The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-29

with her much patched boilers throb-
bng beneath a fearful overpressure OF
steam, and a curious tremor through
out her frame, the Olivet drove out to
sea, faster than she had ever gone be-
fore, or ever would again, the remains
Of the shattered barge rolling over and
over in the flashing. screw -churned
wake, and straining at the double tow
lines until they cut it adrift far out in
the gulf.
1t was long past midnight when cap
tain and mate took counsel together i'm
the chart room. Have you made up
your mind what to do?" asked the lat
ter. "Tvc been thinking it over, was
the answer. and have decided to let
we'll alone, and say nothing about the
matter. Whether the soldiers got
ashore, or were settled by the Cubans
and negroes, is no concern of ours,
and we've towcd the launch away.
Now, some of the Spanish officers must
have known that Wilson, at least, was
British subject, and, unless they
catch us on the coast they'll say moth
ing for their own sakes. If we report
It, thcre'll be q raking up of many
things best let alone; for all our calls
are not set down in that official log.
Wen land the Cubans tomorrow night
and crawl close along the coast all
day out of the cruisers sight"
On the second night Captain Arm
strong stopped his engines off what
one of the negroes said was the man
grove -shrouded mouth of lagoon, and
then addressed the Cubans. Gentle
men," he said I'm sorry I must de-
~prive myself of the pleasure of your
company now. This part of the coast
IS in your own friends hands, and l
wish you all good-day."
Watkins translated, and one who
seemed to be person of Importance
swept his Panorama hat to his knee
as he answered: "Senores, we are your
servants for life, and We will never
forget"
\ boat was lowered; negroes and
CuLans climbed down into it. and when
the mate seized the tiller they pulled
in-shore, guided by the roar of the
surf. 1t was very dark, and beyond a
narrow circle of dusliy sea, rising and
falling in CLASSY undulations about
them until walled in by dingy haze,
there was nothing to be seen. The
phosphorescent water famed about
the oars, and fell, as it were in a
stream of fire every time the blades
rose up, and even at that distance from
the shore the odors Of steamirg for
est and rotting vegetation were heavy
i'm the air.
For a while no one spoke, and then
one of the Cubans eripned the mates
arm. Listen" he said; "a steamer
conres."
stop rowing" cried the mate, and
as he bent low down toward the wat
er, a regular. throbbing sound fell upon
his ears. "Tha cruiser most likely
he said. thank goodness we carried
no lights aboard the Olivet. / can't
tell just where she is, but the sooner
we get out of this the better. Give hsr
way there, all you're worth"
The oars ripped through the water,
| and the boat shot forward into the
! darkness, the negroes thrusting upon
! the looms beside the British crew. And
all the time the steady pounding of
engines drew rapidly nearer and near
cr, though the belts of haze which hung
| over the swaying sea-flow took up the
! sound and flung it, to and fro, as they
| always do, until no man might say
! from whence it came.
Lay in the ears" said the mate at
last. She's somewhere close at hand,
and the noise will only give us away"
and the boat rose and fell motionls Sc
upon the CLASSY swell,
| Then there was a sound like the rip
| ping of thin ice, and with a mass OF
| fiery froth boiling about her bows. and
one tiny jet, as it We're, of green
| llame, creeping up her stem, a steamer
| swept out of the mist. There was nc
| sign of any light about her deck, saws
IT, the long tube of a pivotgun glim-
me / family with a reflection from
som what, and a trail of luminous va
pOr stTeamed from her lofty funnel
The men dared scarcely breathe, foI
sh. passed but a few fathoms away
and the mates heart stood still as a
hail came down from a lookout on the
foremost But it was only the routine
cry of the watch; and the next mo-
ment her white poop faded into a wisI
Of vapOr, and the boat rocked violent
ly on the eddying wake.
Thank goodness. she's gone" said
the mate; "and now I'll be easier when
! we've landed these gentlemen, and the
| Olivets under way again"
a negro piloted them into the lagoon
and an hour later they caught the
glimmer of a green port-fire and board.
ed the steamer again. Captain Arm
strong listened gravely to his mates
story. It's a m&'cy didn't burn that
light too soon,'' he said. "Well, il
they're looking for us down the coast
| I'll head north for the open sea. II
! will be long time before we see Cuba
again, and I'm just as glad. This kind
of thing is too exciting for me-"
Many months after Captain Arm.
strong found a packet awaiting hin
at the offices of the British owners. II
contained a handsome pair of binocu-
lars with three words and a date en-.
! graved upon them: Arucas, in recuer'
do. The captain did not feel called
upon to explain why In We're sent
him, but he uses the glasses still.-St
Louis Globe Democrat.