The Forrest City times., 1891-06-05
vultures at the prospect of an easy


 were fast approaching the shore. So close were they that they could hear, through the roar of the wind, the savage cries of the expectant crowd as they thronged down close to the edge of the breakers in their eagerness to seize their prey.
 There was no time to be lost. The only hope was to remain where they were. The boat was equipped with a heavy anchor, to which stout haw- ser was fastened to do duty for a cable. This was dropped over the side, and as it disappeared the mates heart sank as he pictured to himself the flukes of the anchor burying them selves in the sand of the bottom, and finding nothing to give hold sufficient to resist the drag of the boat as she | drove shorewards before the wind and waves. If there were only rocks to give good holding ground At this thought another picture arose in his mind. Could that hawser stand the chafing of a rock long enough to hold till the wind fell? There was little choice. He glanced at his companions faces, and seeing that his gloomy forebodings were not shared by them, resolved to keep his own counsel.
 | The hawser ran out until the an chor reached bottom, 1t then grew | taut under the strain, and the boat 8 way was stopped. The anchor held. No, she moves again. Slowly, but surely, she creeps shorewards, drag ging the heavy anchor after her. The hopeful faces of the occupants .s grew blank with disappointment Like some terror-stricken bird, drawn by the deadly fasclnation of a ser pent, the boat makes slowly for the | shore.
 "Hurrah!-It holds
 The Chlnamen gave vent to their rage i'll a yell as they saw the cutter s way checked at the very moment | into their hands, The crew was kept busily at work, however, bailing out the water that poured in over her | bows.
 The party in the boat were in hopes 1 that the Chinese, seeing themselves 1 baked, would retire, but, to their an 1 noyance, they soon saw that they were determined to remain on the 1 spot and await the result ofthe strug- gle.
 l The day drew to a close, and the Chinese began to light fires, evidently prepared to spend the night on the shore The Swallows lights, too, faintly twinkled in the distance, and ! ha ss,,,l,t 1f tha,,N ,,,ola {hA.a ;,,t La cutter feel their positions even more keenly. To add to their discomfort, the bangs of hunger began to assail them. Several attempts were made to light a fire, so that the kettle might be boiled and a rasher of ham cooked The fire lit up, burning briskly for a few minutes, and as the hopes of the famished party began to grow bright with the cheerful glow, the jealous sea would dash in drown the fire and their hopes, and hiss spitefully among the embers at their discomfiture Aft CT several vain attempts, they were forced to content themselves with cold water. ships biscuit, and raw ham, of which there was @ small sup ply on board. Hungry men are not fastldious, and the meal was soon dis posed of.
 Weary as was the mate, his thoughts were oppressed with deep an xieties, which he had till now kept to himself. The wild plunging oi the l boat as she tore at her moorings, like an impatient charger eager for the fray, induced him to lay his hand up on the hawser To his horror he felt a grating, grinding sensation that told a tale which brought vividly before his mind all the stories he had ever heard of the hendish tortures which the Chinese practice upon their prisoners. l But he was a brave man, and did not let such terrors overcome him. He tried to conceal his fears and enter into efforts of the soldiers to make a fire, hoping that the wind would fall l or shift before the rocks should grind through the cable.
 l Lieutenant Garnett had observed 1 his hand as he from time to time laid 1t upon the hawser, and did the same. Glancing at the mate, who was watch ing him, he read in his eye conhrma- tion of his suspicious The mate nod ded towards the soldiers in intima- ton of his desire that they two should keep their fears to themselves. A long, weary, and anxious night followed All were wet, hungry, and exhausted. The motion of the boat made it impossible to sleep--though now and again they would snatch a few minutes, to be rudely reused by the breaking ofa larger sea than usual over the boat To be brought so | abruptly back from the happiness of unconsciousness to a knowledge of their critical condition seemed to make their position all the more for lorn for the temporary freedom from anxiety.
 At length the weary night came to an end, and the dawn broke upon the dispirited crew The anxiety and ex- posture showed itself in their pale faces, dull eyes, and listless attitudes Wet, cold, hunger, and suspense had set their mark upon the nine exhausted men.
 The wind began to lull somewhat; but 1t was not until noon that the sea, though still surging savagely, CtdStu tO DICSth oNtI lilt DOdt. Ht soldiers now lit a fire and made some tea- which with a biscuit apiece, some what raised the spirits of the worn- out men.
 The two officers and the sailor, how ever, had spent night of suspense sufficient to exhaust the hardest They knew only too well that it was a question of grave doubt whether the ! hawser would hold until the wind lulled or be cut through before. If the