The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-08

Inc great FeSSef was moving ioi
ward at quarter speed. the bows only
breaking the water into small rip
pies which gurgled along her sides
and quickly smoothed out assern. All
around was darkness, thick, impene-
trable. oppressive, not even the faint
twinkle of star relieving it's envel-
oping sameness
On the upper deck stood the cap
tain with several of his officers. Near
them a sailor was winding the frayed
end of helyard.
The captain held a night glass, and
from time to time raised it to his eyes.
but only to lower it quickly and i'm
patiently. In that darkness the glass
was of little use
For an hour they had bee> running
at slow speed. cautiously, and with
eyes and ears strained, as though
waiting for something to slip out of
the darkness or for some signal or
sign. But still there We're only sea
ana the black wall of silence; as far
as appearances went they might have
been thousand miles from land.
Another ten minutes. and the strain
grew more tense. All over the ship
were eyes watching and ears listen
ing. on the lower decks. through the
ports. the pilots window. from the
shrOuds even. The secret was an open
one, and all the ship knew that close
on the Starboard here. almost touch
ing them perhaps. was low, hostile
shore, where were eyes as vigilant and
keen as their own and that were their
presence known or suspected. the
mission of the ship would be frus-
trated.
If only they would show a light or
do something to indicate their where
abouts" the captain muttered for the
twentieth time.
But they don't know were here.
sir observed one~of the younger Of
hcers.
"Oh, know they don't, of course"
testify. If they did, they would. But
| what are we to do? We've got to get
away from here before daylight
Maybe a boat" began another
officer; but the captain cut him short
"Wouldn't do at all under the cir
cumstances." he declared. the shore
may be ten rods away, and it may be
| two miles, and we don't know the enc
| my's position. A boat would make
| more or less noise, and in a haphaZ-
ard search for landing would be sure
| to be heard. Captain BiXby is OF
| course at his old camp on the other
side of the river, a mills in the inter-
| ior. If he could show light for an
! instant we could make directly for it,
| some one slip from the boat near the
| shore and steal through the under
! growth to the camp. A few seconds
would acquaint BiXby with the fact
| that Gen. Clay is fifty miles up the
| coast, marching toward him. and be-
I fore morning he could have his men
| and the women and children well on
| the way toward safety. So far the
| enemy have counted on starvation as
! an easy and effectual means of sub
| jugation. Neither they nor BiXby
| suspect the General is even in the
country. But by tomorrow night the
| enemy's scouts will discover his pres
| ence, and theI.-weII. it will be a
quick rush ana another day of rs,rror
| for the people who read the news
| papers. This sort of foe doesn't know
! the mea aiming of civilized warfare"
The sailor looked up from the hal
yard he was winding. I'm good
swimmer, sir he said, significantly.
The captain regarded him keenly
for a moment. then shook his head.
You don't understand these South
| ern waters" he answered. They are
full of sharks. You wouldn't live to
| get a boats length from the ship"
But there are many lives in dan
ger over yonder." the sailor urged.
and some of them are women ana
children. I'm only one. Perhaps |
might get through. If l did. I'd show
light for one instant TO let you know
that everything was all right and that
you could put on steam to join Gen.
| Clay and hurry to meet us"
But the captain again shook his
head decisively. There's isn't q