The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-09

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than 300 feet above the waves. The IS
| land was now quite near. 1t was bar
rem mound of stone, worn into gullies
and sharp precipices by the action OF
the waves ard rain. Hardly a tree or a
| shrub was in sight.
cit locks like the rocky crown OF
great stone mountain hidden in the
ocean, z said the Englishman. Half a
mile to the shore, 100 feet to the water.
At this rate of speed the wind would
smash us against those rocks like aceu-
| pie of birds eggs DROPPED from the
| clouds We must fall into the water
| and swim ashore. There is 10 use try
| ing to save the balloon. =
/ ''We had better be about it, then, =
| said Johnston, rising stiffiy and holding
| to the ropes. 8 If we should go down in
! the water with the balloon, we would
get tangled in the ropes and be asphyx-
lated by the gas. We had better hang
down under the basket and let go at ex-
| actly the same time.
The water was not more than 40 feet
| beneath, and the island was getting
nearer every instant. The two aeronauts
swung over ON opposite sides of the car
and, face to face, hung by their hands
| beneath. -
81 dread the plunge" muttered
| Thorndyke. 81 feel as weak as a sick
kitten. / am not sure that can swim
that distance, but the water looks still
enough" = A. ....L
81 am played out, too" grunted the
| American, red in the face. "But it
! looks like our only chance. Ugh! She
made a big dip then. We'd better let go.
I'll count three, and three is the signal.
! Now, ready-one, two, three!'
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 the
same instant, and in half a minute they
rose. not ten feet apart. H. ".*
+ "Now for it," sputtered Johnston,
/ shaking his bushy head like a swim
ming dog. Look, the shore is not very
! far. Thorndyke was saving his 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. {,
| mot a very encouraging outlook, -
said Johnston, rising when his clothing
was dry and climbing a slight eleya-
ton. There is nothing in sight except
a waste of stone Let's go to that point
and look around.
The ascent was exceedingly trying,
for the incline was steep and it was at
times difficult to get firm footing.
Bat they were repaid for the exertion,
| for they had reached the highest point
OF the island and could see 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 i'll the clouds they saw the bal
loon, now steadily drifting with the
wind toward the south vi
'sWe 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 a signal of distress?''
Johnston streked his dark beard
| thoughtfully; then he pointed toward
/ the shore.
There are some driftwood and sea-
weed, 2 he said. with my sunglass ]
! can soon have a bonfire" He took a
piece Of punk from waterproof box
that he carried in his pocket and focus
ed the suns rays on it Run down
and bring me an armful of dry seaweed
and wood, J" he added, intent on his
| work.
Thorndyke clambered down to the
shore, and in a few minutes returned
with an armful of fuel Johnston was
blowing his punk into a flame, and in
a moment had blazing FIRE.
Good, = approved the Englishman,
rubbing his hands together over the
flames. We'll keep it burning, and it
may do some good. Then smile Of
| satisfaction came over his face as be 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 a bear. There is a fine spring
of fresh water below, too, so we won 1
die of thirst. =
They baked the CLAIMS and ate them
heartily and then went down to the
spring near the shore The water was
deliciously cool and inyigorating. The
sun sank into the quiet ocean and night
cfept OH. The stars came out slowly.
and the moon rose fnll and red from
the waves, adding its beams to the flick
Eering light Of the fire on the hilltop.
Suppose we take walk all around
Oh 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. z
Johnston consented. They had en-
conn passed the entire island, which was
oval in shape, and were about to ascend
to the rock to put fresh fuel en- the fire
before lying down to sleep for the night,
when Thorndyke noticed a road that
had evidently been worn in the rock by.
human footsteps.
Made by feet,y' he said, bending
Z