The Springdale news., 1909-03-16
IcoNTINUED.l
CHAPTER XIV.


 the buildings and the rest formed pack train carrying all sorts of things from the shore to the valley. The men grumbled fiereely at this, but Captain Selover drove them with slight regard for their opinions or feelings.
 You're getting double pay" was his only word. Earn t.
 They certainly earned 1t during those three weeks. The things they brought up were astounding. Besides a lot of scientific apparatus and chests of chemical supplies, everything that could possibly be required had been provided by that omniscient young man. After we had built a long, low structure, windows were forthcoming, shelves, tables, sinks. faucets. forges, burners, all cut out fitted and ready to put together, each with It's proper screws, nails, clamps or pipes ready to our hands. When we had finished we had constructed as complete a laboratory on small scale as you could find on college campus, even to the stone pillar down to bed rock for delicate microscopic experiments and hot and cold water led from the springs. And we were utterly unskill- ed It was all Percy Darrow.
 was toward the last engaged in pcrewing on fixture for the genera ton Of acetelyne gas.
 "Darrow," said I, there's one thing you've overlooked You forgot to bring cupoa and gilt weather cock for this concern"
 After the laboratory was completed we put up sleeping quarters for the two men, with wide porehes well screened, and square. heavy store room By the end of the third week We had quite finished
 pr. Schermerhorn had turned with enthusiasm to the unpacking of his chemical apparatus. Almost immedi- ately at the close of the freight car rying he had appeared Juggling his precious chest, this time suffering the assistance of Darrow, and had camp ed on the spot. We could not induce him to leave, so we put up tent for him. Darrow remained with him by way of safety against the men, whose measure, l believe he had taken. Now that all the work was finished, the doctor put in sudden appearance.
 Percy" said he, now We will have the defense built"
 He dragged us with him to the mar row part of the arroyo just before it rose to the level of the valley.
 Here we will build the stockade de fense," he announced.
 Darrow and I stared at each other blankly.
 What for, sir?' inquired the assist ant
 "I haf come to be undisturbed," an tonic gravity. "and will not be dis turbed'
 Darrow nodded to me and drew his principal aside. They conversed ear nestly for several minutes. Then the assistant returned to me
 No use," he shrugged in complete return to his indifferent manner "Stoekade 1t Is. Better make it of fourteen foot logs slanted out Dig a trench across, plant your logs three or four feet. bind them Ut the top That's his specification for it. Go at H. :.
 But" l expostulated. whats the use of it? Even if the men were dan gerous that would just make them think you did have something to guard"
 T know that, Orders replied Per. cy Darrow.
 We built the stoekade In day. When 1t was finished, we marched to the beach, and never save in the three instances of which l shall later tell you did I see the valley again. The next day we washed our clothes and moved ashore with all our belongings
 I'm not going to have this crew aboard stated Captain Selover posi- lively. I'm going to clean her" He himself stayed, however
 We rowed in, constructed hasty fireplace of stones, spread our blan- kets and built an unnecessary fire near the beach.
 "clean hert" grumbled Thrackles. My eyer'
 I'd rather round the cape,' growled pulz hopelessly.
 Come, how. it can't be as bad as all that" l tried to cheer them. Tt cant be more than week or ten days job, even if We eareen her.'
 You don't know what you're talk ing about" said Thraekles. Its worse than the yellow jack. It's six weeks at herY" he inquired of Handy Solomon
 You can kiss the book on it. re piled he. Down by the line in that little swab of sand island My eye, but don't l remember I sweated my liver white.'
 They smoked in silence.
 That's n main queer eontriyance Of the perfessor's-that stockade-like, !" ventured S,lomon after little.
 He doesn't want any intrusion" said. These scientific experiments are very delicate
 "Quite lilSe,s he commented noncom. mittally.
 We slept on the ground that night, and next morning, under Captain Sel- overs directions, We commenced the task of tightening the ship. He de tailed the nigger and Perdosa for spe- ciai duty.
 "rll just see to your shore quarters he squeaked You empty her"
 All day long we rowed back and forth from the ship to the cove, land ing the contents of the hold. These by good fortune We did not have to carry over the neck of land, for just