The Washington times., 1936-09-11

the sky clearer. The underbrush
and the trees were preparing to
bud.
The boys were allowed to leave
French Den for whole days. The
warm clothes were cleaned, re-
paired and folded away in the
sailors chests, after being labeled
by the careful Gordon. The young
colonists joyfully welcomed the re-
turn of warm weather; and there
was still that hope which they
never abandoned, hope to make
a discovery that would modify
their situation. Was it not pos
sible that ship would visit these
parts in the summer and if
it passed Chairman Island why
should it not land at the sight
of the flag which floated from
Auckland Hill?
During the second fortnight Of
October the hunters made ex-
curSionS within two miles Of
French Den, to the benefit of
the meals, although on Gordon's
suggestion the powder and lead
were used sparingly. Wilcox laid
some traps and snares, with
which they captured few part
ridges, cranes and jack-rabbits.
Sometimes the jackals got to the
traps before the hunters and de-
Stroyed the game. so the boys
killed the jackalS at every oppor-
tunity. Doniphan also killed a
few small wild boars and young
deer, but no one regretted not
being able to catch any more
ostriches. Services experience
was not encouraging when he
tried to mount the ostrich, which
he finally harnessed.
They had all come to Sport
Terrace for the occasion. Cor
don tried to dissuade Service
from attempting a trial which
seemed dangerous, but the boy
was obstinate. While Garrett
and Baxter held the animal,
whose eyes had been covered
over by the blinkers of the hood,
Service finally managed to jump
on his back. In a slightly shaky
voice he cried "Let go!"
CHAPTER XXI
Deprived of the use of its eyes,
the ostrich remained quiet while
Service squeezed it tightly be-
tween his legs. But when the
blinkers were lifted by pulling a
cord which also was used as
reins, it made prodigious bound
and started for the forest with
the rapidity of an arrow,
Vainly Service tried to stop It
by binding it again. With a
sharp movement of it's head, the
ostrich displaced the hood while
Service held onto it's neck with
his arms. Then, with a violent
shake, the creature threw it's un-
certain rider, who fell just as
the bird was about to disappear
into Trap-Woods.
Services comrades came on the
run. When they arrived the
ostrich was out of sight.
Fortunately, Service had rolled
on the thick grass and was not
hurt.
"The crazy bird!" he cried in
confusion. "Oh, if I ever catch
it again!"
You'll not catch it again!"
said Doniphan, who liked to
laugh at his comrade.
Really" grinned Webb, "your
friend Jack was a better rider
than you are"
cts because it wasn't suffi-
GENTLY ia m e d." answered the
would-be ostrich jockey.
"And couldn't bel" replied Cor
don. "Never mind, Service, cheer
up! You couldn't do anything
with that two-legged broncho!"
Early in November the weather
was favorable and preparations
were made for an exploration Of
the western shore of Family Lake
up to its northern point. The tenn
perature was comfortable enough
to spend few nights in the open.
(To Be Continued)
Translation from the original 'Deux
Ans de Vacances," copyright, 1885, by
Celesta Hamer-Jackson; distributed BY
King Features Syndicate. Inc.
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