Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-24

thc Sdliu OuereG Sucn resistance tudg II "OAiN
have required dozen men to launch her.
If we only had a block and tackle now
we could soon launch her, said Fred
es, and while you are using us. you
might as well say If she wasn't out OF tne
water we could get away from the logs easily
axes on board, and l believe could cut
away logs enough to let her drop down De
easily"
That's the very thing,' cried Val, approx
ngly.
And in a moment more he was ehoppng
away at the logs as if he hoped to do the
work IN very short time and Arthur was
following his example, but IN more delo-
crate manner.
There were but two axes, so Fred could do
no more than stand IDLY by, until such time
as one of the others should be tired out, when
he could take his place
Cutting a log when it is on shore is but
ehildS play as compared to what 1t IS when
that same log Is ahoat, and as eight OF them
would have to be chopped off before there
would be sufficient room for the Midget TO
settle into the water, it may be seen how
hard task the boys had before them.
Three logs had been cut apart during the
first two hours, and as the yacht began to
settle deeper into the water, the boys under
stood that they might capsize her before she
fioated
Eve must cut from each side first, and
then, when we begin on the middle ones,
work fast, or We shall wreck the yacht by
trying to save her. said Val, as he stopped
a moment to rest.
'sWe might shore her up with the oars and
the boathook," suggested Arthur, 'and then
there wouldn't be so much danger OF her roll
ing over
Val acted on the plan promptly, and the
little craft was shored uB in such way that
the danger of her eapsizing was considerably
lessened. but by no means Obviated.
All this time the raft had been gradually
drifting nearer to the right bank of the river,
until now it was almost aground, and point
of land quarter of a mile further on would
arrest its course, in case it succeeded in Hoat
ing as far.
'-We are going to ground in spite of every
thing, and If We can't get the Midget atioat
before then"
ehoppiRg furiously at the logs, as If he be-
lieved he could hew them apart in the few
minutes left.
Arthur, instead Of doing all he could to
help extricate the Yacht from her perllous
position, stood staring at the shore for some
little time, and then he said, as he turned to-
ward Val:
CAS- matter of fact, the raft is aground
now as you can see by watching the shore" "
''No, it isn't said Fred, quickly; we are
moving yet
eyes. we're moving, but very slowly. This
end OF Jle FdII Is d8Tounus anu INC OoilnSC
of it is forcing US along over the sand. We
have struck the bank 50 gradually, and
swung out Of the current so far, owing to
that point. that there is no danger whatever
that the Yacht win be crushed; but we are
shut in where IT will be hard work to get
out"
The raft moved more slowly each moment,
until Arthur ceased speaking, when it stop
ped entirely.
There was no longer any danger Of the
catastrophe they had feared, but the gues-
ton of floating the yacht appeared to have
been definitely settled.
Between her and the channel OF the river
Law the enormous raft. which must be re-
moved before she could float again, and they
had nothing TO eat, for all the provisions
were in the camp
at seems to me as If we are worse off than
we were before" said Arthur. Were fasten-
ed in here so that we've got to move nearly
every log before we can get out.
''But we're where We can get something to
eat. and that's saying good deal, If you are
Il gIess we are. Fred" replied Val; "and,
while we are trying to decide what to do,
won't you see if you can't shoot something
eatable without going very far INTO the woods
Fred replied by catching up his ride
which. fortunately had been brought from
the shore when the boys rOwed out to the
yacht-and disappearing among the foliage.
CHAPTER xxx.
A NIGHT on THE RAFT