Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-28
At length I thought might return

some distance further down the spit,
and rising from among low bushes, al
isolated rock pretty high, and peculiar
ly white in color. 1t occurred to me
that this might be the white rock of
which Ben Gum had spoken, and that
some day or other boat might be
wanted. and I should know where to
look for one.
Then 1 skirted among the woods until
had regained the rear. or shoreward
side, of the stockade, and was soon
warmly welcomed by the faithful
party.
had soon told my story, and began
TO look about me. The Lighthouse was
made of unsquared trunks of pine
roof. walls and floor. The latter stood
in several places as much as foot or
foot and half above the surface of the
sand. There was a porch at the door,
and under this porch the little spring
wel1ed up into artificial basin of a
rather odd kind-no other than great
ships kettle of iron, with the bottom
knocked out, and sunk "to her bear
ings." as the captain said, among the
sand.
Little had been left beside the frame
work of the house; but in one corner
there was a stone slab laid down by
way of hearth. and an old rusty iron
basket to contain the fire.
The slopes of the knoll and all the
inside of the stockade had been cleared
of timber to build the house. and we
could see by the stumps what fine
and lofty grove had been destroyed.
Most of the soil had been washed
<1,~sG ~
| moval of the trees; only where the
streamlet ran down from the kettle
thick bed of moss and some ferns and
little creeping bushes were still green
| among the sand. Very close around the
stockade-too close for defense, they
| said-the wood still f1ourished high and
dense, all of fir on the land side, but
toward the sea with large admiXture
| of live oaks.
| The cold evening breeze, of which I
have spoken, whistled through every
chink of the rude building, and
sprinkled the floor with a continual
| rain of fine sand. There was sand in
| our eyes, sand in our teeth, sand in our
suppers, sand dancing in the spring at
| the bottom of the kettle, for all the
| world like porridge beginning to boil.
| Our chimney was a square hole in the
| roof; it was but little part of the
smoke that found its way out. and the
rest eddied about the house, and kept
us coughing and piping the eye.
Add to this that Gray, the new man,
had his face tied up in a bandage for
cut he had got in breaking away from
the mutineers; and that poor old Tom
Redruth, still unburied, lay along the
wall, stiff and stark, under the Union
Jack.
If we had been allowed to sit idle,
| we should all have fallen in the blues,
| but Capt. Smollett was never the man
| for that. All hands were called up be-
fore him, and he divided us into
watches. The doctor, and Gray, and I.
| for one; the squire, Hunter. and Joyce
upon the other. Tired as we all were.
two were sent out for firewood; two
more were sent to dig grave for Red
| ruth; the doctor was named cook; I
| was put sentry at the door; and the
captain himself went from one to an
| other, keeping up our spirits and lend
ing hand wherever it was wanted.
From time to time the doctor came
| to the door for little air and to rest
| his eyes, which were almost smoked out
| of his head; and whenever he did so. he
had a word for me.
"That man Smollett," he said once,
els better man than am. And when
1 say that it means a deal, Jim
Another time he came and was silent
for awhile. Then he put his head on
one side. and looked at me.
"Is this Ben Gum a man 2" he asked.
81 do not know, SIR said I. ST am
not very sure whether he's sane"
eff there's any doubt about the mat
| ter, he is" returned the doctor. ga man
| who has been three years biting his
| nails on desert island, Jim, can't eX-
| pect to appear as sane as you or me. II
doesn't lie in human nature. Was ii
| cheese you said he had fancy for?"
Eyes, sir. cheese" I answered.
''Well, JIM" says he, 'just see the
good that comes of being dainty in
| your food. You've seen my snuff-boN,
| haven't you? And you never saw Jae
take snuff: the reason being that il
my snuff-boX 1 carry piece of Parme-
san cheese-a cheese made in Italy, very
| nutritious. Well. that's for Ben Gunn!'
Before supper was eaten we buried
old Tom in the sand, and stood round
him for awhile bareheaded in the
breeze. a good deal of firewood had
been got in, but not enough for the cap
tain's fancy. and he shook his head over
it. and told us we must get back to this
| tomorrow rather live1ier." Then, when
we had eaten our pork. and each had 9
good stiff glass of brandy grog, the
three chiefs got together in q corner
to discuss our prospects.
It appears they were at their wits
| end what to do, the stores being so low
| @l,s,& $50 :x,<-