Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-06-08
CHAPTER XXII.

Inc BOAT was rapidly nearing COM
pletion. They tested their work by
| weighing the hull down with rocks,
but no leaks were disclosed. Each
of the eight compartments seemed
to be water-tight, and provision was
made that in case of a leak the faulty
one could be bailed out.
1t had been hoped to finish 1.-THE
Jumping Jupiter by Saturday night,
but this was found impossible. A
heavy rain set in Saturday evening
and continued all day Sunday. The
day was spent in reading, and Mon
day morning found all much re-
freshed, and ready to complete the
preparations for departure. There
were occasional showers during the
day, but it was cool. It was found
possible to work without the usual
afternoon respite. When six o'clock
came Mr.. Carmody inspected the
Jumping Jupiter" and announced
that the boat was finished.
Candor compels the admission that
''The Jumping Jupiter" was as ugly
craft as ever stood ready to put out
to sea. In comparison. a canal boat
was model of grace, and a Hudson
river raft would hesitate to recog-
nize the prototype evolved by the
builders on Social Island. The only
paint was that used in outlining the
name on the opposite sides of the
cabin. "The Jumping Jupiter" is
easily described. Imagine a 4O-foot
scOw supporting 24-foot cabin on
top of which there were two short
masts. These masts supported two
lateen sails made of striped window
awnings, and the sail-1nakers made
no attempt to preserve any unifor-
nifty of design in connecting the
stripes. AS Mr.. Kent remarked, the
sails looked like two teams of con-
victs engaged in a football scrim-
mage"
There were thwarts for three oars
on each side of the boat. A long oar
served as a rudder and crude wind
| lass supported the rock anchor But
what "The Jumping Jupiter" lacked
in beauty she made up in staunch-
ness and utility. There was no
chance for her to founder.
THE Jumping Jupiter is all right"
| said Mr.. Kent, as they stood off and
surveyed this marine wonder. But
[ object to calling the Jumping Jup-
tier She There is nothing eff
| Terminate about this boat. We will
call it a he 1t is a wonderful boat.
| vt is also a submarine boat, isn't it,
Vincent?"
ct started out that way" said
Vincent, with a grin. 81 hope he
won't repeat that performance"
During the evening they placed
such furniture and bedding on board
as was needed. For two DAYS Vim
cent and Mr.. Pence had been cook
| ing in preparation for the voyage.
They had provided huge joints of
roast beef, and enough bread to last
week or more. They placed in the
storeroOm of "The Jumping Jupiter
store of canned meats and vegeta-
bles, huge punches of bananas. paw
paws and other tropical Injuries.
| Everything which would hold water
| was pressed into service Several
| casks of fresh water were placed in
| the hold, as also were extra stores
| OF food. in case a storm should wash
! the cabin overheard. In that event
! it was proposed that all should seek
| shelter below and trust to luck and
sandy beach The new dinghy was
dashed to the roof of the cabin.
There was one thought which dis
! turbed the prospective voyagers,
though none mentioned it. Where
| was llestor and the SHARK" and
| would he interfere with their depart
ure? Had he observed their prep
arations for escape? They could not
| hope to make any effective fight
| against recapture, but every man
| swore to himself to resist such an
outrage to the last extremity. That
Monday night Sidney and Mr.. Kent
| climbed the cliffs and scanned the
sea. There was no ship or craft in
sight, but for all they knew the
shark" might be anchored behind
the cliffs which jetted out from the
| opposite horns of the crescent which
| limited their range of vision north
and south.
AT a conference it was decided to
| put out to sea about IL o'clock the
! following forenoon. unless the wind
and weather absolutely precluded
such risk. At this hour the tide
was favorable. since it swung with a
| strong current to the north. They
aimed to circle the island to the
north and head straight for the main
land; which in their opinion was not
more than $50 miles to the west or
| southwest.
by the way" said Sidney, shave
you and Vincent put your idols on
board The Jumping Jupiters?'
Il have made special compart-
ment for them in my stateroom,"
| said Mr.. Pence. "We will put them
on board tomorrow morning"
so the good ship Jumping Jupi-
ter is to be treasure ship, is hep
said Mr.. Kent. How about that,
Mr.. Carmody? Who owns The
Jumping Jupiter? In my opinion,
we all own an equal share. Now, this