surface of the water.
While holding it there the other end
bobbed up, having failed to touch land.
mo use" he said, facing his friends
who We're watching him, 1.-The bottom
may be half mile below
That looks as II we re over our bids,
said Tim, 'by which token if this steamer
blows up we're got to swim for our lives,
and 1 never larned to swim stroke.'
The boys looked at him wonderingly
How is it you did not learn?" asked
Roswell
"Tve tried hundreds of times; I kept
in the water till my toes begun to have
webs between EN-, but at the first stroke
me hid went down and me heels up. I
can swim in that style" he added gravely
but find the same slightly inconvenient.
owing to the necessity of braithing now
and thin. I tried fur a long time to
braithe through my toes, but niver made
much of q success of ii"
And [ learned to swim in one day"
remarked Frank; Strange that you
should have so much trouble
Undoubtedly that's because yer hid is
so light, while me own brains weigh