The Red Cloud chief., 1902-05-02

The great vessel was moving for
ward at quarter speed, the bows only
breaking the water into small rip
pies which gurgled along her sides
and quickly smoothed out astern. All
around was darkness. thick, impenc-
trable. oppressive. not even the faint
twinkle OF n star relieving It's envel-
Oping sameness.
On the uppe deck stood the rap.
tain with several OF his officers. Near
them a sailor was winding the frayed
end Of e hslyard.
The captain held a night glass, and
from time to time raised IL to his eyes.
but only to lower IL quickly and i'm
patiently. In that darkness the glass
was of little use.
For an hour they had been 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 were only sea
and the black wall of silence; rs far
as appearances went they might have
been n 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, vas a 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 muttCrcd for the
twentieth time.
But they don't know we're here.
sir" observed one of the younger Of
flcers.
"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
cumstanccs.' he declared. the shore
may be ten rods away. and II may be
two miles. and VIZ don't know the ne-
my's position. A boat would make
more or less noise, and In q haphaZ-
ard search for a landing would be sure
to be heard. Captain BiXby Is of
course at his old camp on the other
side of the river, Il mile IN the inter
ior. II he could show a light for an
instant. we could make directly for it,
some one slip from the boat rear 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-
fore morning he could have his men
and the women and children well or
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 Genera, is even in the
country. But by tomorrow night the
enemy's scouts will discover his pres,
cnce, and thcn--wcll, II will be q
quick rush and another day of horror
for the people who read the news.
papers. This sort of foe doesn't know
the meaning of civilized warfare"
The sailor looked up from the hal
yard he vas winding, I'm Il goot
swimmer, sir" he said. significantly.
The captain regarded him kcenl,
for a moment. then shook his head
you don't understand these South
ern waters he answered. They ar,
full Of sharks. You wouldn't live [,
get a boats length from the ship"
But there are many lives in dan
ger owe yondcr." the sailor urged
land some of them are oine an,
children. I'm only one. Perhaps
might get through. II | did, I'd shoy
n light for one instant tn let you kno,
that everything was all right and tina
you could put on steam to join Ger
Clay and hurry to meet us
But the captain again shook hi
head decisiyely. There's isn't