Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-12-31

rose aD0Ve them were TWO llSlCS. Grafton sought them out from other lights in other windows in4 the castle. He was sure of the tower. for he l thought, he recognized it's conical top: l though the darkness was so deep, there were signs of a break in the clouds l in fact, they had broken over the tower. Was that star above it to lead him on?
 One light Grafton surmised came l from the oriel window i'm the tower, the other from the window of the room adjacent to it. By what happy l fortune did they chance to be lighted that night? If he were right in his l opinion he knew his course to. the Oncetin the channel leading to it. he would have to trust to instinct to feel i his way through.
 Mind your steering. now, Slocum!" ! he cried. Keep your weather eye lift ing and obeying my orders exactly! l Our lives depend on it, .starboard a. little! So! |. think we can win. ]! through, but it's touch: and go.. Steady! l Do you see those two lights?'' 'sT sees m, sir
 Keep them in range until say further Steady, now! Nothing of, , for Gods sake, man! Hold her up to it!"
 | The boat steered with an uneasy helm She had tendency to fall off i, to go leeward, that is; but old Jabez set his teeth hard. contracted his broWs; and, peering steadily out at the. ! rt. c.. 0Y,- ,~A them, kept her on her course. They were nearing the shore rapidly now: it looked awfully close The cliffs loomed Up in front of them grim and terrible. There was no entrance through them, no rift even, no way that he could see. Their course seemed madness. Another moment and they would be beaten to pieces. But the business of the old sailor was to obey orders and steer the boat. He put everything else out of his heart and watched and listened, sll his skill and l discipline at his own command, and at his captains service.
 'sWell done!'' Grafton called back to him. "Now let her go off a little. Easy, now! Very well. dyce! Port, once more. So! Port, port again!'
 ''Port it is, sir!'' cried Jabez, as the boats head fell off to starboard in obedience to the command
 Then, in compliance with the rapid and changing directions of Grafton, he lulled up to port and then again swung 1 to starboard; twisting about, in obedi- ence to Grafton's instinctive coming, through the narrow pass through the reefs.
 They were right in the breakers now. l The waves were hissing, boiling and roaring around them on every side. i The sea was white with the surf. The old man thought his last hour had come in that riven sea; the rapid suc- cession of commands from the captain, 1 however, left him no time for reflec- l tion; the boat whirled about, darted ], back and forth, swung from side to side like mad-woman, a Bacchante, under their skillful handling. She seemed doomed a dozen times, and that she was not shattered was wonderful. Suddenly right in front of them loomed a black mass of rock.
 LufE!" roared Grafton "Luf her hardi"
 The little boat spun around once more like dancing girl, her starboard aide just scraping a Jagged reef. Then came leaping up into the wind, then bore away on the other tack.
 "That was a close shave, K screamed Grafton, 'fbut we're all right yet. Give her good full now. God! But it's dark! We've lost the lights, but I think we can feel our way. Hard over!" he shrieked, as another rock rose up in front of them.
 , As they cleared the rock. they sud- denly whirled about, swept through a narrow opening. and found themselves in smooth water. The cliffs rose high above them on every side. The wind, though they could still hear it roaring faintly, seemed to die away suddenly The change from the wild clamor of the pass to the silence and stiffness fa the bay was startling. The dinghy \ drifted in for 'aSfew moments and then slowly came to a standstilI, the water Tipping along her keel. The men sat quiet, but with beating hearts and panting breaths from their labor and excitement, until they had recovered themselves in measure. Far above them lowered the massive walls of the chateau.
 We are in. said Grafton at last, Ia note of triumph and relief thrilling through his voice.
 l He climbed aft and grasped the hand of the old man. \ I By heaven, Jabez, never saw sueh steering! We were gone, 2 dozen. tinpss but for you!'
 T'want my steerin'. yer honor, s'much as twas your pilotin' got us tn,'' remarked the old sailor. wiping the l sweat from his forehead with his other hand. i" Twas a close shave all the way through. Wot next, sir?"
 Out with the oars, now, and let us row to the shore" he said, taking I the tiller while Jabez shipped the oars. l Gently, man!' he added, as the boat | gurwpd raDidIv frrvva Td J1nder fhnHo3d