Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-21
CHAPTER Xxx.
LIFE IN THE BUNGALOW.


greater skill in the choice of lieu
tenants than in the selection of T..
Sylvester Vincent as general super
intendent of Social Island. Mr.. Vim
cent proved to be most capable
manager. He formulated a set of
rules and enforced them with the
tact of the born executive. Since
the discovery of the golden idols in
/ which Mr.. Vincent had an interest
worth at least S175,o0o, that gentle
man advanced himself several points
in the social and financial plane: but
he was too shrewd to be presumptu-
GUS. He became more and more
| popular with his associates, who dis
covered that some of his plans pos
sessed merit, though others were
beyond the pale of practicability.
On Saturday night, two days after
the hurricane, the weather turned
I very warm. 1t was fairly cool in the
| shade of the trees, but unbearable
in the open. There being slight rea-
son to anticipate any favorable
change, it was agreed to arrange
such division of the hours as should
best conduce to comfort and to ex-
pediting work on the boat.
! At the suggestion of Mr.. Rock
well it was decided that all should
arise in the morning in time to have
breakfast as soon as it was daylight.
AT half-past two they were out of
bed, and by four o'clock were hard
! at work. 1t was cool in these early
hours, and all worked with a vigor
which gave them ravenous appetite
for the substantial meal served at
ten o'clock. The sun was then high
in the heavens, and it was no longer
safe to work. During the hours from
IL O'Clock until five, the castaways
enjoyed the delights of a siesta.
AT five O'Clock in the evening all
were aroused. and after partalsing
of fruit or light luncheon, returned
to their labors. Three hours were
thus stolen from the angry sun in
the cool of the evening, and a total
OF at least eight hours devoted to
work during the day. At eight
o'clock in the evening dinner was
ready, and at half past ten the toilers
retired for the night. Eight hours
for work, eight for sleep, and eight
for recreation was the diurnal rou-
tine at Social Island bungalow.
The supply of bread left by Hes
tor was exhausted in three or four
days. There was an abundance of
flour, and for time baking powder
biscuits" enjoyed much popularity,
but it was not lasting.
81 would like a slice of good-old-
fashioned homemade bread,' said
Mr.. Rockwell one afternoon, and he
voiced the common desire.
Il know how to make bread" said
Mr.. Pence. 81 learned when I was
young man, and / could make it yet
it we only had some yeast. 1 used to
make mighty fine bread. 1t cost less
than half what the bakers, charged
for it,
There is a package of yeast stuff
in the storeroom,' said Mr.. Vincent.
1T is the kind of yeast---so the box
says-that will keep for years"
He brought in the package and Mr..
Pence examined it critically
II don't know about this stuff
he said ct is probably some
new-fangled thing, and l am always
afraid of these new rinktums. 1
made my own yeast out of hops
go ahead and try it, Simon" said
Mr.. Kent. 1T say be all right Are
there full directions on it?"
Mr.. Pence found explicit instruc-
tons on the package. which was la
beled Yeast Foam" He said he
was afraid he would spoil lot of
flour, but finally consented to make
the attempt. All adjourned to the
kitchen to watch the new baker.
Mr.. Pence put on long white apron.
Mr.. Kent made white paper cap
and placed it on the head of the fin
ancier. Mr.. Pence poured out
quantity of -four, added small por-
tions of salt and sugar, and mixed the
combination thoroughly. In the
meantime the cake of yeast foam
had been dissolved in warm water.
Mr.. Pence scooped hole in the CEN
ter of the flour and poured in guam
tity of warm water. To this he adj
ded the dissolved yeast. He manip-
ulated the -four so as to form pasty
mixture, which reposed in the center
of an amphitheater of -four. Then
he washed his hands of the. yeast
and -four, and took off cap and apron.
THAT is the sponge" said Simon
Pence, while the others listened with
great admiration. "If that stuff is
good, it will ferment and rise in
few hours. If it does, we will have
some bread. If not, l have wasted
30 cents worth of flour. Let us hope
for the best"
Mr.. Pence watched the sponge"
as does mother sick babe. From
time to time Mr.. Vincent carried
news bulletins to the ship builders,
who were hard at work in the rear of
the bungalow, telling trees for the
raft or houseboat.
ut has started to come up!" he
announced, as 7O-foot tree came
crashing down after the well-directed
blows of Palmer j. Morton.
"GOOdl1 said Mr. Kent nc ba