The Forrest City times., 1891-06-05

frightened up at the prospect of a move, and when everything was ready they were set to work to haul in the hawser, while the sailors hoisted the sail.
 As the anchor was lifted from the bottom, the waves drove the boat to- wards the shore. The Chinese raised triumphant howl, thinking that the boat was dragging her anchor, and that their long-anticipated prey was about to fall into their hands. The sail was rapidly hoistsd, the wind caught it, and the shoreward rush of the boat was checked. She stood still. The waves forced her to- wards land, and the wind was only just sufficient to counteract the rush of the sea.
 She hung as in a balance. Which would win the day? The slightest lull in the wind and the boat would be whirled on shore with such force that the sail would be unable to gain the mastery. It was q trying moment. Their lives hung by q thread The anchor was heavy, but the eager hands of the men rapidly hauled 1t in.
 Look sharp with that anchor, men," cried the mate, anxiously. Ut s just toss up whether we'll fetch out of the bay or not"
 The men were straining every nerve to get the anchor in, as 1t was hoped that as soon as 1t was on board the balance would be in favor of the wind. At last it come to the surface, and the sailor leaned over to swing 1t on board, while the other men leant over to the other side to trim the boat With heave, he swung the anchor over the gunwale, and fell backwards into the bottom of the boat with the ragged end of the hawser in his hand. The cable had parted.
 On examination, it was found that the rocks had chafed through the stout hawser, leaving the anchor at tached by single strand and this, worn nearly through, had parted at the slight jerk given by the sailor. Had the mate delayed but a few minutes longer, the cutter must have been dashed ashore before they had time to hoist the sail
 All now understood the anxiety which the mate had been unable alto gether to conceal in his looks and his eagerness to leave their moorings, to which they were held by so frail 6 stay.
 The boat, freed from dragging the anchor, now began slowly to move forward in the water.
 The Chinese, as they saw their prey slowly but surely creeping out of dan ger, raised howl of execration. The occupants of the boat weary as they were, gave mocking cheer, and waved their dripping caps in answer.
 After many tedious task, the cut ter succeededrn beating out of the bay and making her way to the ship, which they reached at ten p. m. Here they were received almost as if they had risen from the dead. They had not been seen from the ship, whose mast head lights alone they had been able to distinguish over the headland Those on board the Swallow had seen the crowd of Chinese, and had imagined that they were waiting for the ship to be driven on shore, and share the fate which they concluded had befallen their comrades in the cutter.
 The exhausted party thankfully made their way on board, where the relief of moving their cramped limbs after sitting so long ill q small boat was q pleasure to them, weary and worn as they were.
 They all turned in, and found deeper pleasure in the warm hunks and ham mocks, to which they retired after being provided with hot soup. About noon next day they made their appear ance none tbe worse for their long ex- posture and anxiety, though the two officers were observed to be more than usually silent for several days alter wards