Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-07-25
CHAPTER XIX.


Mr.. Kent was the first to awake.
It was noon when he shook off the
drowsy god and plunged into bath.
He emerged feeling better, and soon
dressed and entered the club room.
He found that none of his fellow
castaways were awake. After a
search in the storeroom he provided
himself with rcd, reel and a COM
plete fishing equipment. Armed
with dip net he went to the brook,
and as Sidney had predicted found
no difficulty in catching pail full
of minnows. A few minutes later he
was drifting over the bay on the
raft.
It was not long before he located
a school Of pike and bass, the latter
much resembling the northern weak
fish. Before the minnow had been
lowered ten feet, one of the bass
made a rush for it. He struck hard,
and for three INMATES Mr.. Kent was
a busy and happy man. The reel
sang a CHEEKY song. for the bass
was game and did not tamely sur
render. At last he was in the land
ing net and from thence he went
into the willow basket.
In. less than an hour Mr.. Kent had
caught dozen bass and pike, which
averaged four pounds. It was fine
creel of fish, and Mr.. Kent padded
back to the stone pier in high salts
faction with his piscatorial proves.
He justly regarded himself as the
Nimrod and the Isaac Walton of the
colony.
1t was not SO much fun cleaning
these beauties, but Mr.. Kent had
completed the task when he was
Joined by Mr.. Haven. Together they
prepared the late breakfast and at
four o'clock all were seated around
the table. They pronounced the fish
excellent and gave Mr.. Kent vote
of thanks promising him a decora-
ton on their return to civilization.
All adjourned to the veranda and
Mr.. Carmody brought up the subject
of building a boat with which to es-
cape to the mainland. Sidney Ham
mond said it was useless to continue
the exploration of the island. In his
opinion it was about ten miles long,
running north and south, and prob
ably four or five miles wide. The
Snow-capped mountain undoubtedly
belonged to the range forming the
backbone of Mexico and Central
America. It was sufficient to know
that they wese not more than $50
miles from the mainland. Sidney
suggested that a man be detailed to
watch the ocean each day from the
gateway to the bay, and volunteered
his services for the morrow It was
decided to erect a flagstaff at this
point and float white flag from it
as a signal of distress.
''We will begin the building of
a boat or raft tomorrow" said Mr..
Carmody, the chairman of the com
mittee of escape. II have my plans
practically completed and / will sub
init them to you now for approval,
rejection or modification. My sug-
gestion is that we build raft in
the form of a houseboat. I doubt
if we have the materials with which
to construct lifeboat, with pointed
OOWS dIlU SIOIu. Again, SUCu DOdG
is not nearly as safe as a raft.
From what Hammond has learned
am of the opinion that any number
of ships pass to the east of us at
distance not exceeding Is miles.
While our objective point is the main
land, we must calculate on the pos
sibility of being blown to the east.
The Gulf of Mexico and the Carib-
bean sea are thronged with ships
of all kinds. 1t is likely that this
island lies a little eff the regular
course of traffic, but we are certain
to sight some vessel in short order.
Therefore | favor a craft which will
have more of safety than of speed"
That is my idea exactly" said Mr..
Morton. II believe we will be picked
up inside of 4S hours at the most.
We must construct q raft or house
boat which can survive any ordinary
storm. Even if the waves do beat over
1t occasionally, our plight will be