The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-06

he brought in his hands several chunks of dead fungus
hard, dry, and yet quite Taking the small kettle
in which they heated their water, he put into it first
bed of Goals from the fire. then two of the pieces of
punk he had found and covered the whole with ashes
t'There'' he said ''that will keep alive until noon,
when I will replenish it with the other chunks.''
"Good for you Admaxla!' shouted Todd
Enthusiastically and taking the native lads hand for
vigorous shake "Between you and the professor
shall get along irstrate"
The young; Antlcan laughed, and returned the hand
shake Then he volunteered to carry the metal boiler
and to keep the precious fire from going out With this
understanding the little set forth down the right
bank Of the little brook.
For some little time their way led thru open vale
sopng quite sharply to the northwest But after going
three or four miles woods appeared and they soon
in dense forest. This made the travelling much
difficult, especially they often had to make wide de-
tours away from the stream in order to get around the
thick underbrush which lined its banks In other places
it became to cut path thru the rank growth
that mpeded their with the swords which Mr. Todd
and Professor Barton carried. ~
This hard and tiresome work. and altho each
member of the party took his turn in welding the awk
ward implements the progress they made was of neces
sity slow More than Mr. Todd led to exclaim
at thought that mountain path was bad enough,
and thankful to be down level ground again. but
I not that this is not harder and slower work
than coming down the rocky clif'' .*~.-
However, all the route was not made up of thickets
and underbrush. There were some open places where
the wanderers could rapidly and they had
covered perhaps twelve fifteen miles when the aeronau
glancing at his watch, said:
cit is nearly O'clock and may well be
the lookout for suitable place to spend the night It
will not do to sleep without covering such we had
last nght'' -- <.- -.
81 hope shall reach such place soon, for
nearly used up,'' Todd admitted.
His destined be gratifed quickly, for the
travellers had not gone half mile farther when they
into opening Tiger than any they had since
entering the woods It several in extent and
entirely free from trees underbrush. The ground
moreover rose sharply the edge the stream
ing goodsized knoll at the center Of the clearing
'Ah! this is what looking for'' said the
aeronaut with sigh of relief he dropped his burden
to 1;round. ''We will make camp at the top of
that little hill. Now let all do best, for the
get shelter ready, the rest
The others needed squirting to make their efforts
greater and all were speedily engaged in arranging
suitable habtaton for the night Rod and Todd cut and
brought the limbs and small trees necessary for the hut
while the other members of the party constructed the
primitive lodging This done by sticking four small
posts upright into the soft earth They joined by
four crosspeces at the top, which laid number
Of poles. Over this rude framework boughs
placed until fairly tight roof had been formed.
Other limbs set in slanting position along
the sides of the structure their tops resting against the
roof and their bases upon the ground. Then boughs
interviewer among them, and so the walls Of the
shelter made The end toward the brook was left
entirely open and just before it the camp fire
started knded by the coas which Admaxa true to his
promise, had kept alive.
When the rude hut had been completed, Rod and
Todd lad collected fuel to keep the fire
supplied during the ight There were number of
at end of the little clearing and to these
the boys for their supply. Several trips had been
made by them and nearly enough OF the dry wood had
been secured, when accident occurred which came
near terminating in dire calamity for the little band
Todd had gone for his last load, and noticing that
of the stumps, from which he had broken all the
branches decayed base he conceived the idea
of pulling it over and dragging it to the camp It
large he knew if he could only it, it would
burn for hours and thus them from constant
upon the fire. Accordingly he braced his feet
against it's roots, and taking firm grip the top
pulled.
But he found that altho the center of the stump
was entirely gone, there firm rim of wood about
the outside it resisted his first efforts He would
not give up the attempt, however, and merely paused
to get his breath.
Then, taking fresh hold he exerted his utmost
strength For moment it apparently without effect;
with sudden snap the wood weakened doubtless
by his previous attempts gave way. So unexpectedly
did break come the lad unprepared for it, and
losing his footing fell backward the log coming down
upon his feet, pinning him to the ground.
Nor that the worst; for large rattlesnake,
which had hidden within the cavity Of the stump,
dislodged by the sudden breakage and fell upon