The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-16


land was now quite near 1t was barr
rem mound of stone, worn into gullies
and sharp precipices by the action OF
the waves and rain, Hardlya tree or a
shrub was in sight. d; "
t'It looks like the rocky crown OF a
great stone mountain hidden in the
ocean, said the Englishmad. 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 acou-
pie of birds eggs dropped from the
clouds. ave must fall into the water
and swim ashore: There is no use try
ing tossa7e the balloon" -.ss. =
'st'W We had better be about it, then,"
said Johnston, rising stiffly and holding
to the ropes. eff 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 OH opposite sides of the car
and, face to face, hung by their. hands
beneath.
~ dread the plunge" muttered
Thorndyke. L feel as weak as sick
kitten. I am not sure that | can swim
that distance, but the water looks still
enough"
81 am played out, too," grunted the
American, red in the face. "But it
looks like our only chance. Ugh! She
made big dip then. We'd better let go.
I'll count three, and thee is the signal.
Now, ready-one, two, three"
Down shot the baIlConists, 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.
"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 sun
shine. ~. 49,. =.
"Not 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 go to that point
and look around -
The ascent was exceedingly trying,
for the incline was steep and 1T was at
times difficult to set firm footing.
But 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 tie sky III all directions.
High up in the clouds they saw the bal
loon, now steadily drifting with the
wind toward the south.
eve might as we'll 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 distressf'' -.
Johnston stroked his dark beard
thoughtfully; then he pointed toward
the shore.
"There are some driftwood and sea-
weed" 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 Oh it. run down
and bring me ah armful of dry seaweed
and wood" he added, intent ON his
work. IL. s..> \
Thorndyke clambered down to the
shore, and in few minutes returned
with an armful of fuel. Johnston was
blowing his punk into flame, and i'll
a moment had a blazing fire. j:
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 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 a bear. There is fine spring
of fresh water below, too, SO we won't
die of thirst. y
They baked the CLAIMS and ate them
heartily and then went down to the
spring near the shore. The water was
deliciously cool and invigcrafing. The
sun sank into the quiet ocean and night
crept on. The stars came out slowly,
and tie mcen rose full and red from
the waves, adding its beams to the flick
ering lightof the fire on the hilltop.
Suppose we take a walk all around
Oh the beach, proposed the English
man. There is no telling what W.
may find. We may run on to something
that has drifted ashore from some
wrecked ship. =
Johnston consented They had en-
compassea TIRE entire island, which wa
oval in shape, and were about to ascend
! to the rock to Eus. fresh fuel on the fir,
before lying down to sleep for the night
when Thorndyke noticed road tina
! had evident heen worn in the rock b,
human footsteps
Made By feet, he said, bending
down and 1e5ol i5sfy loosely at the roci