The morning times., 1896-11-20

anything from the shores. The glasses
were used continually and the whole shore
line was brought hegeath their keen gaze.
Now and then tlhn light would be seen.
The vessel would pause and the men
would look and listen.
Sometimes the Hoad would draw a bit
nearer to it, only ito find 1t reflection
Of the moonlight AZ the waters edge or
lamp in the window of q. cottage along
shore. There was not . gunner.
At Alexandria the Blackburn turned and
began to retrace her course. The tide was
now carrying thel mvddy current out In
rush and 1t was necessary to keep In the
channel, where the little vessel was rocked
on her own waves las she created them
on her downward Journey.
Oxen Creek was reached and again the
boat stopped. The second skff was hauled
forward as tie Blackburn tied to Harper's
wharf, where the cars of the baltimore and
Ohio Railroad are ferried to and from
Alexandria. The two remaining pOlfce
man and The Times man boarded her.
The Instructions were to keep to the
shore and circuit the bay that forms the
mouth Of the creek 1t was a picturesque
at time a weird, scene az the lone skiff
left the little launch and began to glide
in and out among the old barges and the
ruins OF wllarving that line the shore Il
lay half buried in the mud.
Across the wide plain of waters the
lights of Alexandria came down to touch
the waves, and sent long shiny needless
along the surface.
DUCKS WERE PLENTIFUL.
1t was an admirable place for ducks
and they. were there, too. With the
splashing OF the oarssan occasional duck
would rise slowly from the water and fly
close to the surfa &C, awh lille as though loath
In leave n q ha his friu lt
would increase and without another noise
than the muffled whirring of his own
wings would he soOnlos in the shadows.
Only once was a feeding flock disturbed,
when dozen or more birds seemed stimuli.
taneously struck with fear and flew away
together.
ouly by keeping To the shore was it pos
bic TO make the journey mt all, the water
was SO shallow. The tan reed grass ste Oh
from the water and in the distance stretched
out In Hack sheet as some low swampy
island frcm which the fog arose Eow and
then ar steam and across which once or
twice was seen the uncanny and dclusive
light OF the will.O-the-w -wisp. Were gunners
not so jealous this mouth OF Oxen Creek
would be the fav0rite place of the birds
Asst is they may te seen there in great
abundance when the strong northwest winds
OF the fall begin To blow. The low bank
that skirts every side rises to its highest
on the west and forms break for iC
chilly breezes and Il shelter for the feathery
things that make it their feeding grounds
AS THE TIDE WENT OUT.
AS the boatmen rowed about the marshy
place the tide continued to recede unit
1t was at times necessary to pole the skifl
off the sandy bottom. When the water
would grow bit deeper, but not moro
than three feet at chat, fish Would 1uml
ON all sides and come down with splisI
that at times would actually send til,
spray flying over the sides OF the boat
The water seemed fairly alive with then
but there was not net to be- found.
In the center OF the inlet leading q
the creek Is Goose Egg Island, named ry
the Fishermen because of its shape. This
is low, marshy place where the land n
times arises high enough to be dry. Neal