The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-08-21
avs Great Adventure Tale by Jules Verne

me-"
I'VE sure will" responded the
three boys, delighted to use their
guns on the thousands of fowls
flying about.
Meantime" observed Briant,
don't kill too many pigeons.
Well always find them when we
need them. We mustn't waste
our lead and powder"
"All right! All right" an
swered Doniphan, who did not
like to submit to any restrictions,
especially when they came from
Briant. But we are not reduced
to our last shot, and we don't
need any such advice!"
An hour later Moko announced
that lunch was ready. AS a re-
suit Of the list of the yacht the
table was slightly on one side,
but this did not stop the young
sters from enjoying their lunch.
The shell fish, particularly the
clans, we're excellent, although
the sauce was not all that could
be desired. But at their age, ap-
petite is by far the best spice.
Some biscuits, a piece of cornet
beef. fresh water taken at thu
mouth of the little river at low
tide. so as not to get it salteds
made a very acceptable meal.
The afternoon was spent at ar
ranging the hold and sorting out
the objects which had been in
ventoried, while jenkins and his
little comrades fiShed in the river
which was alive with fishes Of all
sorts. After supper, they all went
to bed except Baxter and Wilcox,
who were on guard until day
break.
In this way ended the first
night on this strange land Of the
Pacific Ocean.
Isle or continent2 That was
always the serious question which
preoccupied Briant. Gordon and
Doniphan, whose characters and
intelligence marked them as the
chiefs of this little world. Think
ing of the future. while the
younger ones only thought Of the
present, they often talked of it;
indeed that subject formed the
main subject of their converse
tions.
Whatever it was, whether an
island or a continent, quite evil
IDENTIFY it did not belong to the
tropical zone. That was to be
seen in the vegetation. It seemed
even that this territory must be
a little higher in latitude than
New Zealand. If so, the winters
would be severe. Dead leaves al
ready thickly carpeted the
ground. Only the pines and frs
had preserved their green foliage.
That is why" said Gordon.
the day after the Slough had
been transformed into a regular
residence. lit seems to me that
we should not try to settle deli
nitely on this part Of the coast"
"That's my advice, also" agreed
Doniphan. "If we wait for the bad
season, it will be too late to reach
some inhabited regions that may
be hundreds of miles away"
well" remarked Briant, I'VE
are only in the middle of March"
But the fine weather can last
until the end of April, and IN SIX
weeks one can go long way" said
Doniphan.
when there is a way" stressed
Briant.
and why should there not be
one?" declared Doniphan. wed
be crazy not to leave the schooner
before the season of cold and rain
comes"
WED be crazier to adventure
like madmen across a country OF
which we know nothing" retorted
Briant.
TITS easy" remarked Doniphan
bitterly, ito call anyone crazy who
doesn't think as you do"
1T is useless to quarrel" Cor
don interviewed, Gin order to get
along; let's begin by trying to
understand each other. Doniphan
is right in thinking that if we are
close to an inhabited country we
should reach it without delay; but
Briant questions whether it's pos
sible, and he is not wrong IN an
Swering as he did"
Explore
"What nonsense, Gordon!" re-
piled Doniphan. I'm going up
north, or coming down south, or In
going towards the east, we surely
would arrive"
Yves, if were on a continent"
said Briant. mo, if we are on an
island, and the island be de-
serted"
That's why it is necessary to
find out what this land is" de-
clared Gordon. GAS to abandon
ing the Slough without being as
sured if there is or is not a sea
towards the east"
1.-THE Slough will abandon u.s."
nrind n0TjrIan ALWAYS inclined tn