Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-23

into their very faces. and tne tide was
rising Abcve loorled an awful sky,
torn Up hy flashes Of vivid fire and
roaring with the sullen rage of a beast
of prey. Already it was dark, and big
splashes Of rain cut their faces now and
then.
"Can you swims' asked the professor
81 hushed vc:,
"No. Who could gain the shore
through such sea as that anyway! It's
awkward We may have to remain here
all night. y
"No, said the professor in hollow
voice; 1--WE shall never yemain here all
night.
"How do you know" asked the gen.
eral uneasily.
Because this rock is entirely covered
at high tide +"
"MercifuI heavens How calm You
arep' cried the general. Here we've
been sitting all the afternoon like
pair Of turtledoves, and | never had
any idea of such a trick. Why didn't
you tell me2'
II give you my word of honor | for
got all about it, y said the professor,
wiping the cold moisture from his
brow. my mind was on other things,
don t you knowi Yes, that was the way
it was.
The two men gazed at each other with
that awful sincerity that sudden ca
l.. L. An, obcnrypr NVnnl6
have noticed that the horror of the mo-
ment had intensified the natural pecul-
iarities of each. The general looked
taller, thinner, paler and more shrunk-
en-, while the professor had apparently
/ grown shorter stouter and redder III the
| face.
"Well, well, something must be
done, said the general at last rousing
! himself. Here is the tide up to our
feet already Our only chance is to at
| tract attention from the shore. It's too
dark for them to see us. Let me see--I
think ! have it. Have you match?'
The professor held one out in olammy
fingers. The general took off his coat,
touched the match to it, and then, fling
ing the blazing garment over his walk
ing stick, waved it to and fro until a
dash of rain extinguished the flames.
The storm was now full upon them.
Embracing narrow point of rock, and
buffeted by the storm in one direction
and dashed by the sea in another, they
were prone to be silent for many min
utes. At last the generals voice could
be heard uplifted in anathemas upon
the peninsula and every body on 1T; next
he blamed himself for having come
there; then with rising infection and
stronger explosives he spoke of solar
biology in terms which left the pro,
lessor no room for hope that even II
they escaped any of his fortune would
be given for the extension of learning
along this line. Meanwhile the tide
crept up. They were half submerged.
Presently the generals voice was heard
again.
ut isn't that I'm afraid to die, he
shrieked above the storm; cts the abb
surd situation-men at our time of life
falling into a trap like this. A man
who has faced shot and shell as / have
drowned like rat It's simply fool
ishl"
death has no-terrors for me,
gasped the professor, who was shiyerine
with cold and fright. "but I've always
had objections to being d-drowned-
yes, a singular thing.
A cry of joy from the general inter
rupted him. "a boat-a boat!' he
cried "Saw it by fash of lightning.
Hello! Hellol There it is again-looks
like my nephew.
''Hello! Hold onl" cried clear voice
above the storm. The little boat. tossed
like leaf in the wind, came nearer.
"It is my nephew, God bless himP'