Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1892 — Untitled [ARTICLE]

through this wide entrance that the wares had washed the sand that allured the turtles as a resting place. Delighted with their evening’s work, Ned and Tim returned to their “tent, and in the cool and bright night they replaged the chests upon the raft, struck the tent, and got everything on board in readiness for the deDarture at sunrise. At the same time they did not forget to lay a piece of canvass upon the deck, upon which they piled about two hundred weight of sand. The canvas beneath was to prevent the sand from, running through the crevices between the planks, and disappearing like .water through a leak; the pile of sand was to be the foundation for the cooking-fire. After this all was completed by the stowage of a quantity of firewood around the foot of the mast. Ned rose afterXsound sleep in the fresh open airs The stars were" still faintly twinkling in the gray skv, and the moon was bright, although as pale as frosted silver. It was anhour, before sunrise. and he wofir Tim, who was snoring like a young PissAs all preparations for departure ! had been wisely made on the pre-1 vicms day, there was nothing to be j done but to shove the. raft off the shore, and with a delightfifl breeze the sail filled and they glided plesantly along the smooth water. In about ten minutes they arrived at the sandy breach, where they found their they had left them. Some were that they could hardly carry them; but. as the great object was to keep a supply of fresh provisions, they rejected the largest,and selected thxee that weighed about seventy pounds each. These they carried down to the raft, and then turned the rejected and heavier turtles upon their flappers, which they at once made use of by waddling down to the water, iu which they disappeared. Both Ned and Tim hurried in their work, and they were not long in cob lecting several hundred egg s. which they stowed in one oi, their chests. I They then set sail. The exit from the basin was broad, and, as the wind was fair, the raft steered- into the open sea without any difficulty. The extra weight of the turtles, and the sand, firewood etc., had made the raft so heavy that Ned detirrnined to steer for the nearest shore; he therefore directed the course duq west, in the hope of reaching the African coast within about fifty or sixty miles- The wind being light, was extremely favorable, a>-ahe sea was smooth,and the steady /pressure upon the sail propelled the raft at about three mileswan hour. . Although this appeared tedious, Ned computed that twenty hours of even progress would bring them to the land, and he only trusted in the continuance of the breeze. . - The raft was well supplied, they had about eighty gallons of water, which would last twenty, days at a fair consumption for three, including that" Required for cooking. They had a large.Aquan.titV; of salt -beef, three turtles, ancTsbme hundreds of eggs. Thus there was no fear of starvation, and the only danger ..mited in foul weather./Ned ai> ranged that one should sleep -while the other steered in alternate watches of four hours, thus neither would be fatigued. ? •, It was about 7 a. m., when, the raft-fairly cleared the-coral island, and as she insensibly glided along the water, they soon lost sight; of the wreck of the frigate, and then of the hospitable but dangerous reef; around them was the sea horizon, with the burning sun above. While Ned had the helm, Tim placed some thickly folded sails across the chests and barrels, anc\ creeping into the shade beneath he soon fell asleep. At the expiration of the watch he relieved Nea. who in his turn Crept into the snug shade and - slept till 3 p. m., when he once more took his place at the helm. ■ The evening came, and with it the same cloudless sky and bright stars. At length the moon rose and continued w i ththemthroughbutthemght j and the wind blew steadily, but a little fresher than before; the water rippled as the raft increased in speed. Nothing could be more beautiful than the night; they floated quietly on as though in a dream, and the placid sea glistened tranquilly in the moonlight and looked as though it must for ever rest in peace. As Med stood at the helm, with his faithful companion and his dog sleeping side by side, he looked steadfastly at the heavens and their countless revolving worlds, with a heart overflowing with gratitude he fervently thanked the Almighty Creator for the preservation of his life, find prayed for his help and guidance in the'unknown path before him. The breeze blew steadily and fresh, and the night passed away; the raft had never altered her course from the west; once more it was Ned’s turn at the helm before the sun rose. A haze from the sea covered the horizon; the morning was gray, and the first red streaks shone low on the eastern sky; the wind was faint,a«d the raft moved slowly forward. Xpo morn grew lighter, and soon the crimson flashes in the east turned to a golden blaze, as the sun rose glorious from its ocean bed awakened for the day. The haze dissolved as the warmth increased, and clear and blue the long wished for scene burst upon Ned’s view. “‘Land!" he shouted. Tim sprang from his hard couch at the startling sound, and Nero, too, role, and although ignorant of the cause, the dog shared the enthusiasm of bis master. Apparently not far distant were lofty mountains, the outlines of which were sharply defined upon .the sky as the sun shone vividly upon them.