Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-02-28

low and earnestly. AS their excite
ment rose their voices went down. AS
fast as one of them laid down the spy
glass, another took it up; but always
with studied air of calmness. Each
time the verdict was:
"She's a-gainingw
The Captain spoke through the tube:
"What steam are you carrying?'
CA hundred and forty-two, sir!
But she's getting hotter and hotter all
the time"
The boat was straining and groaning,
and quivering like monster in pain.
Both pilots were at work now, one on
each side of the wheel, with their coats
and vests off, their bosoms and collars
wide open, and the perspiration flow
ing down their faces. They were hold
ing the boat so close to the shore that
the willows swept the guards from
stem to stern.
Stand by" whispered George.
6" All ready!' said jim, under his
breath.
Let her GOMEZ
The boat sprang away from the bank
like a deer, and darted in long dag
onal toward the other shore. She
closed in again, and thrashed her fierce
way along the willows as before. The
Captain put down the glass.
"Lord, how she walks up on us! I
do hate to be beat.''
"Jim," said George, looking straight
ahead, and watching the slightest yawn-
ing of the boat, and promptly meeting
it with the wheel, how'll it do to try
Murderer's Chute!'
"Well, it's - it's taking chances.
How was the cottonwood stump on the
false point below Boardman's Island,
this morning?"
" Water just touching the roots. "
"Well, it's pretty close work. That
rives six feet scant in the head OF
Murderer's Chute We can just barely
run through if we hit it exactly right.
But it's worth trying for. She don't
dare tackle it!"-meaning the Amaramh.
In another instant the Boreos plunged
into what seemed crooked creek, and
the .lmarodh's approaching lights were
shut out in a moment. Not whisper
was uttered now, but the three men
stared ahead in the shadows, and two
of them spun the wheel back and forth,
with anxious watchfulness, while the
steamer tore along. The Chute seemed
to come to an end every fifty yards
but always opened out in time. Now
the head of it was at hand. George
tapped the big bell three times; two
mon sprang to their posts, and in a
moment their weird cries rose on the
night air, and were caught up and re.
peated by two men on the upper deck
"No-o bottom!'
"D-e-e-p four!'
"Half three!'
"Quarter three"
"Mark under wa-a-ter three!'
"Quarter twain!--"
Davis pulled couple of ropes-there
was a jinSling of small bells far below
the boats speed slackened, and the
pent steam began to whistle and the
guage-cocks scream.
"By the mark twain!'
"Quarter-her-er-less twain.
Eight and a half.'
" Eight feetr'
"Seven-an-a-half!-"
Another jinsling of little bells ant
the wheels ceased turning altogether
The whistling of the steam was some
thing friGhtful now-it almost drowned
all other noises.
Stand by to meet herw
George had the wheel hard down
and was standing on the spoke.
"All ready"
The boat hesitated-seemed to hole
her breath, as did the Captain and pi
lots-and then she began to fall ava,
to starboard and every one lighted.
Now, then ?-meet her! meet her
Snatch her!
The wheel few to port so fast thai
the spokes blended into a spider web
tho swing of the boat subsided-
steadied herself
"Seven feet!'
Sev-six and'a hay"
Six feet. Six f.
Bang! She hit the bottom! George
| shouted throuph the tubo.