The Washington times., 1936-09-10

at the time of the shipwreck. They
also would put up q new flag,
since the one they had hoisted
must be in rags after the winter
storms. And Briant suggested
that they nail a board to the mast,
indicating the situation Of French
Den, in case sailors saw the flag
and landed on the beach.
CHAPTER XXI
Gordon gave them permission
but warned them to be back be-
fore night. The five started early
and the six miles to Slough Bay
were covered quickly. There was
no need to go around the frozen
quagmire, and before 9 o'clock in
the morning the boys were on the
beach.
"Well! look at those birds!"
cried Wilcox, pointing to the reefs
on which stood thousands Of fowl
looking like big ducks, with elon-
gated beaks, and piercing, dis
agreeable cries.
They're only penguins," said
Baxter, land not worth a gun
shot,"
These odd birds stood up nearly
straight and made no move to get
away. One could have killed them
with stick But penguinS
could not be used for anything.
The fat Of seals could be used for
the lighting of French Den, but
when the boys got close to them,
they quickly disappeared under
the water. It would be necessary
later to organize a special expedi-
ton to capture few of them.
After a light lunch the boys put
up new flag and nailed the plank
which gave the situation of French
Den as "six miles away, going up
the course of the little river"
About l o'clock they started home
along the left bank of the river.
BY 4 o'clock, when it was begin
ming to get dark, the five arrived
at French Den. Gordon was told
what had taken place, and it was
decided that they would hunt seals
as soon as the weather permitted.
During the last week of August
and the first week of September
heavy rains brought quick rising
of the temperature. The snow dis
appeared quickly and the ice in
the lake began to break, making
deafening noises. Thanks to their
precautions, the boys had not
suffered greatly during the winter.
They had all kept in good health,
and the studies had been con-
tinued regularly.
Gordon had not had to use his
authority against anyone except
Dole, who frequently refused to do
his work. Gordon had Scolded
him without avail. Finally, he
was sentenced to a whipping.
Young English boys do not feel
the same dislike that the French
boys do for this kind of punish
ment. Yet, Briant would have
protested against the punishment
if he had not been obliged to re-
Spect the decisions of Gordon.
Moreover, where French school
boy would be ashamed, an English
boy would see only the danger of
showing himself afraid of corporal
punishment.
Dole received the whipping
from Wilcox, who was appointed
to the job, and it was such an
example for the others that there
was no necessity to repeat the
punishment.
On the 10th of September, 1860,
when the last ice jam broke in
the river, it was six months since
the Sloughi had been lost on the
reefs of Chairman Island.
With the fine season coming on
the young colonists would be able
to carry out some Of the plans
made during the long winter
hours.
This island certainly was not in
an archipelago if Francois Bau-
doin's map was right. Neverthe-
less, land might be close by. The
Sh,pwrecked man had not been
able to see far because he had
neither telescope nor binoculars.
The young boys might discover
what the French caStaway had
not been able to see.
According to the map, Chair
man Island was about IL miles
wide in the center, to the east of
French Den. The shore sloped
there and it would be necessary
to plan the expedition in that
direction. But first it was desir.
able to explore the territory be-
tween Auckland Hill, Family
Lake and Traps Woods. To de-
termine it's resources an expedi-
ton was decided upon by early
November.
Ito Be COntinued)
Translation from the original "Deux
Ans de vacances," copyright 1875, by
Celesta Hamer-Jackson; distributed b.
| King Features Syndicate, Inc.