The Washington times., 1936-10-03

| Service and Baxter his proposition
of utilizing the kite.
During the day?" asked Baxter.
mo, Baster, for then Walston
would see it. it should be tried at
night. ="
But if you hang a beacon on it. "
said Doniphan, 1T will attract his
attention just as much"
"I'n not use a beacon"
Then what will be the use OF
it?" asked Gordon.
ITO allows us to see if WalSton'S
gang has left the island!"
Briant, fearful that his plan
would be received with discourag-
ing mods, explained his idea.
His companions did not think Of
laughing. Excepting Gordon, who
wondered if Briant were serious
they seemed inclined to approve.
They had so acquired the habit Of
facing danger, that such an aScen-
sion at night seemed quite possible.
Moreover, they were ready to
undertake anything that would be
likely to give them back the Sc
curity they had felt before.
But" observed Doniphan,
would the kite be able to lift the
weight of one of us? Wouldn't
it be too heavy a load?"
Probably" said Briant, $50
We'll have to make it larger and
stronger"
'Briant," asked Baxter, chow
high do you think it will be neces-
Sary to 60"
Il imagine we could see a fire
on any part of the island from
six or seven hundred feet"
We'll, let's try it," cried Ser
vice. land without waiting any
longer! I've had enough of being
deprived Of going and coming as
I ike!"
And we, not able to visit our
traps!" added Wilcox.
And I don't dare fire single
shot" said Doniphan.
Tomorrow, them" said Briant.
When he was alone with Cor
don the latter asked. Are you Sc
rious in this freak idea?"
II want to try it, Gordon"
cts dangerous operation!"
Perhaps not so much as one
would think"
And who will be ready to risk
his life in this attempt?"
you'd be the first one, Cor
don. YeSI you yourself if chance
gave you the task"
Are you going to draw lots,
then?"
mo. Gordon. The one who
goes up must do it of his own
accord"
Have you made your choice,
Briant?"
Perhaps" said Briant, grip
ping Gordon's hand.
The next morning, November 5,
Briant and Baxter started to
work. Before making the kite
larger, they wanted to find our
what weight it would life just as
it was. They they could give it
surface sufficient to bear a weight
of 100 to 100 pounds.
The result of the test was every.
thing that could be desired. They
learned that the kite under the
action Of an ordinary wind would
lift 20 pounds. A balance was
used to find the exact weight.
Baxter then began to make the
kite larger and stronger. For
rope, the line which came out of
the Schooner'S locker and which
measured about two thousand
feet, was suitable. For it's new
purpose, the kite no longer had a
tail. The weight to be lifted
would be sufficient to keep it in
balance. AS to the rope, they
took about twelve hundred feet
which, deducting the curve, would
permit them to reach up to seven
or eight hundred feet.
In order to prevent as much as
possible the dangers of a fall. it
was arranged that the ascension
would be made above the lake.
The horizantal distance at which
a fall could occur would never be
so far that a good swimmer could
not reach the western shore.
When the super-kite was COM
pleted it had a surface Of about
70 square yards, in the form of
an octagon, the beam of which
had nearly IS feet, and each side
nearly four. With it's solid arma-
ture and its sail-cloth strong
enough to stand the wind, it be-
came easy to lift a weight Of 100
to 100 pounds.
Ito Be COntinued)
Translation from tho original 'Deux
Ans de VaCances." copyright, 1888, by
Celesta Hamer-JacksOn; distributed hY
King Features Syndicate, Ina