The Washington times., 1936-08-24

A cold rain started. The barometer
fell, indicating period Of storm.
It would have been much too dan
gerous to start out under such I'M
favorable conditions.
There was no great reason to re-
gret it. Even if they had been GER
tain of being on a continent, they
dared not risk themselves in an I'M
known country with the winter
season approaching. Such an en-
terprise must be put off to the sea-
son of long days and fair weather.
Therefore, it would be best to
resign themselves to spend the
cold season on the Slough.
Nevertheless the plan to ascer-
tain whether a sea existed towards
the east was still entertained; but
it was impossible in the next two
weeks. The weather became abom-
Unable. 1t rained every day with
extreme violence. A journey across
the forest would have been i'm
practicable.
During those long stormy days
the boys were not unoccupied.
Apart from the care required by
the equipment, they constantly had
to repair damages to the yacht
which suffered seriously from the
bad weather. The boarding was
beginning to open on the top, and
the deck was no longer water proof.
Therefore the most pressing need
was to find better shelter. Admit
ting that it would be possible to
go towards the east it could not be
done before five or six months,
and certainly the Slough would
not be able to hold until then. If
it was necessary to abandon her
in the middle Of the bad season,
where would they find refuge, since
the foot Of the cliffs facing west
offered no corner or cave which
could be utilized?
On the other side of the cliff,
sheltered from the winds of the
sea, they might locate a place and
build a hut big enough for all.
Rain Ceases
Meanwhile urgent preparations
had to be made to shut out wind
and water and to make stronger
the interior woodwork, which al
ready began to get disjointed. Cor
don would have even used the sails
to recover the hull but he was un-
willing to sacrifice those thick
sheets which could be used to make
a tent if it became necessary to
camp out. The boys finally spread
some tarred sheets on deck.
Meantime the cargo was divided
into bales, each listed in Gordon'S
note book with a number. In case
of pressing need, they could be
rapidly transported under the
trees.
When the weather offered a few
hours of calm, Doniphan, Webb
and Wilcox went out to shoot rock
pigeons which Moko cooked in
various ways. Garrett, Service,
Cross, with whom the younger ones
joined, and sometimes Jack (when
his brother insiSted went fishing.
In the seaweed on the reefs were
large stock-fish, and rock-cod. Be-
tween the filamentS of these gigan-
tic weeds (kelps, sometimes as
much as 400 feet long), were
prodigious number of little fishes
which could be caught up by hand.
One could hear the happy shouts
of the young fishermen when they
threw their lines on the edge of the
reefs.
Uniting their efforts, the boys
would be able to drag the nets upon
the sand. The Stock-fish, particu-
larly, furnished an excellent food,
whether it was eaten fresh or kept
in salt. The mouth of the river
yielded only poor speciments of
saltwater minnoWS which Moko
was expected to fry.
On March 81, a more important
capture gave rise to a rather conf
cal incident.
} During the afternoon, rain had
ceased and the little ones had gone
to fish in the river. Suddenly cries
were heard that were shouts of
joy and yet were shrieks for help.
CHAPTER x
Gordon, Briant, Service and
Moko left their work and ran to-
ward the cries. They quickly cov-
cred the five or six hundred steps
which separated the yacht from
the river.
Come here! Come here!" yelled
Jenkins.
Come and see Costar and his
steed," Iverson shouted. quicker,
Briant! Quicker or you'll miss it,"
repeated jenkins.
(TO Be COntinued)