Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11


Well, as things at last fell out, I found
AIN admirable opportunity. The squire
and Gray were busy helping the captain
with his bandages; the coast was clear;
I made bolt for it over the stockade
and into the thickest of the trees, and
before my absence was observed I was
out of cry of companions.
This was my second folly. far worse
than the first. as I left but two sound
men to guard the house; but. like the
first. it was help toward saving all of
US.
I took my way straight for the east
coast of the island. for was determined
to go down the sea side of the spit TO
avoid all chance of observation from
the anchorage. It was already late in
the afternoon, although still warm and
sunny. AS I continued to thread the
tall woods I could hear from far before
me not only the continuous thunder
of the surf. but certain tossing of
foliage and grinding of boughs which
showed me the sea breeze had set in
higher than usual. Soon cool draughts
of air began to reach me; and few
steps further came forth into the open
borders of the grove and saw the sea
y
and the surf tumbling and tossing its
foam along the beach.
have never seen the sea quiet round
Treasure island. The sun might blaze
overhead. the air be without breath,
the surface smooth and blue. but still
these great rollers would be running
along all the external coast. thunder
ing and laundering by day and night;
nd rna iS n
the island where a man would be out of
earshot' of their noise.
walked along beside the surf with
great enjoyment. till. thinking 1 was
row got far enough to the south. I
took the cover of some thick bushes
and crept warily up to the ridge of the
spit.
Behind me was the sea, in front the
anchorage. The sea breeze, as though
it had the sooner blown itself out by
its unusual violence, was already at an
end; it had been succeeded by light.
variable airs from the south and south
east. carrying great banks of fog; and
the anchorage. under lee Of Skeleton
island, lay still and leaden as when
first we entered it. The ''Hispanio!a"
in that unbroken mirror was exactly
portrayed from the truck to the water
line. the Jolly Roger hanging from her
peak.
Alongside lay one of the gigs. Silver
in the stern sheets-him I could always
recognize-while couple of men were
leaning over the stern bulwarks, one of
them with a red cap-the very rogue
I had seen some hours before stride
legs upon the palisade. Apparently
they were talking and laughing, though
at that distance-upward of a mile-I
| could. Of course, hear 10 word of what
was said. All at once there began the
most horrid, unearthly screaming.
| which at first startled me badly. though
I had soon remembered the voice of
Capt. Flint, and even thought I could
| make out the bird by her bright PUN
| age as she sat perched upon her mas
ter's wrist.
Soon after the jolly-boat showed off
and pulled for shore, and the man with
| the red cap and his comrade went below
! by the cabin companion.
| Just about the same time the sun
| had gone down behind the Spy-g.ass,
| and as the fog was collecting rapidly
| it began to grow dark in earnest.
| saw I must lose no time if were to find
| the boat that evening.
The white rock, visible enough above
| the brush, was still some eighth of
| mile further down the spit. and it took
me g. goodish while to get up with it.
crawling often on all tours among the
scrub. Night had almost come when
| I laid my hand on its rough sides.
| Right below it there was an exceeding
| ly small hollow of green turf, hidden
| by banks and thick underwood about
knee-deep, that grew there very plen-
| tifully; and in the center of the dell.
| sure enough, a little tent of goatskins
like what the gypsies carry about with
them in England.
I dropped into the hollow, lifted the
| side of the tent, and there was Ben
| Gums boat-homemade if ever any,
| thing was homemade; a rude. 1op-sided
| framework of tough wood. and
| stretched upon that a covering of goat
| skin, with the hair inside. The thing
was extremely small. even for me, and
I can hardly imagine that it could have
| foated with a fu1l-sized man. There
| was one thwart set as low as possible, a
| kind of stretcher in the bows, and d
double paddle for propulsion.
| I had not then seen a coracle, such
| as the ancient Britons made. but
| have seen once since, and can give you
no fairer idea of Ben Gums boat than
| by saying it was like the first and the
| worst corac1e ever made by man. But
the great advantage if the eoracle it GER
tainly possessed. for it was exceedingly
light and portable.
Well. now that had found the boat,
| you would have thought 1 had had
| enough of truantry for once: but in the
| meantime had taken another notion,