The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-11-10


I Sand island lag of to the south.
Lapham could see the long white streak
in the water. He remembered that itt
nearest point to the Chinook rocks
could be reached in ordinary times
within quarter Of mile. But every
storm changed this distance more or
less and he could not decipher the ex-
act situation in the darkness.
He was too active to remain pris-
oner on the rocks during the entire
night and yet he did not feel wholly
safe in attempting TO swim. He knew
that a quarter Of mile in calm water
was no task, but the waves might have
doubled or even tTebled this distance
between the rocks and the island.
They cut the sand like a monster steam
shovel on such occasions, and the dis
tance was now matter Of speculation.
Still the chances were as favorable for
a ill.in and reduction OF the distance,
and the hardy fisherman was inclined
to make the attempt.
There were many chances In bis favor
for escape when once upon Sand island.
Numerous fishermen left their boats
there through the night, and even
though these were swept away by the
storm there was probability that 9th.
ers had lodged upon the beach. There
was always wreckage Of all sorts found
on Sand island after a storm, and usu-
ally there were many boats.
The water was cold, 1t was true,
but Dan was also cold. He had re-
mained cramped upon the rocks until
any kind OF action would be relief to
one 80 accustomed to exercise. He de-
scended to the waters edge and peered
out over the surface toward the stretch
Of sand. Selecting what he thought
was the nearest point Of the island,
/ he took mountain peak far TO the
} southeast as guide, and eassd himself
! into the water.
. There is no danger along this shore
to man in the water except the sle-
ments themselves. The man. eating
9 shark so much feared in southern wat
Q ers never makes his appearance at this
: point. II Is only the extreme low tenn
e perature OF the water that endangerE
e the lives Of those who are subjected tC
d it and OF this Dan was not ignorant.
r He knew that he could swim an unlim
tied distance should the water no
10 cause his limbs to cramp.
q But the distance was made withou
10 incident. The shores Of the island hac
not been materially changed, and whel
IN the young fisherman rose up In tn
ls shallow water at the approach Of tn
IN island and waded ashore, he felt tina
8. his troubles were coming to an end.
4, But he was destined to be surprised
at He little suspected what was to be on
e. countered farther up the island.
TO His first thought was to find boaI
He started along the north shore Of tn
st sand spit looking closely for boat
of either on the beach or on the sandl
to The island was a mile in length an
a quarter to half mile in width.
Id He had reached the east point OF tn
It. island without success and was abou
to round the point for the purpose {
examining the south shore. But b
suddenly stopped In astonishment. II
!. saw a splash in the water TO tie sout
o' and then he heard number Of muffle
- oars. II was now after midnight an
y, y, he did not understand such proceed
~ ~ ing from that quarter. The your
~ fisherman Immediately seci eted himse
80 among the driftwood so abundant c
~ this island and awaited development
" 1t was too early for fishermen to begi
~ to stir and the boats were not comm
80 80 from the right direction anyway.
s 90 He did not have long to wait. Dar
n0 objects soon appeared moving caution
ly on the water in every direction fro
nu the south. Small boats fairly dottt
,'' the river and there was silence in Il
no mufIling Of the oars and the uprigl
,ei l figures in the craft that was ominou
"' Every boat contained four or mo
= persons and as they began to land {
~ ~ the south shore OF the island Dan di
no ny covered that the men we've armed.
-, n9 The problem was now simple to Di
i@' Lapham. II was the advance guard
:. the southside fishermen. The clash W
, tn now at hand. The war had long be-
~ ~ threatened between the southside al
"o northside tishermen and the southside
-" had taken the initiatory steps.
o m The men drew their boats upon q
70, sand and waited, as it were, upon the
w W guns. Dams eyes and ears were ope
He was not long in learning their loC
49,. tions. They formed circle obscur
~. ~ from view by the drift wood, Il
'S~ yards south OF Dams place of concei
: 4. ment.
ano "s He gathered fiom their Conversatio
''00 carried on in low but distinct toni
A. that the northsiders would arrive abo
I0 hI daylight, and that their purpose was
nna ya capture their opponents, take the
W ,n back and land them on their oy
~, a. shore; then hurry their boats to &C
:" scuttle them, destroying their ira
=, during the day.
~ "We will stop these men from d
,n u stroyng the salmon rum" said t
ane M leader emphatically, which sentime
~, ~ was quietly applauded by his follower
d;s Dan Lapham had no time to lo'
-. While the men were completing the
' =, arrangements for the early morning {
~ tack the young northsider silently etc
-n ,n from his hiding place, drew one OF thu
-. ~ boats which had been anchored at t
O north point of the island, out into t
deep water, and rowed away to I
% =, north without so much as creating I
" noise OF ripple upon the bay,
as a lie took the light in Sankala's cal
nv svU for guide, and he found 1t true o.
title ITO be coutinued)