Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-10-14

the range of the lights, and therefore
at their present distance they served
rather as an indication Of the enemy's
whereabouts than as a danger to the
blockade-runner; but as they rushed in
closer to the shore, another and an
other %searchIight flashed out In front;
and it became evident that the whole
line of the coast on both sides of the
point they were making for, was pa
trolled by a belt of warships, all keen
ly on the alert.
A hurried consultation took place
between the captain, Masalaki, and
Vaughan himself, who was invited to
offer his opinion. To him at first there
seemed nothing to be done but to make
a dash for III, on the chance of getting
into harbour without being hit by a
shot from the hattleships. Masafaki
appeared doubtful as to whether 1t was
worth while to pursue the enterprise.
But Captain Koukoudakes had a better
suggestion than either; and 1t was car
ried out.
The course of the steamer was altered
and they steamed away to the left,
keeping we'll out to sea, three or four
miles beyond the range OF the enemy.
In this way they went on, till they had
got night past the end of the line of
sentries. They were now off a lonely
and rugged coast, on which all landing
was impossible, and which the blockad-
ing navies had therefore not thought it
necessary to watch. AS soon as sthfs
point was reached, the captain turned
his steamer and headed her right in
shore, till they had come within a hun
dred yards of the rocky cliffs that line
the coast. Here the water was deep
enough to enable them to proceed in
perfect safety. The steamer was turn
ed back again, and, reversing their for
mer direction, they crept 1stealthily
back along the shore inside the line of
the blockading feet, relying on the
difficulty which the searchlights would
have in picking out the outline of the
steamer against the dark mass of the
cliff.
1t was exciting work; the little
steamer picked her way along, hugging
the shore and rounding each point
with every eye on board strained to dis
cover the torpedo boat, which perhaps
might be lurking in the next bay, and
as they proceeded those on board
thought a battle was raging inland, as
the sky was Lit UP overhead by the
flash of cannon; and from the low
roar that came across the land, 1t SEEM
ed that the guns OF another part of the
blockading fleet were firing at that mo-
ment, perhaps on the insurgent forces
which they had come to succour.
A new peril was thus presented 90
them. When they anne to land their
cargo they might find, not the friends
whom they expected, but the soldlery
of the enemy, who might have pene-
trated the peninsula and driven the
insurgents off the spot.
But it was too late to pause; they
kept en- between the lurid fires OF battle
on the left, and on the right the dread
ed s%earchlingts shooting out from time
to time, like huge feelers clutching at
them out of the dark.
AT last the steamer rounded the final
headland, the anschor was dropped and
the order given to launch the boats.
Into the first boat that touched the
water Vaughan leaped, his revolver in
his belt. followed by the Cretans with
their guns. "A quantity of sacks were
slowed In it, two other boats were sim
ilarly filled and the little fiotalla stole
quietly off INTO the darkness, just as it
appeared to Vaughan as if they were
heading right on the rocks. But grad
ually as they made their way cautious
ly along, he perceived a little opening
in the line of cliffs, and the next mo-
ment he found himself in a tiny land
locked basin, whose very existence no
one could have suspected a hundred
yards away.
For a moment the oars ceased pIasn-
ing, and every heart throbbed as they
hoated in towards the side. All at once
a few dusky figures became visible,
creeping among the rocks on shore
were they friends or foes? A low caM
came across the water in answer to the
%unspoken question. 1t was answered
by the boatmen, and Vaughan knew
that all was well. The next minute
the three boats grounded on the stones
Of the beach and the eager Cretans
rushed out, knee deep into the water,
to receive their friends.
Then came one of those little incl
dents which made Vaughan feel repaid
for any sacrifice he had made in COM
ing out to throw in his lot with the
Greeks. Among the rapid sentences ex-
changed between his companions in the
boat and those on shore, he caught the
already familiar phrase "Anglesa."
No sooner was it uttered thar there