Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-12-10

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their departure for the larger island till
/ a much later hour. than usual. When
about halfway between the, twosislands
|, they encountered the full force of the
outgoing tide, and found their progress
with the full waterscask, toSwhich they
were harnessed by ropes, rendered. ex-
tremely difficult After half an hours
struggle, during which very little way
was gained, Peters announced his in
tention Of cutting himself adrift.
.O'Connell besoueht his mate to hold
IN until the tide turned! but, Peters,
drawing bis knife, severed the rope
which. attached him to the cask. Short
~ afterwards he disappeared in the
direction of Copper island.
O'Connell, left to himself, struggled
wildly for time to hold his own, but
the buoyant cask was towing him out
to sea at ;an ever.increasings rate of
speed, and at 5last ne was reluctantly
obliged TO release himself By this
time, however, he was an alarming
distance from the shore, and he saw
that mis- only chance was in remain
Jig afioat until the tidesturned, when
he might hope, by its aid, to reach. the
land. The night was clear and bril-
liant moon was shining. Suddenly, to
his: horror, an ominous triangular fn
broke the surface of the water not
three fathomsa- length, from, where he
and yet another ap-
peared, and the unhappy man pres
ertly discovered that he was, in the
midst of school of sharks! Utterly
8eAhaustedsasghe was, his position was
"a terriblesone. In describing yhis feel
"ings to me, he said that he Should not
have believed it possible that any
combination of circumstances could
have reduced him to such state of ab-
jectr fear as that on, which, he now
found himself. Already he seemed to
feel the cruel teeth rendering his ma
ked flesh, and he snuddered with utter
terror. The scene was as light as day,
and the sharks, were plainly visible as
they circled round him. He saw one
monster suddenly change his direction
and make straight for him. But O'Con-
nell was like a flesh in the water, and
drawing the shea1he knife from the
belt round his naked waist he ,lrew
his arms above his head andlsank like
stone. AS he rose again some sec
-ords later he found himself directly
beneath~;he-shaFlS; and ;thfust&Fis knife
up to the hilt in the monsters stomach.
The wounded shark at once made of,
and some ether prey possibly present
ing itself, the others followed itsEex-
ample, to O'Connelrs great relief.
z By this etime the tide was on the
turn, sand after q long and exhausing
ssssirns O'Gnnnal Zsha-ean end -u,ar4
landed ons Copper island shortly. after
daylight, havingabeen eight hours in
the water. His companions had, of
course. given him UP for lost, as ac-
.cording TO the account of Peters, who
had gained the shore in safety, he was,
when last seen, drifting rapidly out
t2 sea. O'Connell proceeded to the tens
and pulling aside the flap, looked in
at the sleeping men. Peters was slum-
bering as sweetly as though he had not
a few hours before abandoned his mate.
O'Connell picked up piece of turf and
threw it lightly on the sleeper's face.
Peters sat up, and seeing the boss"
standing there, dripping wet, though'
he looked upon a ghost, and with cry
of terror fell back in dead faint, his
previous nights adventure having left
him in a weak state.
The little colony was now in a very
had way, BEING without water save for
little which had been reserved in
a" kerosene tin. This lasted till the
evening Of the next day, and then,
when O'Connell was seriously contem-
plating 4 return to Water islanu'
with the kerosene tin, rain happily fell,
and all hands were sat once engaged
IN the important work of collecting it.
The tent was pulled down and con-
verted into e canvas cistern, and ev-
cry available vessel was filled.
Two days later great excitement was
occasioned in the little community. SO
strangely marooned on this inhospita-
lie islet, by the appearance of Sal
to the southwark, evidently bearing
in the direction Of the island. The
anxious miners gathered upon the
beach and breathlessly watched the
rearing craft. They soon discovered
that it was none other tuan D-'s ov-
erdue schooner. Presently boat was
lowered, and D himself, with a
crew of three men, was seen approach
! ing the island The miners met him
with a storm of inquiries as to tb C.
lay, but D. apparently had no ex-
planation to make-at any rate, he Of
fered none.
He listened to the story of their pri-
vations and the dangers they had
passed through with the most insulting
Indifference. "You look, all right, any
how" was all the comment he offered,
and Immediately went on to make in
uuiries as tc the success of their min
ing operations. The boat was laden
with provisions, and presently he gave
orders to have these landed.
"Stop q minute" said O'Connell. who
had hitherto spoken. do you think
for moment that after the way we
have been treated we are going to re-
main here at your mercy again?"
"You will stay here" was the brutal
reply, until your contract has ex-
Erred"
"That I certainly shall not" said
o'Connell, and, going back to the
camp, he brought his "swag." IL am
going back 70 Sydney, or at any rate
to Brisbane, in that schooner" said he;
1.-The other men can do as they like"
Upon this D., who had evidently
been drinking, called huge negro
who was one of the boats crew, and
ordered him to prevent OConnell from
entering her. The black sprang ashore