The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-12
:, %ITi'h !; I'd a stopped for him, That.

+ The Anaranth was within three hun.
dred yards Of the Boreas, and AMI
!. gaining. The tod man spoke
through the tube.
What is she carrying now?"
"a hundred and sixty.fye, sir |"
"How's your woodp"
"Pine' all out-cypress half gone
eating mp cottonwood like pie |"
"Brcak into that rosin on the main
desk-pile q It in, the boat can pay for
Soon the boat was plungine and
quiyering, and screaming more madly
than ever. But the Amaranth's head
was almost abreast the Boreas's stern,
"How's your steam, Harry?"
"Hundred and eighty-two, sir n :
Break up the casks Of bacon in the
iorrard holdl Pileit inl Levy on that
turpentine in the fantail-drench every
stick Of wood with y
The boat was moving earthquake by
this time. :
elbow Is she nowp"
"a hundred and ninety.six and still
swelling-water below the middle gauge
cock-carrying every pound she can
standMnigger roosting on the safety
valyep
"Goodl How's your draft ?"
"Bullyl Every time niggerheayes
o stick OF wood into the furnace he goes
out the chimney with it
The Amaranth drew steadily up till
her iack.staff breasted the Boreas's
wheel house; climbed along inch by
inch till her chimneys breasted it;
crept along further and further until
the boats were wheel to wheel, aud then
they closed up with a heavy jolt and
locked together tight and fast in the
middle Of the big river, under the
flooding moonlight Aroar and o liur.
rah went up from the crowded decks Of
both steamers oil hands rushed to the
guards TO look, and shout, and gesticu.
late; the weight careened the vessels.
The boat was straining and groaning
and quiyering like monster In pain.
Both pilots were at work now, one on
each side Of the wheel, with their coats
and vests OF, their bosoms and collars
wide open, and the perspiration flowing
down their faces. They were holding
the boat so close to the shore that the
willows swept tho guards almost from
stem to stern. l.
astand byl' whispered George.
"All ready" said Jim, under his
breath. ~
,oLet her come" -tlg,
The boat sprang away from the bank
like deer, and darted' in o 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. 9l.1
aLord how she walks up on ms. ]
do hate TO be beat"
"Jim," said George, looking straight
ahead, Watching tho slightest yawing
OF the boat, and promptly meeting IL
with the wheel, "how'n Il do TO try
Murderer's Chute?"
"woll, lists taking the chances.
How was the cottonwood stump on the
false point below Boardman's Island
this morning?"
0Watorj Just touching the roots,n
"Well, It's pretty close work, That
gives six feet scant in the head Of Muir
derer's Chute. We can Just barely rub
through II we hit It exactly right.
But its worth trying. She don't dare
tackle it"-meaning the Amaranth.
In another instant the Boreas plunged
into what seemed crooked creek, and
the Amaranth's approaching lights were
shut ont in moment. Not q whisper
was uttered now, but the three men
started ahead into 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 m end, every fifty
yards, but always opened out IN time.
Now the head of il was at hand. George
tapped tile big bell three times, two
leadsmen sprang to their posts, and in
q moment their weird cries rose ON the
night air, and were caught up and re-
peated by two men on the upper deck:
q. Moo bottom !" W
v.aDe.ep four y sHit
+ Half threel' NJ
siOuarter threep u ~.
"Sfark under wa-a-ter three !"
4, "a Quarter twain p. . ,o.l
! Davis pulled q couple Of ropes-there
wasa iingling Of small bells far below,
the boats speed slackened, and the
pent.up steam began to whistle, and
the gauge cocks scream.
BY the marx twain !"
aQuar.ter..her.er.less twain T. ~
0Eight and half" eil
"Eight feeti' 9s,
aseyen.an' "a halil" y. .Si
Another iingling Of little bells and
the wheels ceased turning, altogether.
The whistling Of the steam was some.
thing irightful now-it almost drowned
all other noises. -, lfrt
NStand by TO meet her !" f1
y George had the wheel hard down and
was standing on the spoke.
- All ready r. 2 iHi,- 't.,',.-t 4,
The boat hesitated-seemed 70 hold
ber breath, as did the captain and pilots
land then she began 70 iall away to
lstafboSrd, and every eye lighted.
ID Now, then inject her meet her
Snatch her !" .,,..
itbo spokes blended into spider web
The swing Of the boat subsided-she
steadied herself N-FW-
1 = ~ II :. faat ~ ~
uSey-six and o half ~" n
usix ieetl Six fI
bang / She hit the bottom George
shouted through the Tube ,,,, :.
4 Spread her wide openl Whale 1t