The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-02-22

| several triplets OF messengers were dls-
patched In as many directions across
country to warn the natives down river
and offer rewards for her recovery; and
I set of with Dualla and another toward
the Great Cataract Of Kintamo, over the
hill of Leopoldville.
On reaching the summit overlooking G
the cataract, Stretch, one of the young
attendants, with his sharp eyes, de-
tected the boat about midstream,
stranded upon reef, the lower part Of
which seemed to hang over the edge of
the roaring cataract. With my glass l
could see her like tiny speck compared
to the mile-wide river. Above the reef
the puissant Congo was tIeacherously
placid, but we, who had 80 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 q scene Of remorseless
fury, a 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 were 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 a peg at the
water line, and resolved to wait and see
whether the river rose or fell.
Twenty hours later the river had sub
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 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 conceived plau
which / audibly revealed, saying that,
"If l were younger and had not so many
responsibilities on me l could save her.
would have liked such a job. But whom
have that could be trusted for a deli.
cate task as thisl And if single life we're
lost l should never forgive myself. Yet
if had a man who could remember in
structions and obey them to the letter
that boat would be in our cove in q short
time"
"Can l do it, sir2" asked Dualla, as
though had been addressing him.
"You, sho! was thinking of dar-
ing young officer who could learn his
lesson by heart, and act according.
What could you dot"
az could try, SIR"
"No doubt you could try, my boy
but it wants a head as we'll as a bold
heart here"
"Well, sir, do not see myself how
anybody could get to that boat. think
sne is already lost, for she is only five
yards from the cataract, and long before
we could get to the reef we should be
over the falls, as the current flows like a
flying arrow. But how do you think,
sir, any one could get there3'
"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 yard:
long, and l would tie one end of it to
our steamer anchor. l 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 boat
and reef were directly below me would
steer straight toward them. When
about two hundred and fifty yards above
the reef point / would then drop my an
chor and pay out the hawser half its
length. The other half, after making
fast at the bow of the canoe, would
pay out along the length Of the canoe,
make fast at the stern, and then the best
man should swim down to the boat with
the other end of the rope and make it
fast to the ring bolt at the boats bow.
Then the rest OF the crew would float
down by the rope to the reef, and all
hands, after putting an oar under her
bow, would roll the boat up bit by bit
over the reef until she was aaoat. All
the crew, except the steersmau, would
then haul themselves hand over hand to
the canoe, and when all were aboard
would haul the boat abreast of the canoe.
Then would transfer all the crew, ex.
cept the steersman, into the boat, and f.,
pulling up boat and canoe until the an
chor was near atrip, seat everybody in
his place with every oar out and ready y;
then, at a word, lift the anchor into the
boat, and away we would Ay for this
shore, and we should fetch up we'll
above the Cataract. Do you see2
What do you think of that, Dualla1"
HOh, | can do that perfectly" cried