The Forrest City times., 1888-02-18
THE EBB TIDE RUYa

THE EBb TIDE kIaS
 Inc eoracle-as 1 bad ample reason to know before 1 was done with her-was a very safe boat for person of my height and weight both buoyant and clever in a sea way; but she was the most cross-grained, iop-sided craft to manage. Do as you pleased, she always made more leeway than anything else. and turning round and round was the maneuver she was best at Even Ben Gum himself had admitted that she was queer to handle till you knew her way" Certainly l did not know her way. She turned in every direction but the one l was bound to 20: the most part of the time we were broadside on, and l am very sure never should have made the ship at all but for the tide By good fortune paddle as l pleased, the tide was still sweeping me down: and there lay the Hispanola right in the fair way, hardly ;o be missed. First she loomed before me like \ blot of something yet blacker than darkness, then her spar and hull began to take shape, and the next moment as it seemed (for the further went the brisker grew the current Of the eb5). was alongside of her hawser, and had laid hold.
 The hawser was as taut as bowstring- 90 strong she pulled upon her anchor. All round the hull, in the blackness, the rippling current buobled and chattered like a little mountain stream. One cut with my sea- gully, and the HIspanlola would go hum. ming down the tide
 So far s0 good; but it next occurred to my recollection that taut hawser, suddenly ut, is a thing as dangerous as kicking horse Ten to one, If were so foo hardy as to cut the Hispaniola from her anchor. and the cnracle would be knocked clean out Of the water.
 This brought me to full stop. and If for. tune had no! again particularly favored me, l should have had to abandon my design But the light airs which had begun blowing from the southeast and south had hauled round after DghIfaii into the southwest Just while was meditating, puff came caught the Hispanola, anl forced her uI into the current; and, to my great joy. fell the hawser slacken in my grasp, and the hand by which held it dip for a second un der water.
 With that I made my mind up, took ou my gully, opened 1t with my teeth and cut one strand after another, till the vessel only swung by two. Then lay quiet waiting ti
 
 once more frightened by breath oi wind.
 All this time l had heard the sound O loud voices from the cabin; but, to ga, truth, my mind had been so entirely tahef up with other thoughts that had scarcely given ear. Now, however, when l hat nothing else to do, began 10 pay nor, heed.
 One recognized for the coxswain's. lsrae Hands that had been Flint gunner il former days. The other was. course, my friend of the red uight-cap. Both mer were plainly the worse of drink, and thel were still drinking; for, even while l wal listening, one of them with a drunken cry opened the stern window and threw ou something, which diyined to be an empt, bottle. But they were not only tipsy; Il was plain that they were turiously angry Oaths flew like hailstones, and every now and then there came forth such an explosion as thought was sure to end in bows. Bu each time the quarrel passed off and th' voices grunb.ed lower for awhile, until th' crisis came, and, in its turr, passed away without result
 On s.ore, could see the glow of the grea camp fire burning warmly through th' shore-side trees. Some one was singing, dull. old. dron ny sailors song, with drooI and a quaver al the end of every verse. anf seemingly no eud to it at all but the patience of the singer. had heart it on the voyag' more than once, and remembered thes' words:
 "flut one man of tho crew alive,
 What put to Sea with scveniy-nye"
 And l thought 1t was ditty rather toc dolefully appropriate for a company tha