The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-03-04
CHAPTER VIII.-(Continued.)

mont.
Il mean to blow up the bears en-
masse with 100 pounds of powder"
But where is the POWDER" exclaim-
ed his friends.
TN the magazine. This passage
dug will lead to it. I made 1t pur-
posely."
And where is the mine to be-" In
Quired Altamont.
AT the farthest point from the
house and stores"
And how will you manage to ent1ce
the bears there, all to one spot?"
I'll look after that. Let us set to
work. We have 100 feet more to add
to our passage tonight, and that is
no easy matter. There are five Of US
we can take turns. Bell will begin,
and we will lie down and sleep mean
time"
One by one, all went to work, and in
the morning-the gallery was entirely
open.
With the first streak of day the doc
tor reconnoitered the position of the
enemy. The patient animals were still
occupying their old position, prowling
up and down and growing.
Fastening away to the mine, he had
a strong stake fixed firmly on the
granite foundation, on the top Of which
the dead fox was fastened. A rope
was attached to the lower part of the
stake, long enough to reach the pow
der stores.
This is the bait" he said. pointing
to the dead fox, and here is the mine. "
he added, rolling in key of powder
containing about 100 pounds.
And how will you manager" asked
Altamont.
by hauling in this rope we leave
the dead fox exposed to view. The
bears are so famished with their long
fasting that they won't lose much time
in rushing toward their unexpected
meal. Well, just at that very moment,
1 shall set fire to the mine, and blow
up both the guests and the meal"
Capital! Capital" shouted John
son, who had been listening with in
tense interest
Hatteras said nothing, for he had
such absolute confidence in his friend
that he wanted no further explanation.
But Altamont must know the why and
wherefore of everything"
But DOCTOR" he said, "can you
reckon on your match so exactly that
you can be quite sure it will fira the
mine at the right moment?"
Il don't need to reckon at all; that's
a difficulty easily got over"
They you have a match q hundred
feet long?"
mo"
"Yon simply gong to lay train
of powder"
"One of us must light the powder"
said Johnson. I'm ready-ready and
willing"
Quite useless to risk your life,
brave fellow" replied the doctor, hold
ing out his hand "All our lives are
precious, and they will be all spared,
thank God!
1--WE have an electric battery" he
continued, and lines long enough to
serve our purpose? We can fire our
mine whenever we please. in an in
slant, and without the slightest dan
ger"
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Johnson
Hurrah!" echoed the Others with
out needing whether the enemy heard
them or not.
The doctors idea was Immediately
carried out, and the lines connected.
By o'clock everything was ready.
johnson was stationed in the powder
magazine, in charge of the cord which
held the bait.
Now" said Clawbonny to his COM
panions. load your guns, in case our
assailants are not killed Stand be-
side Johnson, and the moment the ex-
plosion is over rush out"
All right" said Altamont.
I'VE have done all we can to helm
ourselves. May heaven help us."
Hatteras. Altamont and Bell repair-
ed to the powder ma gazine, while the
doctor remained alone beside the nile
Soon he heard Johnson's voice in
the distance calling out "Ready,"
"All right" was the reply
Johnson pulled the rope that brought
the body of the fox on top the ice.
The next instant the bears had eaper-
ly rushed to seize the booty.
'Fire!" called out Johnson. and at
once the electric spark was sent along
the lines right into the key of powder
A formidable explosion ensued: the
house was shaken as if by an earth
quake, and the walls cracked asunder
Hatteras, Altamont and Bell HURRIED
out, with the guns. But four of +ho
bears lay dead, and the fifth. b.,f
roasted, though alive. was scamberina
away in terror. as fast as his 1oas
could carry him.
"Hurrah!" Three cheers for c,on
bonny!" they shouted, and overwboIr,
ed the doctor with plaudits and tb.n1-.
Next morning there was a sing,,,a-
rise in the temperature, the tbermon.
eter going up to Is degrees above zoro
This comparative heat Lasted CO..
eral days. In sheltered spots the g1a :.
rose as high as 81 degrees, and svmr0
toms of a thaw appeared.
The ice began to crack here .,a
there, and jets of salt water wero
thrown up, like fountains in an Enp,i.h
park. A few days later the rain fell
in torrents.
For about a fortnight hunting was
the principal occupation. There was