Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-07-25


But whep we neared the shore we
saw that none of these native boats
were at hand, and as we had but
little time to lose we lay upon our
oars lust outside the breakers and
called a council to determine what
to do.
"Wnat say you, Frank, to max
ling a dash, and passing it at once !?
r. will be something to talk of
-eh 7"
I shook my head in dIsapprobat'
ion l pointed to the huge billows
that raced by us, and curling over
a cables length ahead broke with
noise like thunder on the beach,
while the shlvered wave boiled and
foamed IN the vortex below.
"Give way, my sea dogs, give
WAY ~ shouted the third lleuten-
ant, coming mp abreast in gallant
STYLE; "shall we dash in, Mr.. Tiller.
at looks like a venture where
one cast Is death, and the othera
ducklng, but what say you BrOugh-
ton 2"
"Oh, sir" replied the little fellow
his eyes klndling as he spoke. "they
say an English man-Ofwar boat
passed 1t a few years ago, and Pm
sure we can do it, too. Besides, sir
they re watching ur from the .ort."
True enough, the officers OF the
garrison we're quizzlng US already
with their glasses.
still, however, objected, feeling
strange kind of presentiment
that some dreadful accident would
occur If we ventured in the surf.
but the national pride OF our men
had been touched, and the lieu
tenant, seeing it, wavered no long
err and shouting the order to "Glve
way" our crew broke into a cheer
and dashed rapidly up to the
gigantic breakers.
The aspect of the surf as we ao'
preached it was terrible. Enorm-
Gus blllows rolled in one after an
other rose like monsters, paused
moment with their white crests
combing before they descended
and then hurled their mass OF
water down into the abyss below
with the noise of a mighty cataract.
Hitherto, all had been careless
on board, and jests had been fly
ing plentlfully about, bat every
man now felt that a crisis was at
hand, and accordingly the deepest
silence prevailed, broken only by
the noise of the oars and quick
orders of the lieutenant.
"Larboard !" shouted Tlller,
waving his hand, cardboard a IT.
tie more !" and riding on an enorm-
ous waves we we're whirled into
the heart of the surf, with two
gigantic pillows madly pursuing us
on oar quarter. For a moment we
thought the crisis passed, but all
at once the wave seemed to lose It's
impetus, and gliding from beneath
ns broached US almost broadslde
TO. while the foremost of our pur
suers dashed against US and heeled
us nearly over into the abyss. We
we're losing all command of the
boat, when suddenly a voice from
our colleague outside of the surf
: exclaimed.
"LOok out, there's a shark on
your quarter |" At the same instant
TiIIer, perceivlng our danger
thundered, Cardboard, hard-cast
off there, larboard harder, for Code
sake, down !" but the poor cox
swain, startled by the ill timed
3 warning from the other boat, ant
conscious of the terrible situation
. in which we were, lost for a mo
, ment all command of his faculties
! and be fore he could regain then
q sufficiently to obey the comman'
l., of his officers a wave struck us ful
q OH our brOadside, and IN an othe
4 instant, with wild cry OF horror
we found ourselves struggling i
"a the surf.
When I rose to the sur face
10 struck out boldly, but shall nevt
1T forget the sight that met my eye
4. The boat was already broken l
20 pieces and the fragments tossln
e. about, while the crew we're struI
it Cling here and there in the breal
he ers. A poor fellow was just ahea
en of me, bufieting with the waveI
g, his agonized look fixed on a hue
,n shark that lay eyeiDg him lu
p, without the surf. He screamed fl
ID succor, but it was IN vain. III
e, current was gradually sweepln
nd him nearer to his terrible enem
.rt The other boat yentured as near
IT it could, hut it would have be-
lin madness to approach nearer. Su