Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-11

|
[ TURNED AWAY. HAD SEEN ENOUGH
the strong current which seemed I
beat down upon me from above. A
last l reached sort of narrow plat
form, and stood %here. with my ba
thrust into a crevice. looked up. Abov
me rose a great, towering, irregula
| mass of solid rock!
! scarcely remember how l got bacl
to the boat, for l was feeling terribl,
exhausted, and my head was dizzy
When | reached the deck of the yacht
it was only to drop into the ncarcs
seat. must have looked scared ant
white, for Capt. George hurried to my
side.
Whatever is the matter, Lawrence
son?' he said. "You look as if YOU hat
just escaped from the jaws of some sc;
| monster"
Il have escaped from the jaws o
death ITSELF" replied.
you found the rocll?"
81 did"
He turned hastily, and gave an order
to one of his men, who darted away
towards the saloon. Presently the mar
came running up with n glass and 6
bottle of brandy.
Here, swallow off this" said Capt
George, handing me pretty stiff dram
Il can well imagine the sight was
enough to give any man a bit of a
shock"
After dinner he made me go through
the whole story of my adventure tina,
morning. He listened atten.ively
never interrupting me once.
"Just as l thought" he said, when
had finished.
He rose from his seat, and walked up
and down in silence, as if bordering
deeply over what he had just heard.
"Do you know, Lawrenceson, he said.
suddenly hating before me, - would
Ike 20 go down and have look at the
place myself"
Don't do 1t, Capt. George" replied
hastily.
"Why rot? It is not often man gct>
chance OF witnessing sight like that
The risk. if there is any, does not dete
nc; shall ask for the lean OF your div
ing dress this afternoon, and make III.
attempt"
knew he was not the sort of man t.
be lightly turned from his purpose. so
had to give in. told him he woul6
have little difficulty in finding the spot
as the boatmcn had stationed q buoy
over II. did not accompany him, for
was feeling q bit ont of sorts, and laid
down on couch in the saloon. was
soon fast asleep.
An hour or two later was aroused
by step ON the cabin stairs looked
up, and saw Capt. George entering the
saloon. He went straight into his own
cabin. without even CHANGING in my
direction.
When he had changed the diving
dress for his ordinary yachting suit, he
came out into the saloon, and sat down.
"Well. Capt. George, what did you
think of it?'' | asked
at might well be called The Grave
yard of the Ocean," he replied, sol.
EMMY.
There was silence for a minute OF
two: then he said:
"That three-declxer must be the old
Redoubtable, fancy. She left Bermuda
in the autumn of '63, and has long been
returned as missing at the admiralty. .
After another pause l ventured to
say:
"Now that we have found the rock,
what's to be done next?"
elbow it up" he answered. gravely.
looked at him in amazement.
II have brought out a quantity OF
tonite for this very purpose" he went
on. sit is rather powerful explosive
four times the strength of ordinary
blasting powder, and equalt to No. dyna.
mite. As the rock appears to be ifs
sured, it will save US the trouble O,
boring. The cartridges must be en-.
cased in waterproof packing or india
rubber bags. When you have laid the
charges. we can retire to distance,
and explode them by means of an cleo.
trio cable and battery. If we even sue.
coed in splitting the rock, it would an.
swer our purpose.
/ entered heartily into the scheme
for my whole thoughts were bent upon
getting rid of the danger Though ]
might have to encounter some risk IN
placing the charges, it was a small mat.
ter compared to the advantages that
would follow il we were successful.
For several days / was busily engaged
in inserting the powerful cartridges.
and, as had some experience Of this
kind OF work, l laid the charges so as
to give the explosion the greatest effect
possible.
AZ iast the work was completed, the
cable laid, and all in readiness for the
final moment. 1t was bright. sunny
afternoon, / remember, not mnch like
the general run Of October DAYS. l