Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-10-08

leIl IN MN Tor any further eNeruOn-
he had allowed the Russian to show
him to a bed. upon which be flung him
self, half dressed, while the others fol-
lowed suit.
Emerson fell into a deep sleep, and
It was late in the day when be awoke.
every muscle aching. every joint sti6.
every step attended with pain. He
found his companions up and already
breakfasted, Big George none the worse
FOR his ordeal while Fraser. bandaged
and smarting. was his old shrewd self.
Have you heard about the mail
boatJ" asked Emerson.
"No"
We've missed her"
What d'you mean7'' demanded Big
George blankly.
Il mean that that storm delayed Us
just long enough 70 ruin US"
Why-er-let's wait till the next
trip" offered the fisherman
Emerson shook his head. "She may
not be back here for eight weeks. mol
We're done for"
Bait was ike a big boy in distress.
His face wriukied as II be were about
TO burst into loud lamentations. Then
a thought seized him.
Where In blazes is this steamer7"
be cried
"Out 10 the westward somewhere"
'Weu. she's a mail boat, amt she7
Then why don't she stop here coming
back1 Answer me-"
The rotund man shrugged his fat
shoulders. she's got to call at Uyak
bay going east"
Emerson looked up quickly. where
is Uyak bayT
over on Kadiak island"
when is the boat due at Uyakl"
Emerson asked.
"Most any time inside OF a week"
"How TAR IS that from hercy"
1T 0in't so far-ouly about City
miles" Then. catching the light that
famed into the miners eyes, Petellln
FASTENED 90 observe; "But you can't
set there. It's across the straIts-Shel-
ikof straits"
what OF that, We can hire a sail
boat and
Il ain't got any sailboat I lost my
sloop last year hunting sea otter"
I'VE can hire a small boat OF some
sort. can't we. and get the natives 20
put US across? There must be plenty
OF boats here"
Nothing but skin boats. kyaks and
bidarkas. you know. Anyhow. you
couldn't cross at this time OF year
It's too stormy. These straits IS the
worst piece OF water on tho coast
No; youu have 10 wait"
Emerson stared hopelessly az the
FIRE.
The disheartened man started at this
juncture as II a sudden thought i'm
PEELED him and followed Bait out into
the cold. He turned down the bank 70
the creek. however. and made a care
ful examination OF all the canoes that
went with the village. Fifteen min
"tes later he had searched out the dis
grunued fisherman and cried excited
~:
i've got I'll Wen catch that boat
yetr'
Howl" growied the big man sourly.
There's a large open skin boat. an
oomiak. down on the beach Wen hire
crew OF Indians 70 put US across TO
Uyak."
cant be done" said Big George,
still gruGiy. Its the wrong season.
You know the Shelikof straits Is a bad
place even for steamships at this time
OF year. They're like that pass up
yonder. only worse"
But it's only fifty miles across"
Fifty miles OF that kind OF water
in al open canoe may be just as bad
as 5OO-unless you're lucky And
amt noticed anything so darned lucky
about u.s."
Its our only chance. Are you
gamer
Come on" cried Big George; Tets
End PetellinF
That worthy uttered q shrek OF de-
NAL.
"1n summer. yes. but now-you can't
do It. II has been tried too often. The
straits is always rough. and the
weather is too cold 10 sit all day In
an oomiak; you'd freeze"
''Wen chance t."
you1I go TO sea. The tides are strong;
you can't see your course and
wen Use a compass. Now. you get
me enough men TO handle that oomiak;
that's a good fellow. IN attend to the
rest"
but they won't CO." declared the
little fat man. They know what It
means. Why
''Can them I'm. I'll do the talking"
And accordingly the storekeeper went
in search OF the village chief. shaking
his head d muttering at the mad
ness OF these people.
But II all proved useless. The ma
lives would not risk IT. Desperate. the
three men fitted up a boat themselves
and resolved TO make the attempt
CHAPTER ".
ILL three knew the desperate