Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-07-18


HE WAS STRUGGLING DESPER-
ATELY.
made slow yet steady progress to.
wards the inlet. Mr.. Kent did not
reply in answer to Sidney's reas
surfing words, but devoted all his
energies to keeping above water.
At last they passed the danger
point, and reached the quiet waters
where the shattered surges rolled
with gentle swell. Mr.. Kent
glanced back and released his hold
I'm all right" he said. ''Much
obliged"
Mr.. Kent struck out for the raft
which was bobbing up and down in
the water few rods away. Sidney
swan at his side and soon climbed
aboard the raft. He helped Mr.. Kent
to his feet, and then swan for the
paddles, which were floating toward
the rocks. He recovered them and
was again safe on the raft
care you all right, Mr.. Kent %
asked Sidney, as he grasped the hand
nestly.
81 am all right, except that I have
a quart or more of salt water in my
stomach" said Mr.. Kent, who seemed
more chagrined than hurt. SIT is a
lucky thing for me that you are a
kept up. You saved my life, Ham
mond. [ don't know how to thank
you for little thing like that"
Don't try said Sidney, laughing
heartily. Il am glad you are not in
jured. How did it happen?"
Like a fool, did not take your
advice and dive in time" said Mr.
Kent. Il thought the raft would
ride that wave, and so I took a
chance. It tipped squarely over
and when I tried to jump my foot
slipped. The raft came over right on
top of me, and for moment I was
stunned. L don't know how long
was under water. The first thing ]
remember was when you yelled in my
ear. [ knew enough to do as / was
| told. In my time, / have helped per
sons out of the water, and have not
! forgotten the rules. The next wave
would have fixed me. I could not
get my breath, and was losing my
strength
They soon were on shore; removed
their garments, wrung them out, anG
remained in the shade of a tree unit
their clothing was dried sufficiently
to wear. Mr.. Kent would listen to
no proposition involving an imme
date return to the bungalow, anc
stoutly declared he was as well as
ever. After an hours rest they pro
ceeded to climb the slope of the rock
which formed the north portal of the
gateway. 1t was long, hard strug
gle over the rocks and through brush
and briars. But they kept on an6
at last stood on the summit of the
crag, 400 feet above the ocean.
Look at that" exclaimed Sidney
| He pointed in the direction where
there was cleft in the ridge of hills
to the northwest. There showed the
faint outlines of a distant giant
mountain peak; pyramid whose tor
was white with eternal snow
''See that mountain peak!" he ex
claimed. Mr.. Kent's eyes were moi
SO good as Sidney's, but he soor
made out the outlines of mountain
THAT peak is about $50 miles
from here said Sidney in great joy
ct must be on the mainland of Mex
leo or Central America. There are
no ranges on any islands with peaks
like that. We are within sight OF
shore. That mountain is a long way
off, but I do not believe that it car
be more than $50 miles 1t looks
like a volcano. I imagine / can see q
column of smoke above it. With q
favoring wind we can make the main
land in day. This is great. We
can build a boat and get away from
this island in less than two weeks al
the most"
1T certainly looks as if you are
right" said No. Kent. 81 wonder
how big this island is?''
They studied the shape of the
coast, but it gave no answer to Mr.
Kent's question. From where they
stood it was apparent no exploration
of the shore from below was posi-
ble Even at low tide the ocean beat
at the foot of the rocks, casting its
spray far up their sides. In places
the never-resting waves had worn
caverns into the cliffs. They deter.
mined to mako an attempt to reach
the northern ridge of hills by skirt
ing the brow of the cliffs, but
postponed this until after lunch
con. This they ate with good
appetite, and luckily found a spring
of clear, cool water bubbling from
the crevice of rock.
Simon Pence is a queer charac
ter" observed Sidney, tossing ban