Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-09-10


They must have embarked some
where in this vicinity, and that's
why shot the signal
You did right. Confound it,
it's getting as black as your hat,
and you might as well look for q
needle in a haystack as for these
venturesome devils. S;arboard
| Well pull for the cutter and make a
running chase with the searchlight."
/ With this the click OF the oars
grew fainter, and for moment the
two men and their now thoroughly
frightened companions breathed
easier.
/ "By =, we've got to pull for it,
now, Joe,' said Lawton in an
undertone. If they get that in
fernal electricity on us, its all up.'
| Prudence was thrown to the
winds. The muffiers on the oars
were removed, and the two men set
themselves down to their work in
earnest. Their muscles, Standing
out like whipcords, piled back and
forth under the skin witb clocklike
regularity, while their light draft,
narrow boat shot forward at mar
velous speed.
AS the commander had said, it
was indeed dark. Clouds OF inky
blackness now obscured the firma-
ment from out Of which lightning
shot with vivid brilliancy. The roll
of distant thunder and low sough-
ing OF the wind, the advance guard
of the storm, told the smugglers OF
a new danger in their path.
Between the roar of the now in
creasing peals of thunder there
came down to the perspiring men
the "clank, clank, clank,' Of the
windlass. accompanied by the
"Heave, aho !" OF the sailors as the
anchor was being raised.
A flash of binding brilliancy
from the searchlight illuminated
the darkness, then settled down to
steady glare, as it was slowly turn
ed up aud down the river.
By this time the waters were be-
ing churned into foam by tue wind
and the sea was rapidly rising. Pre-
sently came the patter, patter, ofthe
big drops as skirmishers. Then
came the downpour.
The floodgates of heaven seemed
open, while peal after peal of thun-
der followed the incessaht flashes of
tue lightning. Lawton and Joe
kept steadily at their oars, but the
great strain was beginning to tell
on them, when to their joy the shore
doomed up on their starboard bow.
The searchlight, however, was
also coming, and so was the cutter.
Nearer and nearer came the glare
across the water until first one arm,
then the body, of one of the terrified
Cinnamon was within its focus.
Presently the entire boat was in the
broad path of light.
"Boat ahoy !" came from the cut.
ter.
"Pull, Joe, pull ~ growled Law.
ton. "We'll make it yet"
| "Boat shoy = came down the
breeze.
The only reply was a binding
flash, which came simultaneously
with deafeuing crash, followed i'm.
mediately by the rending Of timber
and a cry Of agony.
The cutters mainmast had been
| struck.
For moment all was confusion.
Then the commanders stern voice
was beard: "Take him below. To
the light Don't let those men es-
cape.'
The brief interval Of confusion
had given the tired rowers an adj
vantage OF which they were not slow
to avail themselves.
"Give EN- a shot across their
bows, Tom. Easy, man, easy Aim
close, but don't shatter them this
time"
Scarcely were the words out of
the captains mouth when the small
gun belched forth fiery order to
stop.
Whistling through the atmos.
phere the leaden messenger, true to
the gunners aim, buried itself with
a thud in the seething water about
ten feet ahead of the boat.
'Egad, they're nervy set p said
the commander as the smugglers
only redoubled their efforts to gain
the shore.
Hard a-star board there Quick!'
he roared. @Run inside of them and
shut them out. Bear down close,
but watch out and don't run them
down."
The last hope OF the fugitiyes had
fed. Lawton turned in his seat and
calmly to Joe, ''It's all up, partner;
we're caught like rats in trap
Suddenly, like one seized With the
frenzy of despair, the desperate
speaker gave a quick, vigorous
stroke with his right oar, thus
throwing the frail craft directly in
the steamers path.
|