The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-06-29

go "Au uhyt uuL the ree0s, depressed
by the weight of the body, sunk SO that
the head of the convict alone appeared
above water. In this fashion he gained
the middle of the current, and the out
going tide swept him down toward the
mouth Of the harbor.
Rufus Dawes, drifting with the cur
sent, had allowed himself to coast along
the eastern side Of the harbor until the
pilot station appeared In view on the op-
posite shore. BY this time it was nearly
o'clock. He landed at a sandy cove
and, drawing up his raft, proceeded to
unpaek from among his garments a piece
of damper. Having eaten sparingly, and
dried himself in the sun, he replaced
the remains of his breakfast, and pushed
his floats again into the water.
Arrived at his destination about mid
day, he set to work to lay his snares.
The goats, with whose sides he hoped
to cover the coracle, were sufficiently
numerous and tame to encourage him to
use every exertion. He carefully exam
ined the tracks of the animals, and found
that they converged to one point-the
track to the nearest water. With much
labor he cut down bushes, so as to mask
the approach to the water hole on all
sides, save where these tracks immedi-
ately conjoined. Close to the water, and
ut unequal distances along the various
tracks, he scattered the salt he had OBJ
tanned by his rude distillation of sea
water. Between this scattered salt and
the points where he judged the animals
would be likely to approach, he set his
traps, and retired to watch the effect
Of his labors.
About two hours after he had gone,
the goats came to drink There were
five goats and two kids, and they trotted
calmly along the path to the water. The
watcher soon saw that his precautions
had been in manner wasted. The lead
Ing goat marched gravely into the
syringe, which, catching him round the
neck, released the bent rod, and sprung
him off his legs into the air. He uttered
a comical bleat, and then hung kicking.
The other goats bounded off at this sud
den elevation Of their leader, and three
more were entrapped at little distance.
Rufus Dawes now thought it time to
secure his prize, though three of the
SPRINGS were as yet inspiring. He ran
down to the old goat, knife In hand,
but before he could reach him the bare
~ dried catgut gave way, and the old
fellow, shaking his head with grotesque
dismay, made off at full speed. The
others, however, were secured and killed
The loss of the syringe was not a seri-
GUS one, for three traps remained un-
sprung, and before shutdown Rufus
Dawes had caught four more goats. Re
moving with care the catgut that had
done such good service, he dragged the
carcasses to the shore, and proceeded
to pack them upon his floats. He dis
covered, however, that the weight was
too great and that the water, entering
through the loops of the stitching in the
side, had so soaked the rush grass as
to render the floats no longer buoyant.
He was compelled, therefore, to spend
two hours in resulting the skin with
such material as he could find. Some
light and fock-like seaweed, which the
action of the water had swayed after
the fashion of haybands along the shore,
formed an excellent substitute for grass,
and having bound his bundle of rushes
lengthwise, with the goatskin as CEN
terpiece, he succeeded in forming a sort
OF rude canoe, upon which the carcasses
foated securely.
The tide was now running in, and he
knew 1t was imperative that he should
regain the further shore while the cur
rent was in his favor. He touched the
chilled water and drew back. For an
instant he determined to wait until the
beams Of the morning should illumine
that beautiful but treacherous sea, and
then the thought of the helpless child,
who was, without doubt, waiting and |
watching for him on the shore, gave new
strength to his wearied frame; and fixing |
his eyes on the glow that, lowering above |
the dark tree-line, marked her presence.
he pushed the raft before him into the |
sea.
Padding and pushing, he gradually
edged 1t toward the freight; and at |
last, just when his stiffened limbs re- |
fused to obey the impulse of his will. |
and he began to drift onward with the
onward tide, he felt his feet strike firm
ground. Dragging the carcasses above
high-water mark, he rounded the little
and made for the fire. He |
gained the fire before the solitary watch
er there heard his footsteps, and spread |
his hands to the blaze In silence.
Frere, starting, cried, "It Is you!
Have you succeededf"
There are six carcasses down by the
rocks. You can have meat for breakfast
The child, at the sound of the voice.
came running down from the hut. "Oh'
Mr.. Dawesl I am so glad! We were
beginning to despair-mamma and L."
Dawes snatched her from the ground.
and, bursting into joyous laugh, swung
her into the air. Tell me-" he cried.
holding up the child with two dripping
arms above him, what you win do for
me- If l bring you and mamma safe
home againT
Give you free pardon" said Syl-
MA; "and papa shall make you his ser
1antP Frere burst out laughing at
his reply; and Dawes, with a choking
sensation in his throat, put the child
Upon the ground, and walked away.
In the morning, however, Rufus
Dawes was first at work, and made no
illusion to the scene of the previous
'vening. By dint of hard work they got
he four goats skinned, and the entrails
cleaned ready for twisting, by breakfast
ime; and having broiled some of the
lesh made q hearty meal Mrs V;ob |