Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-05-03

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, impene-
trable, oppressive, not even the faint
twinkle of a 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 q halyard-
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 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; as far
as appearances went they might have
been a 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 frs
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 we're here.
SIR" observed one of the younger Of
ficers.
"Oh, know they don't, of course"
testify. eff 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, 1.-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 haphaz-
ard search for a landing would be sure
to be heard. Captain Bixby is of
course ct his old camp on the other
side of the river. mile 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-
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
tugation. 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 then-well, it will be a
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 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 boats length from the ship"
But there are many lives in dan
ger over yonder," the sailor urged.
and some of them are women and
children. I'm only one. Perhaps l
might get through. If l did, I'd show
a light for one instant to let you know
that everything was all right and that
you could put en- steam to join Gen.
Clay and hurry to meet u.s.
But the captain again shook his
head decisively. There's isn't a