Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-01-16
CHAPTER ".
TCoNTINUED.l

pllOu AAc
face hasn't been out of my sight since
/ saw it. Would I know him? Well
Just let me get my fingers on his &C.
cursed throat. His own father would
not know him them"
Mr.. SHELLS little eyes opened at my
warmth. He was about to reply, when
Ralston returned. Mr.. Smell skill
fully changed the subject.
On January 9th we saw in the dis
lance a long, shadowy fringe on the
horizon. It looked like land. I asked
the captain if it was such. He re.
piled: !
Eyes, that Is land. It is the Isl,
and Of Formosa. We are now enter
ing the China Sea-"
The China Sea interested me only
as the stretch of water that then sepa.
ated us from Hong Kong. AS we. be-
gan to drew so near to the end Of ouI
journey, I felt a feverish anxiety 10
hasten through with our affair.
1t had become my habit of late to
mediate on deck at night. Some,
times Langston and Ralston went,
Sometimes only one or the other
would be with me. Sometimes went
alone.
On the night of the day we passed
Formosa, 1 went on deck as usual
Ralston was reading, and Langston
was busily engaged in conversation
with an Indian army officer. They
said they would be up later. L did
not object to being alone. My
thoughts kept me company. I liked
to stand by the rail and muse over
the possibilities of what was before
us. I knew they were wide and vari'
GUS. Knowing that my two friends
were coming to join me, I did not turn
when I heard footstep behind me.
Cline evening, thees," said the
voice of Mr.. Gambok Smell. care
you enjoying that moonlight, Meester
Creekmore?"
II am enjoying the prospects Of
landing much MORE" I replied.
"Vary good. But have you notisl
Creekmere, what queer light comes
: from tn hfps Sea when the moon,
dance al is1ts- ID ot!o wsEss??"
had not noticed. Ileaoed over the
rail, and there surely was peculiarly
in the emerald sheen that was ret
Hected FROM the water. I bent low,
admiring the pretty effect.
In an instant I was seized from be-
hind in an iron grip. I turned quick
ly, but was at disadvantage. Be-
fore I could cry out, Ireceived stunt
ming blow on the head. Only half
conscious, I felt myself lifted and
showed over the rails.
A hateful voice sounded in my ears:
"Now you can't identify anybody,
can you, Crickmore?"
The wind whistled past my face; 7
fell. felt the waters close over me.i
I had been thrown overheard by Gam
box Smell.
I was powerless to utter O sound as
/ went down. I struck the water
head first as clean as though I had
taken a dive for sport.
The momentum Of the ship and the
height from which I had fallen sent
me deep into the sea. Downtown
I went, until in half-conscious way
wondered if I was ever going to
stop. I do not know how far down I
went or how long it took me to get
there-probably not many seconds
when I felt rush of cold water. The
GOODNESS of the water restored my
senses, but was absolutely power
less. The rush of the water was
tremendous. It whirled me and
turned me upside down, rolled me
over and over and swept me away like
piece of paper. 1t flashed over me
that was in one of those swift SUBJ
marine currents so common in the
south seas. Some of these indie.
pendent currents are said to travel at
a greater rate of speed than a mile
minute. The one that had me in its
grasp was not the slowest of it's kind.
What has ever since seemed to me
most remarkable thing, but which
did not seem at all strange then, was
the fact that I did not lose my pres.
snce of mind. I could do nothing, it
Is true. I was helpless in the grasp
of the waters. But so fully realized
this that I held my breath and let the
great force sweep me along unresist-
ing.
Since boyhood I had been a good
swimmer. Hours and hours I had
spent in the water, floating, diving,
swimming under water, and T had, in
my library in San Francisco, several
medals that I had taken in college
aquatic contests. This training now
stood me in good stead.
It was possible for me to hold my !
breath under water for some minutes.
But it seemed like five years to mo
shooting along under the China Sea.
It was probably just about five min.
utes before that icy current Let go its
grasp. Feeling the warmer and calmer
waters around me, I shot upward With
mighty stroke. I felt, rather than !
saw the light through the rapidly shall.
lowing water as neared the surface.
I also felt the decrease in the pres.
sure. A few more strokes and 7
breathed again.
looked around me.
The good ship City of Rio de Jana