h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Shortly after returning to the schooner, Leib decided to have the crew engage in a contest to see who could build the best kite. His idea was to produce a simple kite that could fly up to the platform carrying a rope that would then give them access to the light keeper.

By dawn they had been joined by the merchant schooner 'Pee Dee' of Indian Key. Whether or not her captain had met Leib in his week long stay on the island has not been recorded, in any event he offered one of his boats and its crew to aid in the rescue attempt. .

The wind did not make the kite idea practical, in the end Leib resorted to tying a string or length or twine to the ramrod of one of the muskets and firing it through one of the openings between the railing posts. When the other end reached ground they started passing heavier lengths of rope through the railing until they could hoist a block with a tackle attached to the platform. The keeper was able to secure the block to the railing. They managed to fashion a harness and lowered the keeper safely to the ground.

Once he was safe, given a bit of food and drink he began to tell his story. When the Seminoles attacked he and his assistant rushed to the tower and managed to bolt the door behind them just as he Seminoles reached the far side. It did not take long before they decided to burn their way in. The keeper and his helper quickly made their way to the top of the tower. The Seminoles then set fire to the stairs after they had gotten through the door. 'Anytime we moved to the edge of the platform to escape the heat of the fire they shot up at us from the ground. When I saw my assistant was dead I was sure I would join him shortly.'

'I decided that if death was inevitable, sooner was better than waiting for later and suffering in the meantime. We had a small keg of gunpowder on the platform for just such an emergency.'

'I picked up the keg and threw it down the conductor, expecting to be instantly killed by the explosion. Not only did I survive the blast, but the concussion was powerful enough to extinguish the flames, at least temporarily.'

Convinced that the men on the tower were both dead the Indians turned their attentions to looting the cottage and out-buildings.

Leib carried the keeper as far as Key West where the 'Motto' waited for another week to have her rudder properly repaired. By the time they sailed the light house keeper was on his way to recovery, even though he would always have a limp from the severity of his wounds.


F S

[Amy P]

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Great story! I'm glad the keeper survived.

Just been catching up with the story. And what a story it is. Just to prove that truth is just as dramatic as fiction. Of course, it helps that you are telling it so well.

I don't know much about the Seminoles. Almost I am persuaded to Google.

Before you run too far afield you might try A87734488 and the next bit will be here A87761631.



F S

Aha! Cool! Thanks!