The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-21

j their DunkS ana, .DOltlnS on deck, DurSI
wildly into the cabin and breathlessly
reeled off the letter to it's astonished
occupants.
stuck 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"
"Wots Ire time now?' interrupted
Jem anxiously.
"'Bout ha' past TO-" said the cook,
trembling. Lets give 'em hail
ashore
They leaned over the side and sent
! mighty shout across theswater. 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
hail" came from the shore. They
shouted again like madmen and then,
listening intently, heard a boats keel
4 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
4 haste?"
"Wots the row." cried voice from
I the boat.
! "Gunpowderp' 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 a
startled murmur was heard from the
boat, then an oar was pulled jerkily.
They're putting back" said Jems
suddenly. Pm going to swim for it.
Stand by to pick me up, mates" he,
shouted and, lowering himself with a.
splash into the water, struck out
strongly toward them. Dobbs, poor.
followed his example.
81 can't swim, a stroke" cried the
cook his teeth chattering.
/ The others who We're 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.
Jem was the first to be hauled on
board, and 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 us" said
the mate. taking deep breath. "Well
done. Jem."
i 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
crouched up in the bottom of the boat.
Jem and Dobbs gave way with hearty
good will, and the doomed ship receded
into the darkness. A 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 Inn
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 at the back of the town,
and she was still intact.
! Something's gone wrong" said an
old fisherman with bad way of put
ting things 'Now's the time for some
body to go and tow her out to sea-
There was no response.
ITO save Lowport." said the speaker
feelingly. IF was only 20 years
younger
Its old mems work." said voice.
4 The skipper, straining his eyes
through the gloom in the direction Of
his craft, said nothing. He began to
think that she had escaped after all.
Two o'clock struck, and the crowd
began to dispense. Some of the bolder
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
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-
Hceman volunteered and, borrowing
the boat which had served them before,
I puAACN SNllllS OuI " tliGll SCooGi tlINp
taking the matches off with unusual
gentleness, commenced their search. 1t
was nervous work at first. but they be-
came Injured to it, and moreover a GER
tain suspicion, slight at first, but in
creasng in interest as the search pro-
ceeded, gave them some sense of Sc
curity. Later still they began to eye
each other sbamefacedly.
II don't believe there's anything
there" said the policeman, sitting
down and laughing boisterously. THAT
boys been making fool of YOU
That's about the size of it," groaned
the mate. We'll be the laughing stock
o. the town.
The skipper. who was standing with
his back toward him, said nothing; but,
peering about, stopped suddenly and
with sharp exclamation picked up
something from behind damaged
case