Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-29

2 the stream divided. But It did no
take them long to discover that is wal
merely little island. and that the
river was made into two streams OF
account of it, coming into one bis
stream half a mile beyond its first di
viding point.
"Say, I've never heard Of this little
island" said Jack. Suppose we &C
ashore here and see what there Is tc
discover"
"Sure, and if we find no Inhabitants
we'll name the place and pitch oul
camp here"
They proceeded to make "The Min
ME" secure by tying her to q conven
lent tree on the edge of the water
Then they went on shore and were
soon tramping about the little mile
long island 1t was perhaps q quarter
of a mile in width at the widest place.
The island seemed mostly composed
of great boulders of rock. and was
deeply wooded and very rugged. No
sign was visible of mans ever having
been on the island. In vain did the
boys search for paths and dead camp
fires.
"A good place to camp tonight" de-
clared Jack Lets get our spot picked
out. We shall find spring under
meath some Of these rocks. Well have
to get drinking water. Daddy says by
no means drink the river water. The
water mother put in the bottles for US
is half gone already
Then they set to work hunting for
a spring, and did not observe the sud-
denness of falling darkness occasioned
by heavy thunder clouds gathering IN
the west. But low rumble Of the ele-
ments made them run to an open
space beneath the sky and make q
weather observation. "Going to pour
pitchforks!" exclaimed Tommy. We'll
have to find shelter at once and
fetch our things from the boat
Certainly looks that way" replied
Jack. scanning the heavy sky. Gee!
It's good thing we've found this
little island. It's safer than the main
land, unless you reach the upland, for
all along the banks hereabouts are
swamps and marshy places. This
island is a stronghold for U.S."
Lets look about that ledge of rock
suggested Tommy, indicating
a mass of piled-up rocks some distance
off. They hurried to the spot and
we're made happy by finding a bub-
wing little spring coming from be-
meath great fiat boulder. They also
found shelving rock close to the
from ever so fierce storm
md be safe. Here's water, shelter
md wood" said Jack. What more
could we want? Let's dig out the
Dose dirt from beneath this shelter
ng rock, so that we may put our
.amping equipments there on fetching
hem from the Minnie. Then, that
lone, and some wood pied up in a dry
spot where we may get at It easily.
we'll be fixed for the night and the
Storm"
Good idea," assented Tommy. And
hey soon had quite snug place,
hree feet high, and running back
lbout five feet beneath the rock. It
vas sort of natural cave and only
wanted bit Of cleaning out. It was
closed on three sides, and the open !
tide faced the south, a safe direction
rom the coming storm. !
Then wood was gathered and piled
lear to the front Of the cave and the
pring cleaned out of fallen leaves and
Try sticks and bark The boys had
worked hard and fast too, for thunder
md flashes Of lightning warned them
hey had no time to lose.
Nov, everything is ready for un-
loading our cargo" said Tommy.
eyes, to The Minnie" laughed Jack.
And they ran to the spot where they
had tied up the little boat To their
horror they saw it was gone! In some
fashion, 1t had become
united. Perhaps the dancing Of the
waves, for the water was getting |
pretty rough, had managed to loosen
hey scan the rivers breast. No speck
IN it's ripping waves. They began
looking about the broken line of rough |
oank, hoping to find The Minnie
snugly harbored. But no such good |
uck!
To make the dilemma worse, the
wind rose and came in heavy gusts:
he rain began coming in big drops
md the night darkened about them.
Only by the light of the flashes Of
electricity were the boys enabled to
.etrace their steps to the camp they |
lad so fortunately found and pre-
pared. But no food, no blankets,
10 rain coats, and nothing to drink
rom but their hands! "The Minnie"
lad disappeared with all their camp.
ng things.
AS soon as the boys had crawled
lnder shelter, the rain came down in
;orrents. But their cave was on an
ncline and the water ran off down to
he river as soon as It reached tho
ground. This kept the cave perfectly
Try. The boys had not got wet before
gaining the cave, therefore were quite
II only they might have
had some food.
About ten o'clock they dragged
some Of the wood to the very edge Of
he cave and lighted a fire. Fortu-
nately Jack had glass bottle full of j
in his pocket But the fire
lid not burn well, and the smoke en-
:ered the cave. So the boys were
obliged to allow the fire to die out. A
great tree standing over the rock be-
heath which they found shelter had
helped to protect the camp fire from
The fast falling rain