Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-24
Continued From Preceding Page

Htn
What do you think about it?" asked val
quickly, for the question had come to MIN
many times during the night, and he had not
been able to answer it satisfactorily to him
self, Il don't want to do anything father
would disapprove of, and yet L feel as though
we ought to make some move toward hndlng
them, or at least trying to learn what mas nap
pened to them"
Il am ready to do anything you propose,
replied the engineer, gravely. ''for since was
engaged to work on the Midget, and you are
the captain of her, | feel bound to obey you
But 1t you ask my advice, | say do nothing
that involves leaving the yacht or the camp
but they may be In some great danger,
There are three Indians, three sailors, the
two old hunters and your father, and Captain
thompson IN the party. Now, If they are IN
any danger that those ten men can't get out
or, 4 ask You If there is any Likelihood that
two OF us could give them much assistance:
Besides, continued Arthur, chow are you go
ing to look for them? If you should try to fol
low the trail the chances are you would get
lost. and perhaps you would no sooner get
started than they would come. / think that
they camped there, and are now following the
stream up"
I'VE might take the longboat and go to
look for them suggested Fred.
Suppose we should do that in the face of
Doctor Burroughs orders for us not to leave
the camp under any circumstances, we could
not get back ourselves before night if we went
five miles down; for all three of US could hard
~ rev that heavy boat against the current:
Arthur is right" said Val, with a sigh
Il don't see that we can do anything save wait
here another day, and yet | would be willing
TO run any risk for the safe of trying to help
them, rather than to stay here doing moth
ing
.'As for that We have got plenty to do" re
piled Arthur, cheerily. "There's the Midget
hard and fast aground, and we shall have
enough to occupy our minds in trying to get
her ahoat.''
While this conversation had been carried on,
Val had been discharging his weapon at in.
tervals but he now ceased what thus far had
been useless effort, and tried to become inter
ested in the work of getting the yacht off the
sand hank
The boat was loaded with wood again, and
the boys rowed off to where the Midget lay
partly keeied over on the shoal, looking as if
it would be impossible to move her until the
water should rise.
While Arthur was kindling the fire in the
furnace, Val and Fred rowed around the shoal
to learn how far it extended in either diTee-
ton. and, to their great surprise, they found
that the yacht was almost directly on the top
of it.
With three inches of water in the shoalest
place, the sand extended not more than four
feet toward the bank of the river and was
about twelve feet long, having probably been
formed by a sunken log that had been COW
cred with sand and decaying wood or trees.
Il suppose that might dig the sand up
from each side of the yacht and the current
would wash it away said Val, after he had
surveyed the situation and failed to see any
other course to pursue with any promise Of
success.
"The current wouldn't wash the sand ont
any, for there is an eddy lust here" said Fred.
as he pointed to the swirl of the water. eff
we should
"Come on board!' shouted Arthur, from
the cockpit
And the tones of his voice, as we'll as the
look on his face showed the boys, without ne
cessity for further words, that some new peril
menaced them.
Tn few moments they were alongside, and
as Val cIambered in over the stern, leaving
Fred to fasten the long-boat, Arthur said, as
he pointed up the river:
Look there! The Midget won't live very
Val saw that which caused his face to grow
male About two miles away, coming down
with the current was what looked to be a
huge raft, such as the Indians who had stolen
the Yacht lived on, and with no one to guide
it.
The unwieldy structure was floating direct
" toward the little steamer, and if it should
strike her. as she lay helpless on the shoal, it
could hardly fail to crash her ike an eggshell-
''It may swing around before it gets down
here" said Fred. after he had gazed in silence
at the formidable raft.
ssThere isn't much chance for that, for it
could hardly pass on one side or the other
without hitting us.
''But what about the sand bars9 There isn't
water enough to float the logs over"
'sThat may stop it, Fred!' Val said
But Arthur was not disposed to take as
hopeful 4 view of the matter.
1fThe current is strong and the raft so
large that don't believe a small obstacle like
the shoal would stop the logs. They viii drag
right over it.
the captain of the yacht and upon him de
voIved the saving of her, If, indeed that was