The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-26

III thc lIOplcS during the Sllllng neat
of the rains, and after what hashap-
pened none OF the spectators cared TO
return to their berths again. They sat
smoking instead upon the spar-deck,
listening to the weller of water along
the bends, each time the Dunlin rolled
heavily down buried her rusty plates
in a brimming swell. At last. shortly
after dawn, the captain sprang to his
feet. They're burning the custom
house, by george! Look there" he
said, pointing to a broad sheet of red
flame which roared aloft from the
shadowy loom of the bluff, lighting up
the fringe of foaming breakers, which
hurled themselves o the sand.
THAT officer is probably having a bad
time now; the Kroomen have no par
ticular reverence for the majesty Of
the Black republic" he added. Il wish
it was daylight, SO we could send a
boat in for the sake of the Frenchmen:
but shed never get through the surf
in the dark"
I'll chance it, sir; We'll get through
somehow" answered the mate. They
were very kind last time we called:
and even if it were only on account Of
the black officer, we can't sit here and
do nothing"
WELL" said the captain. eff you like
to risk it, go. Mac is itching to go too.
It's none Of his business, but he's never
happy unless he's putting something
right"
A few minutes afterwards there was
a clatter of blocks and a big surf boat
splashed into the sea. Krooboy boat
hands and white seamen slid down the
falls; the mate shouted. "Shove off. be-
fore she's stove alongside;" and the
boat hot away from the %wallowing
steamer On the smooth back of a swell.
CHANGING over his shoulder, the mate
saw a ~shadowy figure leaning out over
the Dunlin's rail and heard h cap
tain's voice: BE careful. Look out
for and then the vessel rolled
wildly down, and the words were
drowned in a gurgling rush of water.
paddle there, paddle" was the
order, and the black boat-bOys, balac-
ing themselves on either gunwale, grip
ped a loop of fibre with their prehensile
toes, as they swung the dripping pad
dies, and the big surf boat went fast
inshore, now shooting aloft on the crest
of a roller, o sinking deep in the
gloomy trough. Ten minutes later
they padded slower, and the mate
stood erect in the stern-sheets as the
boat rose and fell sharply just outside
the fringe of breakers. Gray dawn was
coming across the heaving ocean. A
red streak ~broadened n deepened
along the eastern horizon, while be-
yOnd the parallel lines of roaring surf
the feathery tufts of the palms rose
dimly above the misty forest. The fire
had died away, and only a few wreaths
of dingy smoke were family visible
/ against the bluff.
sVn,, a. Il -. -o, $500 IT..
PAM" asked the mate; and the griz.
zled helmsman nodded silently as he
took a firmer grip of the sculling oar
Then in you go! Give her fits! Hyah
Krooboy!" shouted the officer, and the
engineer slowly and method:cally
buckled a cork life belt about his waist
Cleanliness is guild" he observed;
but yon's no the best place for
mOrnin' BATH"
Then the headman raised his voice
the Krooboys broke out into wild chant
as they leaned over the bending pad.
dies, n the foam boiled high or
either bow as the boat leaped forward
Presently she swept aloft with g
snowy smother spouting above the
| gunwale; then the paddles whirled to.
gether II she swoOped wildly dowr
into the black hollow beyond. Agar
she rose, and this time half a ton O.
yeasty water poured in over the stern
and the white men dashed the spray
from their yes anu gaZed at the liquid
walls rolling between them and the
laundering beach.
We're in Ior it now, and must face
it out" said the mate hoarsely, anG
the engineer nodded with the light o.
battle in his eyes. Again the head
man shouted, and a wild Outburst o.
yelling and whistling followed. Th'
paddles dipped together, and the boa
was swept madly forward on the cres
of a breaker half hidden in the mas:
Of curling foam, while the helmsmar
grasped out unheeded orders, and ben
himself double over the sculling oar
For a moment or two the white mel
held their breath; then there was
shivering crash and a cataract of spra,
fell upon them; the boats keel grount
deep into the sand and the backwasl
reared against the bows. a doze,
krooboys leaped owe the gunwale
officers, and white seamen were carrie,
beyond the reach of the ebbing water
and before tn next breaker poured it
mile-long ridge upon the sand the surf
boat was run UP high and dry.
Them Kro0boy devils has ali gone
sir" said the quartermaster, a fey
PAGES in advance, and the white mel
came out from the gloom OF the drip
ping palm fronds. A faint voice cried
"Help!" and starting at the sou
the newcomers turned their heads an
saw a sight which at first moved ther
TO pity, and afterwards to heart
laughter.
The black customs official, his gaud
uniform stained with mould an
drenched with dew, was leaning limpl
against a palm stem to which he ha
been loosely bound, while the two blac
clerks. with terror stricken faces, oc
cupied a similar position near by
Some woolly haired savage, by way {
a joke, had damned a battered silk ha
over his eyes, and tied a roll of Ian
ing permits about his neck. The OF
ficer made no p%retence OF importanc
now; he was in a state Of hopeless col
lapse.
Been having a bad time," laid til
mate, removing the hat; "but VIII
don't you get out Of those lashings?"
II am fast hand and foot. I call 20
20 uifnoeSo Vaaned fha wrefched T..