El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-18

| ner which awed them
Dear cook" he read feverishly, 81
| have made an Internal machine with
clockwork and mid il in the hold near
| the Cunpowder when we were at Fair
| haven. I think it will go off between
10 and IL tonight. but l am not quite
sure about the time. Don't tell those
ether beasts. but jump overheard and
swim ashore I have taken the boat.
would have taken you, too. but you told
me You swan seven miles once, SO you
can easy
The reading came to an abrupt termA-
nation as his listeners sprang out Of
their hunks and, boiling on deck. burst
wildly into the cabin and breathlessly
reeled off the letter to it's aStonished
occupants.
Stuck a wot in the hold? gasped the
skipper.
Internal machine" said the mate.
Zone O. them things wot you blow up
the 'ouses of parliament with"
"Wot's the time -now?' interrupted
Jem anxiously.
"'Bout ha' past TO-" said the cook.
trembling. Let's give 'em a hail
ashore"
They leaned over the side and sent q |
mighty shout across the water. Most Of
Lowport had gone to bed, but the win |
dows in the inn were bright, and lights |
showed in the upper windows of two |
or three of the cottages.
Again they shouted in deafening cho- |
rus, casting fearful looks behind them. |
and in the silence a faint answering |
"haiP' came from the shore. They |
shouted again like madmen and then, |
listening intently. heard a boats keel |
crate on the beach and then the well |
come click of oars in the rowlocks.
MAKE haste" bawled Dobbs vocifer-
ously as the boat came creeping out Of
the darkness. wy don't you make
haste?"
"wot's the row?" cried a voice from
the boat.
''Gunpowder" yelled the cook franti
cally. There's ten tons of it aboard
Just going to explode. Hurry up
The sound of the oars ceased. and n
startled murmur was heard from the
boat, then an oar was pulled jerkily. j
They're putting back" said Jem
suddenly. I'm going to swim for it.
Stand By to pick me up, mates" lie
shouted and, lowering himself with a
splash into the water, struck out
strongly toward them. Dobbs, u poor
swimmer, after>a moments hesitation,
followed his example.
81 can't swim a stroke" cried the
cook, his teeth chattering.
The others who were in the same pre-
dicament leaned over the side, listen
ing. The swimmers were invisible in
the darkness, but their progress was
easily followed by the noise they made.
JeIn was the first to be hauled on
board, and a minute or two later the
listeners on the schooner heard him
assisting Dobbs. Then the sound of
strife, of thumps and wicked words
broke on their delighted ears.
They're coming back for u.s." said
the mate. taking a deep breath. well
done, Jem."
The boat came toward them, impel-
led by powerful strokes, and was soon
alongside. The three men tumbled in
hurriedly. their fall being modified by
the original crew. who were lying
up in the bottom of the boat.
Jem and Dobbs gave way with hearty
good will and the doomed ship receded
into the darkness \ little knot of peo-
pie had gathered on the shore and. re-
ceiving the tidings, became anxious for
the safety of the town. 1t was felt
that the windows. at least, were in i'm
minent peril. and messengers were has
tily sent round to have them opened.
Still the deserted Susan Jane made
no sign. Twelve o'clock struck from the
little church ut the back of the town,
and she was still intact
Something's gone wrong" said an E
old fisherman with a bad way of put 3
ting things. "Now's the time for some :
body to go and tow her out to sea-
There was no response. E
ITO save Lowport,'' said the speaker :
feelingly. IF / was only 20 years :
8
Its old mems work." said voice.
The skipper. straining his eyes E
through the gloom in the direction of 8
his craft, said nothing. He began to 8
think that she had escaped after all
Two o'clock struck, and the crowd E
began to dispense. Some of the holder
Inhabitants who were fidgety about :
drafts closed their windows, and chill
dren who had been routed out Of their {
beds to take a nocturnal walk inland
were led slowly back. BY O'Clock
the danger was felt to be over and day /
broke and revealed the forlorn Susan E
Jane still riding at anchor.
'I'm going aboard said the skipper
suddenly "WhO's coming with me?
Jem and the mate and the town po-