The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

34 than outside. To-day I went with a club to the rocks on the north end and kill a small seal. We have meat now. Mr. Donaldson have matches, and we make fire in one part of the cave, and I will cut hole in top for chimney. To- day things are floating in from wreck ‘of the Voluna. One thing comes floating to shore is a chest from the captain’s cabin, which was on deck. It is a wooden sea-chest. In it we found many tin boxes of wax matches maybe he takes to America to sell or give to friends. These wax matches are made much in Denmark by one business-house. We think this a great prize, and Mr. Donaldson say we must preserve them. We keep the fire in all the time. We do not know how long we stay here. The boy is well. He is a fine little fellow, and Mr. Donaldson say if we never findhis parents, who may be dead when we get away, Mr. Donaldson take boy as his son. Boy sits on floor of cave and suck seal-blubber like Es- kimo. He is great kid. “He is yet,” commented Ordway with a laugh, looking at the islander, who returned the look in a friendly way, but did not smile. I resumed the reading. Next day. To-day I made some spears. I saw a bear on the rocks, and we will have bear meat. There are many wild geese also, and I will make some bows and arrows. Mr. Donald- son has examined the berries and will dry some and roast them, and he says it will make good coffee., We found a. nice, sweet spring and little stream, so we want for no water. But we have not any sugar nor milk for our coffee. This is the same day. I made a bow of ash, and it will send an arrow strong enough to kill a goose, but not a bear. We must use spears for bear. Boy is well. There was a hiatus now, and the next entry began: I think this about September ten. All this time I did not write anything because there was not much to write. Every day much like every other day. A box of books come floating in from the Voluna last week. Mr. Donaldson show much delight. He says he can teach the boy to read when he gets older. He says something about diff- THE ARGOSY. culty in teaching without object lesson. I don’t know what he means, but he knows everything. | Every day we keep fire going. In the cave the wind does not blow, and rain cannot,put it out. We keep broken wood all the time to dry. We took off all the boy’s clothes and make clothes for him out of sealskin and bear fur. He look like a big ball of fur. He is very funny kid. He never cry. Every day we watch for boat. Mr. Donaldson say he think this island is called Orsgov, which he say belongs to no nation now for something he try to explain what he says international law. I don’t understand. Last night I found a barrel of potatoes rolling on the shore. They are fresh, and from the Voluna. Mr. Donaldson say the fishing is not good here, and so’ we will look long time for sail. I think I make a boat to get away. We might reach Iceland.” The journal kept by the boatswain at intervals, always growing longer, covered several years. It told of the hardships of the two men and the boy, having nothing with which to work the wood to make a boat, but constantly, day after day, striving to overcome this difficulty. They had, by the time six months had gone over their heads, reached the conclusion that no fishing- vessel would come near enough for them to signal. They saw sails in the distance frequently, but received no re- plies to their waving calls for help. Food seemed to be plentiful, and each entry gave the condition of the boy as satisfactory. The final entry was as follows: We have been here now five years. All hope of leaving the island is gone. We can rig up a raft, or burn out a log for a canoe, but without tools we cannot make a water-tight boat. To- day I was burning round the trunk of a tree to fell it, and it did fall. It fell on me and broke my leg. I am laid up in the cave, and everything now de- pends on Mr. Donaldson. I know Eng- lish better now than when I began this journal, for Mr. Donaldson has com- menced teaching the boy, and I study with him. My leg bothers me with pain, but Mr. Donaldson says he thinks it will be all right. COL EloOOkS CO