Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-01-16


lt was as Sidney said. The coast
Was 80 formed that no inlet showed.
Half q mile from shore there was
nothing to distinguish the entrance
to the bay from . score Of ragged
indentations in the black cliffs. AS
they proceeded they came to tho
ridge Of rocks which formed the
north horn Of the crescent. This
they imagined to mark the north
boundary OF the island, but as they
neared It they found 1t was but the
south end Of . bay which seemed to
be IL or is miles across. s
This is g pretty good-sized island,
Hammond" remarked Mr.. Kent, as
this new panorama spread out be-
fore their view.
There was puzzled expression on
Sidney's face. AZ Mr.. Kent spoke,
the massive outlines Of the snow
white peak, which had been. seen
from the island, slowly came into
view above the hills along the coast.
The land now opposite them was low
and fairly fiat. The big rock on their
port side was seen to be the end Of
q spur Of small mountains which
came down to the ocean.
do not understand it," said Sid
ney. There is no such island as this
on any Of our maps? Where can we
be? This island is at least 40 miles
long and perhaps longer. That must
be the northern end of it,"
Sidney pointed to the cape per-
haps Is miles away. It was now two
O'Clock in the afternoon, and Mr..
Rockwell and Vincent announced that
dinner was ready. They stretched
an awning over the afterdeck and set
a table beneath it. Sidney dashed the
stiller in position and all proceeded to
enjoy the repast. A haze was steal
ing over the ocean and the wind dy-
ing ont. For. time "The Jumping
Jupiter" had been making four or
five miles nm hour, but the breeze, as
it came heavy with perfume from the
shore died down until it was barely
strong enough to straighten out the
striped sails.
Well, Capt. Hammond, what do
you think of it 2" asked Mr.. Morton
IS he lit cigar and leaned back in
his chair. q s.
There is but one thing to do, . said
Sidney. Eve must keep on this
course until we round that cape. AT
this rate 1t will be dark before we
make it. We will stand well out to
sea, SO as to have plenty of leewny
in case of an east or northeast wind. =
The big mountain peak was now
almost exactly to the west of them.
.'H that is old Popocatepetl, as
think it is" said Sidney, pointing
at the huge purple mass, Vera Cruz
is only q little northwest Of here.
When it gets dark I will hold her
north, and take no chances Of rum
ming ashore on this island"
AS the afternoon wore away, the
haze settled and slowly blotted out
the shore line. They crawled along
at hardly two knots an hour. It was
J .exasperating progress, but there was
no help for it. In the evening the
haze lifted and showed the cape still
in the northwest. This proved that
: the tide was pulling against them.
The wind died away to breath. and
the sun sank, a huge red ball of FIRE
in q bank of orange clouds. AT ten
O'clock the wind swung into the
Z southeast and freshened, but the haze
yet hung over the sea, and Sidney
held his course to the north.
II. IA III but Sidney md Mr.. Kent retired
atoe the hunks and slept Eoundly az
IL ON an ocean liner. Save for the
!, bank, Of fog, it was q perfect night
on the water. The raft swayed gent
" to the deep breathing of the sea,
4 and the smasts gronned in musical
z cadence to the ripping Of: the water.
At midnight Mr. Kent took the tiller,
and Sidney stretched himself on q
steamer chair and enjoyed two hours
Of untroubled slnmbcr. He awoke
and relieved Mr.. Kent, who then took
his nap.
Twice during the night Sidney
turned the boat to the west, and
held that course until the hollow
thunder of the surf warned him to
stand out. At about three o'clock
the breeze quiqkened, and so-mile
breeze sprang up, coming straight
z from the west. This compelled him
4 to cease any more landward expert
ments, and .grhe Jumping Jupiter"
rolled along at five-mile-an-hour
rate.
ut is satisfaction to know that we
are going somewhere. said Sidney
to himself. Eve must be past the
cape by this time. If the fog lifts
with this breeze, daylight will show
where we are . Il
AS he spoke there was a faint glow
in the eastern sky. Mr., Kent awoke
h with q yawn. 81 Is:
Where are we at ~ he asked.
Sidney shook his head.
We IRE headed north, he said. !
ITO be continued