The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-22

While Johnny Dooit sang, he seized
an ak and in a couple of chops feled
a tree Next he took saw and in a
few minutes sawed the tree trunk INTO
broad, long boards. He then nailed
the boards together into the shape OF
boat, about twelve feet long and four
feet wide. He cut from another tree
a long, slender pole which when trimmed
of it's branches and fastened upright
in the center of the boat served as
a mast. From the chest he drew coil
of rope and a big bundle of canvas,
and with these-still humming his song
he rugged up a SAIL arranging it so
it could be raised or lowered upon the
mast.
Dorothy fairly gasped with wonder
to see the thing grow. SO speedily be-
fore her eyes, and both Button Bright
and Polly looked on with the same abb
sorbed interest.
ts Ii ought to be painted" said John
ny Dooit, tossing his tools back into
the chest, for that would make it look
prettier. But though | can paint it
for you in three seconds it would take
time
I'VE don't care how it looks said
US across the desert"
Dooit. IAN you need worry about is
tipping over. Did you ever sail ship
I've seen one sailed" said the shaggy
man.
Good Sail this boat the way you've
seen ship sailed, and you'll be across
the sands before you know it,
With this he slammed down the lid
of the chest. and the noise made them
all wink. While they were winking
the workman disappeared, tools and all.
ooh, that's too bad" cried Dorothy;
- wanted to thank Johnny Dooit for
all his kindness to US
He hasn't time to listen to thanks,
replied the shaggy man; but I'm sure
he knows we are grateful. l suppose
he is already at work in some other
part of the world"
They now looked more carefully at
the sand boat, and saw that the bot
tom was modelled with two sharp run
ners which would glide through the
sand. The front of the sand boat was
pointed like the bow of ship, and there
was a rudder at the stern to steer by,
1t had been built just at the edge
of the desert, so that all its length lay
upon the gray sand except the after
part. which still rested on the strip
of grass.
Get in. my dears," said the shaggy
man; I'm sure | can manage this boat
as we'll as any sailor All you need
do is sit still in your places
Dorothy got in, Toto in her arms, and
sac on the bottom of the boat just in
front of the mast Button Bright sat
in front of Dorothy, while Polly leaned
over the bow. The shaggy man knelt
behind the mast. When all We're ready
he raised the sail half way. The wind
caught it, At once the sand boat start
ed forward-slowly at first, then with
added speed. The shaggy man pulled
the sail way up, and they flew so fast
over the Deadly Desert that every one
held fast to the sides of the boat and
SCprcelE dared to hrna he
The sand lay in pillows, and was in
places uneven. so that the boat rocked
dangerously from side to side; but it
never quite tipped over, and the speed
was so great that the shaggy man him
self became frightened and began to
\ wonder how he could make the ship
go slower.
A IF we're spilled in this sand, in the
middle Of the desert" Dorothy thought
to herself, "we'll be nothing but dust
3 in few minutes, and that will be the
end of us"
q But they were not spilled, and by and
my Polychrome, who was clinging to
the bow and looking straight ahead,
saw dark line before them and Won
dered what it was. It grew palmer ev-
cry second, until she discovered 1t to be
row of Jagged rocks at the end OF the
desert. while high above these rocks
she could see a tableland of green
grass and beautiful trees
shaggy man. Go slowly, or we shall
smash into the rocks
He heard her and tried to pull down
the sail; but the wind would not let go
C9f the broad canvas and the ropes had
become tangled.
Nearer and nearer they drew to the
great rocks, and the shaggy man was
in despair because he could do nothing
to stop the wild rush of the sandboat
They reached the edge of the desert
and bumped squarely into the rocks.
Bright, Toto and Polly flew up in the
air in a curve like a sllyrocket's, one
after another, landing high upon the
grass, where they rolled and tumbled
for'a time before they could stop them
selve5.
The shaggy man flew after them,
head first, and landed in a heap be-
side Toto, who. being much excited at
the time, seized one of the donkey
ears between his teeth and shook and
worried it as hard as he could, growing
angrly. The shaggy man made the
little dog let go, and sat up to look
around him.
Dorothy was feeling one of her front
teeth, which was loosened by knocking
against her knee as she fell. Polly was
looking sorrowfuly at a rent in her
pretty gauze gown, and Button Bright's
and he was wiggling his little fat legs
franticaly in an effort to get free.
Otherwise they were unhurt by the
adventure: so the shaggy man stood up
and pulled Button Bright out of the
hole and went to the edge of the desert
to look at the sandboat. 1t was a
mere mass of SplnterS now, crushed