Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-05-20
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
search in the storeroom he provided
himself with rod, reel and COM
plete fishing equipment. Armed
with a dip net he went to the brook,
and as Sidney had predicted found
no difficulty in catching a pail full
of minnows. A few minutes later he
was drifting over the bay on the
raft.
1t was not long before he located
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 minutes Mr.. Kent was
busy and a happy man. The reel
sang n 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.
q
caught a dozen bass and pike, which
averaged four pounds. 1t was fine
creel Of fish,. and Mr.. Kent padded
back to the stone. pier in high salts
faction with his piscatorial prowess.
He Justly regarded himself as the
Ninirod and the Isaac Walton of the
colony.
1t was not so much fun cleaning
completed the task when he was
8 joined by Mr.. Haven. Together they
prepared .athe late breakfast and at
four o'clock all were seated around
the table. They pronounced the fish
excellent ands gave. Mr.. Kent a vote
: of thanks promising him decora-
ton on their return to civilization:
All adjourned to the veranda and
Mr.. Carnfody 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. 1t was sufficient to know
that they were not more than $50
miles from the mainland. Sidney
3 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. 1t was
decided to- erect flagstaff at this
q point and float white flag from it
3 as a signal of distress.
1--WE will begin the building of
a boat or raft tomorrow" said Mr..
Carmody, the chairman of the com
mittee of escape. 81 have my plans
practically completed and 1 will sub
init them to you now for approval,
rejection or modification. My sug-
gestion is that we build a raft in
the form, of houseboat. I doubt
if we have the materials with which
to construct a lifeboat, with pointed
bows and stern. Again, such boat
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 25 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 anti the Carib-
bean sea are thronged with ships
of ail kinds. 1t is likely that this
island lies a little off. 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. ssI believe we will be picked
up inside of 4S hours at the most.
We must construct raft or house
boat which can survive any ordinary
storm. Even if the waves do beat over
Il occasionally, our plight will be