Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-17

Dye mako II outP'
jabe said be did.
"Well, we'll get the boat out and tow
sur craft behind that island and lay
there all snug till the fog lifts and the
wind comes up again. But mind, every
thing must be done as silent as If our
lives depended ON it-which they do"
The fog, which gathers with great
raptdity and disappears as quickly. had
now settled down upon them. The sails
were lowered TO the deck. and the small
boat eased into the water.
Tho next dhoal*y arose from the
weak condttion Of the men. who had all
been taken from the hospital ward OF
the fort.
"I1l take your place, Jabe." said his
wife. II know how to row. and 80 does
Mrs. Knowles. We1l wrap our aprons
round tho oars to stop the noise, and
ono Of you men can steer"
Jabe looked at his wife with admira-
tion. but there was no time for words.
The two women got into the boat, and
Eph took the helm. The tow line be-
came taut, and the gunboat began to
move slowly through the water.
Eph4aim calculated thatit would take
tho redskins an hour to overhaul them.
and by that time he hoped to reach the
shelter Of the island, we'll knowing that
on tho open lake, the savages being
nearer the surface Of the water, might
distinguish their upper rigging in the
thinner and lighter atmosphere above.
On the same principle he became aware
that they had entered their haven by
observing the tops of trees on either
side of the narrow channel. Silence
was now their best defence. The
women returned to the gun-boat, but
Eph. remained to guard against sur
prise. He sat there in the dead silence
Not leaf stirred. Not q wavelet
rippled on the shore; not bird chirped
on the trees, while all around hung an
tmpenetrable curtain Of mist. So ac-
customed did he become to the chaotic
stiffness and SO sensitive his auricular
nerve, that he was sure he heard q
movement on the island. Then came a
sound of flying steps approaching
through the forest, q plunge in the
water, and the painting breath Of
swimmer. 1t was coming straight to
him. 1t passed 50 near that he dis
tinguished the antlered head Of a stag
making for the mainland, where he heard
itland, and by calculating the time of
its passage, concluded that he was too
near the island. Gently dropping
an oar into the water, and
using 1t as paddle, he towed the gun
boat across the strait until he found
himself in shallow water. Having thus
| wtdeped the distance between him and
the enemy. he sat down to await the
breeze which would raise the misty
curtain. Night came attended by the
same oppressive silence, and Eph, worn
out with anxiety and fatigue, dropped
| into uneasy slumber in which his senses
retained their vigilance while his nerves
relaxed their tension. How long he re-
manned in this state he did not know,
but Q soft, .balmy touch aroused him.
The stars were shining above and the
wind signing through the tall tree
branches. He stopped for a moment to
listen for other sounds, and sought the
dock OF the gun-boat. Jabe was on
guard.
..aet all the help you can to hoist the
SAILS" said Eph. ''while I tow her a
little of shore"
When the sun arose the little vessel
was dancing over the waves with a
strong breeze on her quarter. But far
sstern Jabe made out the blanket sails
OF bh0ar purSuerS.
"We're safer here than anywhere else
with those red devils on our TRAIL" said
Eph. "and As long as they follow us
weIl have to keep to the water, where
ever 1t osrries us to-"
eve must be near the entrance to the
St. Lawrence" observed Jabe, ''and
we'll have to look out for rapids and do
some fine steering among the islands.
But we can hide there or fight to better
advantsge."
At noon they found the current in
oreasing and met few rocky isles, the
advance guard, as it were, Of that nu-
merous host which evokes the admira-
ton of the tourist Of to-day. Every
moment the situation became more
serious. The toresail was lowered and
still the little vessel rushed on with I'M
impaired velocity. Eph, graspinG the
tiller with both hands, found it difloult
to eluds the rocky obstacles which arose
as II by magic in his path. threatening
instant destruction as the price of con-
tact with their iron orests.
There's barge ashore, over therey'
cried JAbe, who was fully impressed
With the peril Of the situation. "Say,
Eph. do you see itq''
Eph did seo 1t. The beach of the lit
tie Island had gentle slope which con-
tinusd 70 the summit and was carpeted
with moss and crowned by tall tree
with wtde-spreading branches.
"Stand BY for the shook!" Eph shouted
as he needed the gun-boat for this
haven Of safety.
babe with . rope in his hand sprane
to the shore batoFe she touched, In orde,
to prevent her from falling of and drift
Ing away, but her impetus carried hel
we'll up On the strand where she turned
over ON her side, her mast swapping of
close 10 the deck. Then the women and
children orept out, somewhat bruised
by the shook, but thankful for their de
Uveranoe.
Eph examined the barge critically
"a good boAt.s was his comment
"sound and we'll built-oars in her, too
| nho hao,A hoon horo 1oun, uoudo,