Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-07
CONTINUED FROM rnEcEDINa PAGE

-" uvur hVer Cne mate was IN camp again
with the report that apparently nothing
was changed, and the worthy Mr.. Gomez could
fast Us - Pi'ps '''""
Bob arrived shortly after Percy did, bring
ing with him three large long-neeked eourds,
such as are frequently used as water vessels,
bean.
:. Wait until / find out whether can make
IL work or not" he said, in reply to his com
do with the gourds.
Ihe pool was completed after considerable
aoor; the flesh was dug from the inside Of
tee turtle shell, leaving it intact. The task
oL t cleaning the ripe gourds, and making Of
tnem simply, thin, tough shell, was very
sight, and then Bob was ready to make the
experiment of condensing water from the
gun, which process would, of course, extract
the salt, leaving it fit for drinking purposes.
lie lifted the three gourds together, insert
ing the neck of one into The bottom of the
other, leaving the last whole except at the
top. The neck of the first was then fastened
to the aperture at one end Of the turtle shell,
winch had been filled with salt water and
pound around with bean leaves to prevent,
as much as possible, the escape of steam.
Inc opposite end of the shell was also COW
ered with leaves, and then the improvised
boiler was partially imbedded in the sand
near the pool with. a small fireplace scooped
out from beneath the centre of it. BY this
arrangement, the last two gourds hoated on
the water Of the artificial pool
Ihere! said Bob, as he lighted the fire
under the shell; ''theres my condenser If
we can get heat enough, some Of the steam
must pass INTO the gourds, and when it cools,
the, water will be fresh. | don't fancy we
shall get very much by such means; but it
will be all right if we have barely enough to
1t was not the captains purpose to person
ally watch his decidedly rude apparatus, for
there ms fhipoc 70 ha hafo
close Of the day.
A meal of raw eggs was eaten, and Dudley
instructed to cook the remainder on fire to
De built Tor that express purpose, at the same
time that he was roasting the turtle steaks
Four cold water over the outside of the
gourds as often as you can spare the time"
Bob SAID to Dudley, after the frugal repast
was finished for the steam won't resolve
into water unless the pipes are kept cool.
Hercy and are going to have a look at the
there; but we will be back before you are
through cooking"
Dudley did not fancy being left alone,
because he was just trihe afraid that their
enemy might take notion to pay the camp
visit; but he made no serious objections,
and tried to assume a careless look as he
began his very limited culinary operations.
Tive got scheme that will help us to
get the Jaqqita again, | believe" Captain
Bob said to Percy, who had been grumbling
at being obliged to neglect the work n'e on the
cryptogram, as the two walked toward the
bay: Il didn't want to say anything before
Dud, until l knew what you thought about
it, for he's always afraid of getting into
''What is it?' asked Percy, excited by the
idea that the captain was seriously thinking
of trying to regain his own.
"Over there where / got the gourds for the
condenser, there are as many as hundred
more, and they would be almost as good as
bladders for holding anything on top Of tho
water. Now, why can't we build small
raft on about fifty of them lashed together?
1t would be impossible to sink such a craft,
and if we could paddle out to the feucca in
ping"
Percy actually leaped foot from the
ground as Bob thus unfoded his plan. From
the first he had been eager to act on the
offensive, and he was, more than, ready to
companion might propose.
'The only thing that troubles me-" con
tinued Bob, sis that the man has probably
got other weapons than ours, and we know
that he would not hesitate 10 use them. Now,
agree to do the best you can to get out Of
the way, in case, ON reaching the feucca, we
should find him ready to receive u.s."
"Ill do anything you say" assured Percy.
Il don't want to run any more risks than
you do, and whatever orders you give, III
carry out as we'll as | know how
''Very well, we'll begin work today, and
: in fortyeight hours, providing my condenser
supplies us with water, we will be ready to
make the attempt"
"But do you think the Spaniard will re-
main quiet as long as that? When he finds
that he hasn't starved us out as quickly as
he expected, won't he make some move that
may prevent us from carrying out your
''We must run the risk of that, for l don't
know of anything else we could do with