Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-05-07

close the things that those eyes had
seen.
Then as the shadows were lengthen-
ing, tired and worn-out, we returned
10 the boat. Whether the current was
stronger than in the morning, or
whether the crew were tired | can not
tell. but certainly the boat did not
obey the helm, but drifted at the
mercy OF the wind, and rocked from
side to side. The great danger was,
OF course. in running against snag,
but providentially. though she bumped
many times, the boat did not strike
heavily, and we drifted on in the right
direction, for she seemed to be entirely
out of the control OF the boatmen.
The situation was perilous in the
extreme, night was coming on. there
we were, miles from any chance OF
succor. wholly ut the mercy OF the
current. and liable at any moment to
be overturned.
At last we drifted toward one OF the
bridges which had been thrown over
the canal, and Immediately we were
sucked into the current that poured
with tremendous force through the
opening. just as we went under, the
sail which they had been trying to
take in fell with a crash, and swept
one OF the boatmen into the water.
With shrek he threw up his hands.
1ftrn lAod Eunru
effort was made to keep in the middle
OF the culvert, which was twelve feet
across, and in that way we succeeded.
The bridge was about fifteen feet
high, and just as we rushed along, the
top OF the tall mast caught on one oil
the timbers OF the bridge. and held
fast. Back and forth rocked the boat
In the rush OF waters, but the hold OF
the ropes never relaxed. From side
to side we were tossed with dizzy,
sickening motion, just escaping each
time being dashed against the rocks
which formed the side OF the bridge,
and expecting every instant to be
capsized.
have heard OF the Eastern indiffer-
ence To death, but II certainly was not
manifested there. for the Arabs
sbrielxed with fear. and called upon
Allah 10 deliver 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,
hemoanino their fate. till the captain,
losinp patience. administered sound
kiclrs To them. telling them TO go to
worlr and stop their bowling.
One Of them slyly took out his PEN
knife. and approaching the rope was
inst about TO cut it. when /, seeing
what he was about to do, called to him
10 drop the knife. The fellow got
closer and had lust touched the rope
when 7 pulled n revolver from my
nocl,et saving: "If YOU touch that
rome III shoot you.n
The outstretched arm dropped as II
naralvzed. and the knife fell In the
water.
Our ono chance of life. and 1t was
hut n slender one. lay In the holding
out of the rome. There were meu
working ON the road above us, We
knew. and II we could only attrac
their attention, It might be well with
us vet. But, Of course, the chance,
were that tho rope would wear away
and then the almost certainty was We
should be dashed TO pieces.
| Half-mad with fear, one OF the mer
jumped into the water to try and gair
the embankment. He was q tall
powerful man, and magnificent swim
ner, but the water tossed him abou
like piece Of cork. We saw will
horror his red fez go up and down OIL
the waves, until his upturned, agon
lied face drifted by us, and he sank t,
rise no more. Horror-stricken we sat
silently thinking that the next mo
ment such might be the fate OF tn
! rest of u.s. particularly as thought
saw signs OF the fraying OF the rop,
where it worked against the mast
We fired off two or three shots i
rapid succession, and then shouted a
the top OF our voices, but no answe
came, save the rush Of the waters.
, One OF our party rose and threw O.
, his coat
, What is that forp" asked.
81 am going to try to swim to shore