The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-13

Steadying myself with the bar, and
taking advantage OF every piece of pro-
jecting rock which might aid my ascent,
1 crept up the steep slope. On went,
painting, and half stifed, not daring to
pause lest should be swept away by
the strong current which seemed to
beat down upon me from above. At
last reached sort of narrow plat
form, and stood there, with my bar
thrust into crevice. Hooked up. Above
me rose a great, towering, irregular
mass of solid rock!
scarcely remember how l got back
to the boat, for was feeling terribly
exhausted, and my head was dizzy.
When reached the deck Of the yacht,
it was only to drop into the nearest
seat must have looked scared and
white, for Capt. George hurried to my
side.
"Whatever is the matter, Lawrence
son?" he said. "You look as if you had
just escaped from the jaws of some sea
monster"
81 have escaped from the jaws of
death ITSELF" replied.
"You found the rock?"
II did,"
He turned hastily, and gave an order
to one OF his men, who darted away
towards the saloon. Presently the man
came running up with a glass and q
bottle of brandy.
Here, swallow off this" said Capt.
George, handing me a pretty stiff dram.
II can we'll imagine the sight was
enough to give any man a bit of
shock"
After dinner he made me go through
the whole story Of my adventure that
morning. He listened attentively,
never interrupting me once.
''Just as 1 thought" he said, when
had finished.
He rose from his seat, and walked up
and down in silence, as if bordering
deeply over what he had just heard.
"Do you know, Lawrenceson, he said,
suddenly hating before me, II would
like to go down and have a look at the
place myself"
Don't do it, Capt. George" replied,
hastily.
''Why not? It is not often man gets
chance of witnessing sight like that.
The risk, if there is any, does not deter
me; shall ask for the loan of your div
ing dress this afternoon, and make the
attempt"
knew he was not the sort of man to
be lightly turned from his purpose, so I
had to give in. I told him he would
have little difficulty in finding the spot,
as the boatmen had stationed buoy
over it. did not accompany him, for
was feeling bit out of sorts, and laid
down on couch in the saloon. was
soon fast asleep.
An hour or two later was aroused
by a step on the cabin stairs. 1 looked
up, and saw Capt. George entering the
saloon. he went straight into his own
cabin, without even glancing in my
direction.
When he had changed the diving
dress for his ordinary yachting suit, he
came out into the saloon, and sat down.
''Well, Capt. George, what did you
think of it?" asked.
1T might we'll be called The Grave
yard of the Ocean," he replied, SOL
emily.
two; then he said:
''That three-decker must be the old
Redoubtable, fancy. She left Bermuda
in the autumn of '63, and has long been
returned as missing at the admiralty"
After another pause I ventured to
say:
Nov that we have found the rock,
what's to be done next?"
elbow it up," he answered, gravely
looked at him in amazement.
II have brought out quantity of
tonite for this very purpose" he went
on. 1T is rather powerful explosive,
four times the strength of ordinary
blasting powder, and equal to No. dyna-
mite. AS the rock appears to be fs-
sured, it will save US the trouble of
boring. The cartridges must be en-
cased in waterproof packing or india
rubber bags When you have laid the
charges, we can retire to distance,
and explode them by means of an cleo
trio cable and battery. If we even sue
coed in splitting the rock, it would an
swer our purpose"
I entered heartily into the scheme,
far my whole thoughts were bent upon
getting rid of the danger. Though
might have to encounter some risk in
placing the charges, it was small mat
ter compared to the advantages that
would follow if we were successful.
For several days was busily engaged
in inserting the powerful cartridges,
and, as had some experience of this
kind of work, 1 laid the charges so as
to give the explosion the greatest effect
possible.
At last the work was completed, the
cable laid, and all in readiness for the
final moment. It was bright, sunny
afternoon, remember, not much like
the general run of October days. I
looked around the wide expanse Of
ocean. Not sail was in sight.
The Wanderer had weighed anchor
that morning, and had full steam up,
ready to depart for home. Capt.
George stood on deck, with the battery
before him. He was about to attach the
ends of the cable.
''Now,". he said, when it was done.