The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-02-23


was discovered thet he had given tho
orders Tor securing the boat, but had not
waited to see his orders carried out.
The crew, it then transpired, had simply
rowed her ashore, and each man had
sprung out and gone to his own mess.
1t was then obvious to all of us that the
surge from the Great Cataract, which
was but two miles below, had entered
the cove, lifted the boat clear of the
strand, and receding toward the terrible
vortex, had borne her away with all her
equipment aboard.
Though it appeared hopeless we
should ever hear of the boat again, four
several triplets of messengers were dis
patched in as many directions across
country to warn the natives down river
and offer rewards for her recovery; and
set off with Dualla and another toward
the Great Cataract of Kintamo, over the
hill of Lcopoldville.
On reaching the summit overlookin g
the cataract, Stretch, one of the young
attendants, with his sharp eyes, de-
tected the boat about midstream,
stranded upon a reef, the lower part of
which seemed to hang over the edge of
the roaring cataract. With my glass
could see her like tiny speck compared
to the mile-wide river. Above the reef
the puissant Congo was treachercusly
placid, but we, who had so often crossed
it two miles above the station within
view of the gulf, had often occasion to
dread its terrible velocity, and below the
reef it was all scene of remorseless
fury, countless series of tossing waves
and spray crowned crests, and here and
there veritable towers which were no
sooner formed than they seemed to be
swung bodily into the air, to be fol-
lowed by others. The eye was fascinated
by the wild picture of tremendous
strength and incessant rage which the
Great Cataract furnished at this view OF
it. One could gaze at it for hours, for
its suggestion of ceaseless passion,
power and its awful engulphing-
ness, while its hoarse roar Is in fit
volume accompaniment to the watery
horror.
l sat down and studied the river above
the reef. From our side the boat was
quite seven hundred yards, and about
one thousand yards from the opposite
bank. The low rock on which she lay
was probably fifty yards in width, and
rose about foot above the water, and
by one of those surges caused by the
vicinity of the cataract and shifting cur
rents the beat had doubtless been swayed
aside and rested in what appeared to be
the beginning of groove or channel.
Various plans were vaguely formed for
saving her, but we're dismissed, owing to
the imminent danger. A foot rise in the
river would also sweep the boat over the
reef into certain destruction.
We returned to the station. At our
beach were paddle steamer and canoe.
We set mark by driving peg at the
water line, and resolved to wait and see
whether the river rose or fell.
Twenty hours later the river had SUBJ
sided six inches. / went back to the
hill of Leopoldville. The boat was
higher out of the water, the reef was
larger and extended further up the river
in a low gray tongue OF rock. That was
one great comfort.
On the third day the river had sub
sided several inches more; the reef was
still larger. Dualla was by my side, and
looking at the river I conceived plan
which I audibly revealed, saying that,
eff were younger aud had not so many
RESPONSIBILITIES on me could save her. l
would have liked such a job. But whom
have | that could be trusted for deli
cate task as this9 And if a single life were
lost | should never forgive myself. Yet
If I had a man who could remember in-
structions and obey them to the letter
that boat would be in our cove in short
time"
..Can | do it, sir2" asked Dualla, as
though had been addressing him.
"You, Shot was thinking of .dar'
ing young officer who could learn his
lesson by heart, and act according
What could you do."
"I could try, sir.
oNo doubt you could try, my boy;
but it wants head as we'll as bold
heart here"
"Well, sir, l do not see myself how
anybody could get to that boat. think
she is already lost, for she is only ilve
wards from the cataract, and long before
we could get to the reef we should be
over the falls, as the current hows IKE
living arrow. But low do you THINK,
sir, any one could get thereF'
"Well, the thing is easy, PROVIDED
one was sure of his crew. | would take
that new coil of Manila rope which Is in
our store room and which is 800 yards
long. and | would tie one end OF 1t 10
our steamer anchor. / would then
choose the best canoe men in the camp
man our canoe at the beach, strike out
boldly for the centre OF the river from
our cove, and when saw that the poa.
and reef were directly below me wou'u
steer straight toward them. When
about two hundred and fifty yards ABOVE
the reef point l would then drop my an
chor and pay out the hswser haii ''s
length. The other half, alter making
c.at a, tbe how of the canoe, | would