The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-08-22
Long Lost Masterpiece
Of Boys ShipWrecked
On Primitive Island
Continued

had reached Wnen Iney Weut
hunting rock pigeons. In that
hour, Briant had been able to
cover half of the distance.
If no obstacle presented itself
he counted on being able to reach
the promontory before 8 O'Clock
in the morning. But as the cliff
became closer to the reefs, the
beach presented a more difficult
ground to walk upon. The
stretch of sand was reduced to
q narrow strip where the waves
reached right over it. Instead OF
the elastic and firm ground
which stretched itself between
the woods and the sea, close to
the little river, Briant was
obliged to venture across a mum,
Der of slippery rocks, over viScouS
sea.WeedS, around water holes,
and on loose stones on which he
could not find sufficient footing
This made the walk more tire,
some and caused a loss OF two
important hours.
st must arrive at the cape be-
fore high tide" thought Brlant
This part of the beach had been
covered up by the last tide ano
the next one will certainly be up
to the foot of the cliff. If /
have to go back or take refuge
on some big rock, I shall arrive
too late. At whatever cost, l
must get over before the sea
floods the beach"
Fatigue was already beginning
to stiffen the courageous boy S
limbs. In many places he had to
take his boots and socks of to
wade through water winch
reached half way up his legs. On
the surface of the reefs great
skill and agility were required 10
avoid falls.
Briant noticed that aquatic
game showed itself here in great,
est numbers. He also saw several
seals playing among the rocks.
They showed no fear Whatever
nor did they hide under the
water. They evidently had no
reason to be afraid of men. Ap-
parently for many years no seal
hunters had come after them.
The presence of these seals
caused Briant to conclude tnaU
This coast was higher in latitude
than he had thought, higher con.
seouently than the Archipelago OF
New Zealand. These tnougntS
were confirmed at the foot OF the
promontory, where Brlant saw a
band of those penguins that gen
orally frequent the Antarctlc
Zone. .ho
It was then 10 o'clock In the
morning Exhausted and very nun
grv, Briant decided to rest before
attempting to get to the top OF Inc Inc
nromontory. which reared ltsen
about 800 feet above sea level
He sat on a rock, sheltered from
the incoming tide which was al,
ready gaining on the reefs ana
had a piece of meat ana a go0o
drink from the gourd. Meanwhile
Briant took time to think. Alone
then far from his comrades, ne
tried to face coldly the situation
The attitude of Doniphan ana
of some others towards him was
annoying, it was even DAN
perous Nevertheless, he was
quite decided to resist any ACT
~ h{c h might compromise the
safety of his companions. Then
he thought of his brother, JACK
whose recent attitude gave him so
much uneasiness. 1t seemed to
him that this child was hiding
something wrong which ne may
have done, probably before his de.
parture; and he promised hlmSe!1
to compel Jack to explain MS
conduct.
After an hour, in which he re-
gained his strength, Briant threw
his satchel over his shoulders and
began to climb up the rocks.
Situated at the extremity OF the
bay. the promontory, which was
terminated by sharp point, pre-
sented strange geologic forma-
ton. It seemed as if it were a
crystallization of fiery origin which
had taken place under the action
of plutonic forces. This bluff did
not ioin the cliff. It's nature also
greatly differed from the cliff, be-
ing composed of granite rocks, in
stead of such Chalky stratlflca-
lions as framed the English Chan
mel. A narrow passage separated
the promontory from the cliff. Be
yond the cliff towards the north,
the beach extended itself as far as
the eye could see. Since the cape
dominated the neighboring heights
by a hundred feet. the vision
could reach a large stretch OF ter
ritory, a most important feature.
The climb was quite hard. 1t
was necessary to walk from one
rock to another. such high rocks
at times that Briant reached the
summit only with great difficulty.
However, since he belonged to that
class of children whom one might
designate as climbers. since he
had always excelled in the gym
nastic exercises and ladder-Scaling,
in which he had acquired bold
ness, a suppleness and an agility
very much above the ordinary =.
he at last took footing on the
point of the cape, after having
avoided more than one fall which
might have been fatal.
Immediately, through his tele-
scope, Briant looked towards the