Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-12-16
CHAPTER NvII.

lliAI 1 l-l y ' Il.
NARRATIVE CONTINUED BY TIE
DOCTOR - TIL r JOLLN-BOAT'S LAST
TRIP.
This fifth trip was quite different from
any of the others. In the first place. the
little gallipot of a boat that we were In
was gravely overloaded Five grown
men. and three of them-Trelawney.
Redruth and the eaptain-over six feet
high, was already more than she was
meant to carry. Add to that the pow
der, pork and the breadIbags. The
gunwale was Tipping astern. Several
times we shipped little water, and my
breeches and the tails Of my coat were
all soaking wet before we had gone 100
yards.
The captain made US trim the boat,
and we got her to lie a little more even
~. AL the same, we were afraid to
breathe.
In the second place, the ebb was now
making-a strong ripping current run
ming westward through the basin, and
then southland and seward down the
morning. Even the ripples were a dan
ger to our overloaded craft; but the
worst of it was that we were swept out
of our true course, and away from our
proper landing-place behind the point.
If we let the current have its way we
should come ashore beside the gigs.
where the pirates might appear at any
moment.
81 cannot keep her head for the
stockade, sir" said / to the captain.
was steering. while he and Redruth.
two fresh men. were at the oars. 1.-THE
tide keeps washing her down. Could
you pull itt'estrongerY
Not without swapping the boat"
said be. You must bear up. sir, If you
please-bear up until you see you're
gaining"
tried, and found by experiment that
the tide kept sweeping us westward UNI
til l had laid her head due east, or just
about right angles 10 the way we ought
to go.
Wen never get ashore at this rate.
said |.
IF it's the only course that we car
lie, sir, we must even lie it." returned
the captain. "We must keep upstream.
You see, sir" he went on, ''if once we
dropped to leeward of the landing
place, it's hard to say where we should
get ashore, besides the chance OF be-
ing boarded by the gigs; whereas. the
way we 60 the current must slacken.
and then we can dodge back along the
shore
The currents less a'readv. sir" said
the man Gray. who was sitting in the
fore-sheets; you can ease her Off a bit
Thank you, my man" saidI. quite as
II nothing had happened; for We had
all quietly made UP our minds to treat
him like one Of ourselves.
Suddenly the captain spoke up again.
and | thought his voice was little
"The gun!" said he.
Il have thought Of That. " said I. for /
made sure he was thinking Of bonn
oardment Of the fort. "Thcv could
never get the gun ashore. and II they
lid. they could never haul il throu.a
he woods"
Look astern, doctor" replied the
captain.
We had entirely forgotten tie Tong
1ine; and there, TO our horror. were The |
five rogues busy about her. getting oil !
her jacket, as they called the stou;
iarpaulin cover under which Size
sailed. Not only that. but it flashed into
NY mind at the same moment that tie |
round shot ard the powder for the gun
lad been left bchiad. and a stroke viii |
IN Ak would put it all into the possess
ion Of the evil ones aboard.
Israel was F.int's gunner" said |
ray. hoarsely.
AT any risk, we put the boats head
direct for the landing-place. BY this
line we had got So far out Of the run
# the current that we kept stecrare
yay even al our necessarily gentle rale
i rowing, and could keep her steady |
or the goal. But the worst Of il was
hat, with the course | now held. we
urned our broadside instead OF our
.tern to the 'Hispaniola,' aud offered
arget like barn door.
could hear, as well as see. that
rascal. Israel Hands. |
dumping down round-shot on the |
lech.
Who's the best fhot?" asked the