Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-28

sits, one behind the other, in circular
openings with legs straight out in
front. To keep themselves dry each
man had donned native water gar
ment-a loose. hooded shirt manufact-
ured from the bladders Of seals.
These shirts-or kamlikas. as they
are called-are provided with draw
strings at wrists, face. and bottom, 80
that when the skirt is stretched over
the rim OF the cockpit and corded
tight, 1t renders the canoe well-nigh
waterproof, even though the decks are
awash. The whole continuance Is
peculiarly aboriginal and unsuited to
the uses OF white men; and while un-
usually seaworthy, the bidarka re-
quires more skill in the handling than
does Canadian birch bark. hence the
wits of the three travellers were taxed
to the utmost.
Out across the lonesome waste they
journeyed steadily creeping farther
from the village, which Of a sudden
seemed q very safe and desirable place
with its snug store. Its blazing fires.
and It's warm beds. The sea tossed
them Ike a cork. coating their paddles
and the decks OF the canoe with Ice
which they were at great pains TO
break of. 1t wet them In spite Of
their precautions, and It's salt breath
searched out their marrow. regardless
Of their unceasing 1abors: and these
labors were In truth unceasing, for
fifty miles OF open water lay before
them; fifty miles, which meant twelve
hours of steady padding. Gradually
|imperceptfbly, the mountain shores
behind them shrank down upon fhe
gray horizon. 1t seemed that for once
t,he weather was going to be kind to
them, and their spirits rose In conse-
quence. They ate frequently, food
beng THO G-eat fuel c. the North, and
midday found them well out upon the
heaving bosom of the Straits with the
Kodiak shores plainly visible. Then.
as If tired OF toying with them. he
wind rose. It did nov blow UP a gale
merely frigid breath that cut them
! like steel and halted their progress.
Had it sprung from the north 1t would
have waited them III their way. bnt
| it drew in from the Pacific, straight
ir.o their toerh. forcing tne'. TO re.
double their exertions. 1t was not OF
sufficient violence to overcome their
efforts but 1t held them back and
stirred up nasty cross sea into which
the canoe plunged and wallowed. In
1.-THE hope that 1t would die down with
the darkness. the boatmen held on
their course, and night closed over
them still padding silently.
1 1t was nearly noon Of the following
day when the Waterman at Uyak can-
merry beheld a native canoe creeping
\ slowly up the bay, and was astonished
to find 1t manned by three white men
| in the last stages Of exhaustion--so
stiff and cramped and numb that he
was forced to help them from their
places when at last they effected a
landing. One Of them, in fact, was
unconscious and had to be carried to
the house, which did not surprise the
Waterman when he learned whence
they had come. He did marvel, how
4 eyer, that another of the travellers
should begin to cry weakly when told
that the mail boat had sailed for
Kodiak the previous evening. He
gave them stimulants, then prepared
hot food for them, for both Bait and
Emerson were like sleep-walkers; and
Fraser when he was restored to con-
seriousness, was too weak to stand
i 100 DdQ you uluu S6J III ldSC
night" said the caretaker. sympa-
|,thetically. She won't be back now
FOR month or more
How long will she lie in Kodiak?"
4 Big George asked.
1.-THE captain told me he was going
to spend Christmas there. Let's see
today Is the 22nd-she'll pull out for
Juneau on the morning of the tn;
that's three days"
i ], e must catch her." cried Emerson
quickly. If you'll land us in Kodiak
on time I'll pay you anything you ask"
! "I'd like to, but can't" the man
replied. you see. I'm here all alone.
except for Johnson. He's the watch.I
man for the other plant"
Then for Gods sake get us some
natives. don't care what 1t costs"
There amt any natives here. This,
amt no village There's nothing here
i but these two plants, and Johnson or
me dassent leave"
i Emerson turned his eyes upon the
haggard man who sprawled weakly
in chair; and Fraser. noting the ap-I
peal, answered, gamely. with forced
smile on his lips, though they were
| drawn and bloodless:
Sure! I'll be ready to leave in the
morning, pal"
Continued in Next Issue.3
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