The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-02

| natives who had collected after their
departure, and now seeing their critical
condition were evidently awaiting the
result.
Their intentions were too plain to al
low the cutters crew to think of trust
ing themselves to their tender mercies.
The population of the whole village
had apparently collected like vultures
at the prospect of an easy prey.
The wind beat them back, and they
found that they were fast approaching
the shore. So close were they that
they could hear, through the roar OF
the wind, the savage cries of the ex-
pectant 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 hawser
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 dukes of the
anchor burying themselves in the sands
of the bottom. and finding nothing to
! give hold sufficient to resist the drag of
the boat, as she drove shoreward before
! the wind and waves. If only there
were rocks to give good holding ground,
| At this thought another picture rose in
| his mind. Could that hawser stand the
| cha6ng of rock long enough to hold
| till the wind fell? There was little
choice. He glanced at his companions
faces, and, seeing that his gloomy fore
bodiugs were not shared by them, re-
solved to keep his own counsel.
The hawser ran out until the anchor
reached bottom 1t then grew taut un-
der the strain, and the boats way was
| stopped. The anchor held. No, she
moves again! Slowly, but surely, she
creeps shoreward, dragging the heavy
anchor after her.
The hopeful faces of the occupants
grew blank with disappointment. Like
some terror-stricken bird, drawn by the
deadly fascination of a serpent, the boat
makes slowly for the shore.
.'Hurrah! it holds"
The anchor is apparently caught in a
rock, the hawser stiffensj out, and the
plucky little cutter faces the waves with
the air of one determined to do or die.
The foiled surges break over her and
her Grew as she braveIy throws up her
nose to meet the attack.
The Cinnamon gave vent to their rage
in yell, as they saw the cutters way
checked at the very moment they
thought she was running straight into
their hands. The crew were kept bust
~ at work, however, baling out the
water that poured in over the bows.
The party in the boat were in hopes
that the Chinese, seeing themselves
balked, would retire; but, to their an
noyance, they soon saw that they were
determined to remain on the spot and
await the result of the struggle.
The day drew to close, and the Chi
nese began to light fires, evidently pre-
pared to spend the night on the shore.
The Swallows lights, too, family
twinkled in the distance, and the sight
of them made those in the cutter feel
their position even more keer]y. To
add to their discomfort, the pangs of
hunger began to assail them. Several
attempts were made to light fire, so
that the kettle might be boiled and
rasher of ham cooked. The fire lit up,
burned brisk1y for few minutes, and
as the hopes of the famished party be-
gan 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 discontinue. After several vain
attempts they were forced to content
themselves with cold water, ships bis
cult and raw ham, of which there was
q small supply on board. Hungry men
are not fastidious, and the meal was
soon disposed of.
Weary as was the mate his thoughts
were oppressed with deep anxieties,
which he had till now kept to himself.
The wild plunging of the boat as she
tore at her moorings, like an impatient
charger eager for the fray, induced him
to lay his hand upon the hawser. To
his horror he felt grating. grinding
sensation that told tale which brought
wildly before him all the stories he
had ever heard of the fe1dish tortures
which the Chinese practice upon their
prisoners.
But he was brave man and did not
let such terrors overcome him. He tried
to conceal his fears and enter into the
efforts of the soldiers to make a fire,
hoping that the wind would fall or
shift before the rocks should grind
through the cable.
Lieut.. Garnet had observed his
upon the hawser, and did the same.
CHANGING at the mate, who was watch
lug him, he read in his eyes confrrna
ton of his suspicious. The mate nodded
toward the soldiers the intimation OF
his desire that they. too, should keep
their fears to themselves.
A long, weary and anxious night fol-
lowed. All were wet, hungry and ex-
bausted The motion of the boat made
it impossible to sleep, though now and
again they would snatch few minutes.
to be rudely reused by the breaking of
a larger sea than usual over the boat.
To be brought 50 abruptly back from
the happiness of unconsciousness TO
knowledge of their critical condition
seemed to make their position all the
more forlorn for the temporary anxiety.
At length the weary night came to al
enc. and the dawn broke upon the dispir-
tied crew. The anxiety and exposure
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,