The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-09

I enough"
II am played out, too" grunted the
American, red in the face. "But it
looks like our only chance. Ughl She
made big dip then. We'd better let 60
I'll count three, and three is the signal.
Now, ready-one, two, threel"
Down shot the balloonists, and up
bounded the great liberated bag Of gas
The basket and dangling ropes swung
wildly from side to side. The aeronauts
touched the water feet foremost at tho
same instant, and in half a minute they
rose, not ten feet apart.
CHOW for it," sputtered Johnston,
shaking his bushy head like swim
ming dog. look, the shore is not very
far" Thorndyke was saving bis wind
and said nothing, but accommodated his
stroke to that of his companion, and
/ thus they breasted the gently rolling
pillows until finally, completely ex-
hausted. they climbed up the shelving
rocks and lay down in the warm SUM-
shine.
"Not a very encouraging outlook"
said Johnston, rising when his clothing
was dry and climbing a slight eleva-
ton "There is nothing in sight except
a waste Of stone. Let's 60 to that point
and look around" ~r
The ascent was exceedingly trying,
for the incline was steep and it was at
times difficult to get firm footing.
But they were repaid for the exertion,
for they had reached the highest point
Of the island and could gee all over it.
As far as their vision reached there was
nothing beyond the little island except
the glistening waves that reached out
till they met the sky in all directions.
High up in the clouds they saw the bal
loon, now steadily drifting with the
wind toward the south.
ave might as well be dead and done
with it," grumbled Thorndyke. "Ships
are not apt to approach this isolated
spot, and even if they did how could
we give signal Of distressi"
Johnston stroked his dark beard
thoughtfully; then he pointed toward
the shore.
"There are some driftwood and sea-
weed" he said. with my sunglass I
can soon have a bonfire" He took a
piece Of punk from waterproof box
that he carried in his pocket and focus
ed the SUMS rays on it. run down
and bring me an armful Of dry seaweed
and wood" he added, intent on his
work.
Thorndyke olambered down to the
shore, and in few minutes returned
with an armful Of fuel. Johnston was
blowing his punk into fame, and in
moment had blazing fire.
Good" approved the Englishman,
rubbing his hands together over the
flames. "We1l keep it burning, and it
may do some good" Then smile Of
satisfaction came over his face as he be-
gan to take some clans from his pocket
PLENTY of these fellows down there,
and they are as fat and juicy as can be.
Hurry up and let's bake them. I'm as
hungry as bear. There is a fine spring
Of fresh water below, too, so we won't
die Of thirst.
They baked the clans and ate them
heartily and then went down to the
spring near the shore. The water was
deliciously cool and invigorating. The
sun sank into the quiet ocean and night
crept on. The stars came out slowly,
and the moon rose full and red from
the waves, adding its beams to the flick
ering light Of the fire on the hilltop.
Suppose we take walk all around
on the beach," proposed the English
man. "There is no telling what We
may find. We may run on to something
that has drifted ashore from some
wrecked ship"
Johnston consented. They had en-
compassed the entire island, which was
oval in shape, and were about to ascend
to the rock to put fresh fuel on the fire
before lying down to sleep forthe night,
when Thorndyke noticed a road that
had evidently been worn in the rock by
human footsteps. fr.
made by feet" he said, bending
down and looking closely at the rock
and raking up handful Of white sand,
"but whether the feet Of savage or civ
ilized mortal I can't make ont"
Johnston was few yards ahead Of
him and stopped to pick up something
glittering in the moonlight. It was
tap from the heel Of shoe and was Of
solid silver.
"Civilized," he said, holding it out
to his companion, land Of the very
highest order Of civilization. Who ever
heard Of people rich enough to wear sill
yer heel taps?'
"Are you sure 1t is silver?" asked the
Englishman, examining it closely.
"Pure and unalloyed. See how the
stone has cut into it and feel Its
weight" \
"You are right, believe" returned
Thorndyke as Johnston put the strange
trophy into his pocketbook, and the two
adventures paused a moment and looked
mutely into each others eyes.
1--WE haven't the faintest idea Of
where we are," said Johnston, his tone
buOWluB Ludb uo was utCoAuln8 uoAo
Respondent. "We don't know how long
we were unconscious in the balloon, nor
where we were taken In the storm. We
may now be in the very center Of the
north polar seas-this knob may be the
very pivot on which this end Of the
earth revolves.'
The Englishman laughed. mo dan
ger; the sun is too natural. From the
poles 1t would look different.
II don't mean the old sun that you
read so much about, and that they
make so much racket over at home, but
another, of which we are the original
discoverers-a sun that isn't in old
Soils beat at all, but one that revolves
round the earth from north to south and,
dips in once day at the north and the
south poles. See?" --,s>
The Englishman laughed heartily
and slapped his friend on the shoulder.
II think we are somewhere in the
Atlantic, but your finding that heel tap
does puzzle me-"
"We are going to have an adventure,