The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-01-03

iome from Cape Town. Captain Jabez
starkweather. lay drifting in thick
tea fog, without as much breeze as
would wink a candle.
The shore line of Southern Africa
vas only thirty miles distant, the Wal
Tisch Bay entrance bearing northeast
Dy half east In those days that was
I formidable coast, partly from un-
.harted surroundings, but more be-
:ause its principal products were
ions. crocodiles, sharks and half can
pibal savages, with a few unfriendly
Dutch Beers long way to the south
ward.
The dog watch had been set full half
IN hour, and there ought to have been
A breaking of daylight, but the fog
thickened, and the darkness was so
Opaque that the helm man said he
could feel it brush his uckles when
ne stirred her wheel
Suddenly there rose fr n the foggy
5lackness that lay packed upon the
sea off her port bow, seemingly not
wv NhbiSo ah ~ a iOhS u W liz
swelling, indescribably despairing cry.
such as no man of that ship had ever
before heard.
Following the strange cry, as the
ship settled in the hollow after Il lazy
swell of the barely breathing ocean,
could lie family heard Il gurgling pant
ing, as If some tireC swimmer or spent
elinger to a wreck was distressed by
the heaving water.
Every man on deck clustered along
her port bow rail and leaned out, lis
tenlng, with straining eyes. Mate
Doolittle leaped up, clinging with his
eight hand to her fore port shroud
his left hand followed to an ear,
swinging his body far outward, listen
ing till the sound ceased. Then he
called:
Name O. wonder! what was that?
Do any of you men know
No one answered.
The noise of the crew moving or
Mate Doolittle's voice attracted the
creature, whatever it was: for while
they listened, with bulging eyes. the
cry rose again, nearer, and with still
more melancholy whine, but with a
note of eagerness modulatng its des-
pair. The gurgling painting could be
plainly heard, swimming toward the
ship.
Mr.. Doolittle jumped inboard and
ordered boat lowered. While the
men were overhauling her falls he ran
below, and reappeared with Captain
Starkweather by the time the boat was
ready to let fall
Again that lamentable cry rose from
the hollow OF the sea; this time close
aboard, off her starboard bow, fol-
lowed by a gurgling moan, like that
Df some strong swimmer in agony"
Captain Starkweather ran to his boat.
"Cutlassesw he ordered. Put n
rouple of loaded muskets in her stern
sheets, Mr.. Doolittle. Tumble in, men :
Let fall-steady-so = unhook. Mr..
Doolittle, whatever it is, bring it
aboard
The boat vanished as the sea heaved
her She was invisible in the fog be.
fore she had pulled her length. but
those ON deck could trace her course
by the grinding and splashing of her
oars. She pulled about, zigzag, three
OIL -FOUR minutes, and then lay still, lis
tening. Suddenly there came from her
Il great splashlng. confused yells, and
the roar Of musket. Mate Doolittle
!, was heard giving excited orders.
sDown cutlasses! Don't strike him,
Jackson, don't fire again without or.
ders, but keep ready. Tumble aft.
Face him, menl Face him! Oars-let
fan-softly-give way. IIllloa, the
shipv'
"Hilloa, the boatr'
Make noise on deck there, so we
can judge our distance. It's blacker
here than an African watch pocket.
We've taken on board an awful pas
senger. Way enough-stand by to
tend OFF,
The boat fioated out OF the darkness
shadowy mass, and slowly heaved
49, '-6'sNNt Until ouc iuy the
uaYits. There. was something In her
bows-a great dark heap, from which
the men all recoiled aft; the foremost
holding their ready cutlasses in hand
and Jackson with leyeled musket at
his shoulder.
Hook that forward fall with an oar
blade, Brown"
AYE, aye, sir. Fast forward, sir"
"Fast aft, SIR"
Haul taut. Hold all. Heaye the
lines ON deck. Now, men, rp this after
Iaii-one at time-steady"
one Dyf9e the men climbed up, the
mate laG.SyVh hen the boat was hoisted.
AS she0ht8 up the dark heap In her
bow IL s siae.1 into n huge lion. sprawled
ma (SXSlSY with his hind parts drag
water. He seemed nearly
l,m,cted ~i,h ,ing in hoarse gasps.
iak eyes us'e syas hoisted level with the
4 Mate Doollttle said to
lrkweather. sarcastically;