Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-27

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And Richard laughed. "You know
I'm in for seeing new places. Whel
I'm grown up I mean to be an ex
plorer or navigator. I'll 60 by LAM
as far as there is land to discover
and then I'll go by boat to the poles.
Harold was all interest. "Ill g
with you, cousin" he said. wei
give Cook and Peary some pointers
when we're grown-about the regions
round the north pole, eh?"
"Sure we WILL" agreed Richard
"But where are we off for today?"
"Well," and Harold put on hit
thinking cap, well 60 first to the
fishing pond below the depot. want
you to see what fine place there Is
for swimming, right round q bend
in the lake. There are some OF the
finest rocks piled up there-looks AZ
though there might have been ire
mendous earthquake to do the
masonry. And from those rocks kid
can dive into a fine deep pool, as
clear as a summer day"
I'm with YOU" smiled Richard
Lets be off. Shall we take fishing
tackle?"
Nope, We'll not want to stop any
one place long enough to entice
finny. Well be explorers today and
fish later in the week"
Mrs. Jackson prepared nice lunch
for the boys, and put 1t In two good
sized pasteboard boxes, so that each
boy would have his share OF the bur
den. A quart bottle Of water was also
added to each box, for, as Mrs. JACK
son said, Springs Of good drinking
water might prove a scarcity In the
woods"
Fully equipped for a days outing,
the boys set out on their journey,
afoot. They first visited the fishing
pond, or lake, which bordered the
town on one side. From there they
pushed along a line Of graceful hills
which were partly covered by heavy
timber. About noon Harold
looked up and said: Gee, Cousin
Dick, It's going to rain. Just see
those thunder heads rising in the
northwest"
Richard looked over the sky. $50
it appears" he agreed. Guess we'll
catch good drenching If we don't
find some sort Of shelter within half
an hour. Don't seem to be any farms
about here"
mo, the soil of these hills is all
stone and sand, nothing would grow
here but trees. And they would az
ford a poor shelter from rain." said
Harold. Outlets go up the rail
road track a piece. believe there's
a switch round that point, for there's
a lumber yard somewhere near here,
and box cars are switched of to be
loaded with lumber In the rough state
lust as 1t comes from saw-mill
up in the woods. All, there is the
shed where the workmen who load
the lumber stop for lunch. and shell
ter during rain" And Harold pointed
to a long row of buildings in the
distance, for the boys had turned q
point of the hillside. "And there
runs the railroad tracks" added Rich
ard. why, we're in civilized coun-
try. aren't we?"
.!And glad enough, too, when that
storm breaks" said Harold. At that
moment flash of vivid lightning
shot through the darkly-gathering
clouds over their heads. The boys
hurried on towards the rude wooden
sheds round the turn in the hillside.
Reaching the sheds, they were agree
ably surprised to see several box
cars standing on side-track OF the
long switch which ran up the hillside
from the main track half mile be.
low.
IT say, car would be better than
the open sheds" said Richard
"There's only the poor rough-board
roof to the shed, and the rain would
dash in all round. So car would
be better and more comfortable"
Eyes, let's find an empty one" said
Harold. They were not long in doing
this, for one car was only half-loaded
and the door was open. The boys
scrambled into 1t and drew the door
tightly shut, for it opened towards
the north, the direction from which
the storm was coming.
"Well, It's as dark as a pocket II
here said Richard. drawing deer
breath of apprehension. Say, It's
warm, too"
1T certainly is both dark and hot
agreed Harold. But the storm CAM
reach us here. We're safe from that
And it's one of those quick, fierce
thunder storms that will spend Itself
within an hour. Then forth we will
come, dry as bone:"
"And without a hair of our heads
harmed" laughed Richard, becoming
more accustomed to the darkness o.
the car.
"shall we eat something's asked
Harold, stretching himself out on the
boards which half-filled the car.
Lets wait until we get some light
on the subject" suggested Richard
II hate eating food which 1 CAM
see. Seeing it is half the enjoyment
Then the two lay at full length II
the car and the storm broke. Light
ming flashed, thunder roared, winds
swept furiously over the hills and tore
at the sides of the box-car. But the
boys knew they were secure. They
ceased talking, for the exertion Of
being heard above the roar of the
storm was too much, SO they lay still
and waited for the calm which they
knew must soon follow.
And so waiting in the darkness OF
the car, the boys fell asleep. They
were awakened by terrific joltine
If the car which threw them violently