Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-04-26
closed lips, and disclose tho things that

! ing, tired and worn out VIC returned 10
tho boat. Whether the current was
stronger than in tho morning, or whether
the crew were tired cannot tell, but Ger.
tainly the boat did net obey tho holm,
but driftcd at the mercy of the wind,
aud rocked from side to side. Tho great
danger was, Of course, in running against
snag. but providcntally, though she
bumped many times, tho boat did not
strike heavily, and we driftcd on in the
right direction, for she seemed to be en-
tircly out Of tho control of the boatmcn.
The situation was pcrilous in tho cX-
tremo, night was coming on, there we
were, miles from any chance of succor,
wholly at the mercy of the current. and
liable Mt my moment to be overturned.
AT last we drifted toward one of tho
bridges which had been thrown over the
canal. and immediately VIC were sucked
into the current that poured with trc-
mendous force through tho opening.
just us VIC went urder, tho sail which
they had been trying to take in fell with
crash, and swept one OF the boatmen
into the water.
With shrek he threw up his hands,
and went down like lead. Every effort
was made TO keep in the middle of the
cuvcrt, which WAS twelve feet across,
and in that We succeeded.
The bridge was about fifteen feet high,
and gust ms VIC rushed along, the top Of
the mast caught on one Of the timbcrs
Of the bridge, and held fast. Back and
forth rocked the boat in the rush of
waters, but tho hold of the ropes mover
relaxed. From side to side We were
tossed with n dizzy, sickening motion,
just escaping each time being dashed
against the rocks which formed the s dc
of tho bridge, and expected every instant
to be capszcd.
have heard of tho Eastern indiffcr-
encc TO death, but it certainly was not
manifested there, for tho Arabs shrieked
with fear, and called upon Allah to de-
liver them.
The boat was half-full of water, and it
took all of our efforts at bailing to keep
her from filling; but the men were Of no
use, they sat down in the water and
rocked from side TO side, bcmoauing
their fate, till the Captain, losing pa
ticncc, administered some kicks to them,
telling them to 20 TO work and stop their
bowling.
One of them slyly took ont his pen
knife. and approaching the rope was just
about to cut it, when /, seeing what he
was about to do, called to him to drop
the knife. The fellow got closer, and
had Just touched the rope when pulled
a revolver from my pocket saying: "If
you touch that rope, I'll shoot YOU"
The oulstrctched arm dropped rs if
paraly zcd, and the knife fell in tho
water.
Our one chance of life, and it was but
slender one, lay in the holding out of
the rope. There were men working on
the road above us, VIC knew, and # we
could only attract their attention, il
might he well with us yet. But, of
course, the chances werc that the ropo
would wear away, and then the almost
certainty was we should be dashed to
pieces.
Ialfmad with fear, one of the men
jumped into the water to try and gain
the cmbankment. lie was tall, power.
full man and magnificent swimmer, bat
the winter tossed him about like Il p:cce
of cork. We saw with horror his rcd
icz go up and down on the waves, until
his uplurned, agon<ed face drifted by
us. and he sank to rise no more. Horror
stricken we sat silently thinking that the
next moment such might be the fate of
the rest of us, particularly rs thought
saw signs OF the fraying of the rope
where it worked against the mast.
We fired of two or three shots in rapid
succession. and then shouted ut the top
oil our voices, but no answer came, save
the rush of the waters.
Cnc of our party rose and threw off
his coat
" What il that for 2" | asked.
am going to try to swim to shore
believe can do it."
With Abdalah's fate before your
eyes" he said, at will try it, and
not be killed here"
cit would be suicide" replied, again
taking out my revolver, land | will fro
if you make motion to leave the boat.
We will take our chances here"
" But what chance have we here 2"
Very little, but none in the way YOU
are trying"
Silently he dropped back in his seat.
a loud exclamation from the captain
startled every one, and we looked UP to
where his finger pointed. There shin
ing through crevice in the flooring of
the bridge was round, bead-lkc eye
looking down upon us, and presently,
finding larger assure, coal-black face
beamcd upon upon us.
Never was apparition moro welcome.
In few words the captain explained the
situation we were in, and tod the man
that couple of English noblemcn were
there, and he must hasten.
Like an arrow the fellow flew AWAY to
where posse of men were mcnding the
road, and they fastened back, but how
TO get at US was the difficulty. Rope
after was flung in vain; we were too far
under to catch it. At last they tied
q neavy stone to the rope. and allowed
1T to drift under with the current. 1t
came nearer and nearer. We held our
breath with anxiety, fearing lest some
eddy should draw it away from us; but
rs it came past, one of us, holding to the
mast, reached out and caught it.
A prayer of thanksgiving went up
from our hearts, while shout testified
to our rescuers that the rope had caught;
to make it fast to the mast, and cut the
other, which was now almost fraycd in
two, was the work Of n moment, and
slowly we were drawn from our danger
ous position, and lowed around to