The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-10

clank, clank. % Of the windlass. accom-
panied by the "Heave, aho!'' Of the
sailors as the anchor was being raised.
A fash Of hl;naing brilliancy from
the searchlignt illuminated the dark-
41ess, then settled down to a steady glare,
as it was slowly turned up and down
the river.
By this time the waters were being
churned into foam by the wind and the
sea was rapidly rising. Presently came
the patter, patter, patter, OF the big
drops as skirmishers. Then cane the
downpour.
The foodgates Of hea,en seemed open,
while peal after peal of thunder followed
the incessant flashes of the 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 loorned up on their starboard bow
The searchlignt, 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 Pres
emily the entire beat was in the broad
path of light.
"Boat ahoyr' came from the cutter.
Pull, Joe, pull!'' growled Lawton.
"We'N make it yet
BOAT ahoy'' came down the breeze.
The only reply was a binding flash,
which came simultaneously with a
deafening crash, followed Immediately
by the rending of timber and cry of
agony.
The cutters mainmast had been
struck.
For moment all was confusion.
Then the commanders stern voice was
heard: "Take him below. To the light! !!
Don't let those men escape"
The brief interval Of confusion had
given the tired rowers an advantage of
which they were not slow to avail them
selves.
"Give 'eln 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 atmosphere
the leaden messenger, true to the gun
ner's aim, buried itself with thud in
the seething water about ten feet ahead
Of the boat.
"Egad, they're nervy set!'' said the
commander as the smugglers only re-
doubled their efforts to gain the shore.
Hard a-starboard, 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 fugitives had
fed. Lawton turned in his seat and
said calmly to Joe, Its ali up, part
ner; we're caught like rats in trap
Suddenly, like one seized with the
frenzy of despair, the desperate speaker
gave quick, vigorous stroke with his
right oar, thus throwing the frail craft
directly in the steamers path.
The captain saw the move and rang
the backing bell, but too late; the sharp
prov of the vessel cut through the boat
like knife, cleaving her in two.
A wild shrek of despair rang out on
the night air and was borne away on
the wings of the storm The turbulent
waters embraced six struggling forms.
Life preservers were quickly thrown
into the stream, while the pinnace was
lowered in hurry The crew wentvig-
orously about the work Of rescue and
succeeded in getting four out Of the siS.
One Chinaman and Lawton We're
missing. Nothing could be seen of the
former, while the latter's head could be
discerned bobbing up and down on the
waves as he struck out for shore. The
cutters boat at once gave chase, when
suddenly the swimmer threw up Ills
hands, and. with one wild cry, disap-
peared from view and was seen no more.
He deliberately sought death rather
than be captured. So the officers thought.
In small cabin nesting amid the
timber on back road some miles from
Windsor sat u woman Her once hand
some face showed the lines OF care
While rocking the baby to and fro her
dark eyes kept wandering to the door
with an anxious expression as she lis
tened to the storm without From her
faithful heart prayer weat up for the
safety of her husband, the daring snug
gler.
Lawton was a lawbreaker, an enemy
of society, and should be suppressed,
but he was all in all to this woman Ill
the woods, who watched for his coming
SO eagerly. 1t was to be his last trip
and they would again seek their home
in Virginia. His father had forgiven
the marriage against his wishes Wealth
and comfort awaited the pair.
"Will he never Gomez" she said as
she laid her sleeping infant on the bed.
The wind sang mournfuliy around the
corner of the cabin. Hark, there were
the swapping of twigs and heavy foot
fall on the doorstep.
The flood of light from within shone