Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-10-06
PART ".
CHAPTER XVII.

NARRATIVE CONTINUED By THE
DOCTOR - TIL g JoLLN-BoAT'S LAST
TRIP.
This fifth trip was quite different from
any of the others. In the first place, the
little gsllipot OF boat that we were in
was gravely overloaded. Five grown
men, and three of them-Trelawney,
Redruth and the captain-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 loo
yards.
The captain made us trim the boat,
and we got her 90 lie a little more even.
~. All the same, We were afraid to
breathe.
In the second place, the ebb was now
msking-a strong ripping current run
ming westward through the basin. and
then southland and seward down the
straits by which we had entered in the
morning. Even the ripples were a dan
ger TO our overloaded craft; but the
worst of IL was that we were swept out
of our true course, and away from our
proper landing-plsce behind the point.
IL we let the current have its way we
should come ashore beside the gigs,
where the pirates might appear at any
moment.
Il canno, keep her head for the
stockade. sir" said l to the captain.
was steering. while he and Redruth,
two fresh men. were at the oars. The
tide keeps washing her down. Could
you pull little stronger"
''Sct without swapping the bout. a
said he. you must bear up. sir. IL you
plesse-bear up until you see you're
gaining"
Itried, and found by experiment that
the tide kept sweeping us westward un-
ill had laid her head due east, or just
about right angles TO the way we ought
70 60.
We'll never get ashore at this rate
ssid I.
"lf it's the only course that we can
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 leewar6 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 90 the current must slacken
snd then we can dodge back along the
shore"
The currents less already, sir" said
the man Gray. who was sitting in the
fore-sheets; you can ease her of a bit
Thank you, my mar" said !, quite as
IL 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 I thought his voice was little
changed.
"The gun!" said he.
81 have though. of that" said /, for
made sure he was thinking Of a bonn
bardment of the fort. They could
never get the gun ashore, and il they
sid. they could never haul it through
the woods"
captain.
We had entirely forgotten the lonf
nine; and there, 10 our horror. were The
Ave rogues busy about her, getting o.
Der jacket. as they called the stour
tsrpsulin cover under which SHE
sailed. Not only that, but IL flashed int
my mind at the same moment that tn,
round shot and the powder for the CUR
had been left behind, and a stroke with
an Ak would put il all into the posses
sion OF the evil ones aboard.
Israel was Flint's gunner" sale
Gray. hoarsely.
At any risk. we put the boats heat
direct for the lsnding-place. BY thi
time we had got 50 far out Of the rul
81 the current that we kept steerag'
way even at our necessarily gentle rat
of rowing. and could keep her stead.
for the goal. But the worst of il wa
that, with the course l now held. W,
turned our broadside instead of on
stern TO the "Hispaniola." and offered
target like a barn door.
I could hear, as well as see, tina
brandy-faced rascal. Israel Hands
Pumping down q round-shot on tn
deck.
who's the best shot?" asked tn
captain.
"Mr. TrelawAey. out and away" sai'
I.
"Mr. Trelswney, will you please picl
me of one of those men, sir? Hands
IL possible" said the captain.
Trelawney was as cold as steel. H
looked to the printing Of his gun.
"Now." cried the captain, easy witt
that gun, sir, or you'll swamp the boat
All hands stand by to trim her when h
Minis"
The squire raised his gun, the rowini
ceased, and we leaned over to the othe
side to keep the balance. and all was 8
nicely contrived that we did not shi
q drop.
They had the gun. by this time
slowed round upon the swivel AM
Hands. who was at the muzzle with tn
rsmmer, was, in consequence. the mos
exposed. However. we had no luck
Tor Just as Trelswney fired. down b
stopped, the ball whistling over him
and Il was one of the other four VIII
Sell.
The cry he. gave was echoed. not onl.
~ bi, eoupsnions on board, but BY