Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-03

ed. WITH running accompaniment OF ex-
pletives.
eIf didn't think soi It's them under.
minded furrlners playin this trick on us
They're got line on us, a-towin ms down"
Setting down the lantern, he scrambled
forward 10 disengage the grapnel by which
we were being towed, but before he had
time 70 accomplish this the boat in front
backed. struck our bow and ground down
alongside u.s. The feeble glimmer Of the
lantern was sufficient 10 reveal some duslty
object bearing down upon us, u band laid
on tho side OF our boat and another
stretched out 90 seigc the lantern. the figure
Of the waterman kneeling on the thwart,
and his fhce turned in evaporation toward
the offensive "furrinern Then nm oar
swept down and struck him on the head,
man FROM the other boat trundled over the
side into ours, the lantern was snntched out
and dropped into the water, and we were
lofb IN utter darkness.
This waterman had fallen over with
grunt, stunned, and now lay quiet enough
IN the bottom Of the boat. All we heard
was a murmured command and the splash
Of oars in front Of us.
Gordon had started 70 his foot nt the mo.
ment Mech fell, shouting a ha,ty demand
and the eKtlngnlshlng Of theiight rendered
him pnwerless, nnd his chief concern was to
Rssuro me thut no harm could come 70 me.
The whole affair was inoSpllcable to him,
aot knowing that tho object Of this attack
was 20 take him prisoner. | myself could
not see how IL was to end, FOR ! still thought
thnt Gordon WIS to be taken to the Mari
ner'g Joy
A Ts. . I,4
towed us, and another whistle, seemingly
NJ no groat distance, Immediately replied.
concluded that this signal was made from
the shore. and lhiutspGck In the darkness
led me 20 thinl, that we were nearing Fer
rybont stailH But MS we approached il the
Hight took "A reddish glare, not 10 be mis-
taken for the light of gas lamp. The
whistle WINS blown again aud replied 10 az
before, only this time IL sounded quite
near. and 80 the came time white light
began 20 descend from the level Of the rcd
This is the oldest thing IN the world"
said Gordon IN O tone Of perplcXity. That
must be n ships light In front Of MS, and
the lantern Is evidently coming down tho
side"
Then understood the position Of affairs
Gordon was to DO taken on, board the Rus.
sim vessel Hnd not 10 tho Mariners JOY, aI
KayanHgh had intended.
In few minutes we were drawn along.
side tho darl hull OF the steamer On the
little platform no the foot Of the side stops
an officer In a long cloal wNs standing, with
o. bright, bullscyc lantern. The light daz.
glcd me when he turned u IN our faces.
The man who had scrambled into our boat
drew us close to the platform and held US
In that position,
The officer raised his hat and said in Rus.
sian.
"Win tho Prince T0rns Borgcnsky be
good enough to step on boardW | knew
enough OF tho Language touudorstand that.
"Whnt does no say, mAdcnoisolleYn ask
ed Gordon.
My heart sickened for nm instant, but
mmmonlng mp courage I replied;
lie says 1aras Ia on board and wi shes to
SEQ us,'
Great heavcnn Gordon exclaimed, ris,
ing ~ sec how IL is now. They've got
poor old laras. I'm afraid It's too late for
us TO help him, but we must 90 up and
See"
Here, where am IY growled the water
man from the bottom of the boat, whats
! all this hcreh