The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-11-28
Adrift on the SalWil River.
BY ALEC. J. GRANT.

We shouted for help, but we might
as we'll have saved our breath. The
ship was already a good cables length
away. and the storm had driven all
hands below to their snug quarters.
1t might be hours before we were miss
ed, and then might as we'll confess
that our first impulse was to lie down
and have a good cry, for we were then |
little more than children.
But the dog kept bounding from one
to the other of us, seemingly enjoying
the new and strange situation, and
finally the boyish spirit Of adventure
conquered all morbid feelings, and we
prepared to make the best Of a bad
predicament.
AS if to cheer us up a little the storm
had abated almost as rapidly as it had
| risen. and as we swept round the first
bend below the ship the thunder and
lightning died away, the rain ceased,
the clouds disappeared as if by magic,
and the stars came out clear and
bright.
means of steering our craft so that
we might be able to make the shore
and avoid being carried out to sea. I'm
flashing one of the crosspieces of
scantling that held the logs together,
we had a strong if rather clumsy steer
ing-oar, and by adroit sculling, aided
, by the force Of the five-knot current
we soon brought the raft within if
teen yards Of the bank.
! But mere we found to our disappCint-
e ment that the water shoaled sudden
e ly with bottom of Shiny black mud.
Seemed that it was impossible
v to reach the shore with our craft, and
e being unwilling to tempt fate by wad-
ing or swimming in the dark in ar
o alligator-haunted stream we sat down
on the logs and contented ourselves
for the present with keeping as neal
~ the bank as the depth would allow.
# AS we sped along, strange sights ant
i sounds greeted us. Under the deep fol
- iage of the trees will-o'-the-wisp
:, flashed to and fro, the every patch o
. bushes that overhung the stream wa
n ahame with dancing myriad of firehie'
a. The short, sharp bark of the jackal'
nc the croaking If tree-toads and th
~ weird hooting of owls made noctul
al nal chorus that grated on our nerve
4 while every now and again the prt
longed howl of some large beast
lie prey or the splash of a heavy boo
bo falling into the river made us sta
he to our feet with fresh realization
,o+ the dangers of cur position.
bo Thus we foated along hour aft
NO hour. steering and doing by turI
- Gradually the current became lie
,cl, swift as the river began to feel t
full pressure of the flood-tide from t
bay. About midnight the sky aga
nlS became overcast, the thunder crash
a9n and rolled, the lightning flashed al
- wart the heavens, and the rain cal
up- down in torrents. Just as one Yt
lHs bright flash lighted the scene
anu showed us that we were nearing
yea point where the river widened out
ms an estuary, a sudden shock threw
on our faces. The forward end of
out raft rose clear of the water; then
arp swung round with the tide and hi
ana there. We picked ourselves up
rth' Ulooked obout us, only to find that
our craft had stuck hard and fast OF
log snag of old roots firmly grounded
AL the bed of the river.
'ond We unlashed another crosspiece
'lnd' poled with all our strength, but
lear vain. We succeeded only in push
the raft onto the snag until the 10
rope end was entirely submerged and
nook position was rendered more precar
;leal than ever.
nv If there was little fear now OF d
49, 49, ing out to sea, there was still
'u'ei chance of getting to shore. BY
~, an glare of the lightning we could s
'n ~ number of dark objects floa
llp' around US that we knew were al
pa tors. and It was certain that
-" uu would seize US the moment we ent
a ~ the water. Retreating to the hi
~ side Of our raft we covered down,
gam and wet. to wait for daylight and