Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-09-13


everything else out OF his heart and
watched and listened, all his skill and
discipline at his own command, and at
his captains service
well done!" Grafton called back
to him. Now let her 60 off little.
Easy, now! Very we'll. dyce. Port,
once more. So! Fort port againl"
Port it is, sir!" cried Jabez, as the
boats head fell off to starboard in
obedience to the command.
Then, in compliance with tie rapid
and changing directions of Grafton, he
lulled UP to port and then again swung
to starboard; twisting about, in obedi-
enca to Grafton's instructive coming,
through the narrow pass through the
reefs.
They were right in the breakers now
The waves were Kissing, boiling and
roaring around them on every side
The sea was white with the surf. The
old man thought his last hour had
come in that riven sea; the rapid sue
cession of commands from the captain.
however, left him no time for refec-
tion; the boat whirled about, darted
back and forth, swung from side to
side like a mad-woman, Bacchante,
under their skillful handling. She
seemed doomed dozen times, and that
she was not shattered was wonderful.
Suddenly right in front of them loomed
black mass of rock.
"Luff!" roared Grafton. "Luff her
hard!"
The little boat spun around once
more like dancing girl, her starhoard
side just scraping a jagged reef Then
came leaping UP into the wind, then
bore away on the other tack.
THAT was close shave" screamed
Grafton, but we're all right yet. Give
her a good full now. God But it's
dark. We've lost the lights, but 1
| think we can feel our way. Hard
| overt" 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
family, seemed to die away suddenly.
| The change from the wild clamor of
| the pass to the silence and stiffness in
| the bay was startling. The dinghy
drifted in for a few moments and then
slowly came to a standstill, the water
| Tipping along her keel. The men sat
Guiet. but with beating hearts and
pantlnS Dreatns from lneir labor and
excitement, until they had recovered
themselves in a measure. Far above
them lowered the massive walls of the
chateau.
1--WE are in" said Grafton at last, a
note OF triumph and relief thrilling
| through his voice.
He climbed aft and grasped the hand
of the old man.
BY heaven, Jabez, never saw such
steering! We were gone dozen times
but for you!"
Twant my steerin', yer honor
smuch as twas your pilotin' got us in, y
remarked the old sailor. wiping the
sweat from his forehead with his
other hand. "'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
the tiller while Jabez shipped the oars.
] Gently, mani" he added as the boat
surged rapidly forward under the old
sailors powerful strokes.
Presently her prov touched little
stretch of beach few feet wide, which
Philip remembered to have seen right
at the foot of the place where he de-
termined to make the attempt to de-
scend the wall Of the chateau.
Nov, Slocum," he said, ''pass me
that coil of signal halliards."
When tho mass of light but strong
line was handed him he slipped the
coil around his neck.
! EFF | mought make so bold, yer
honor, wot are ye goin' to do?" asked
the sailor.
81 am going to ascend the wall OF
the castle yonder."
Good Lord!" calculated the old
old man, "it can't be done. Why, tits
a regular pressipyce! I en- shin UP
any r'yal mast that ever was set, but
that ere--''
"That'll do, Jabez. I've been here
before and know it's possible tc
scale the wall. 1t has been done be-
fore-by a lover"
Taint fer the likes O. me to SPEAK
to you" said the old seaman; "but
lovers allus was fools, they say, w'ict
amt never been one, an mebbe
Providence watches over EN- specia
like, but as fer sailors"
~ am lover, too, Jabez il it comes
to that 'Tis not only for England thai
go into that tower. Now, we've
talked enough. ] am going to climl
to that window from which the light
is coming. Dye see it? The one
with the balcony. Then am goins
TO drop the end of this piece of sigma
halliards down to you. | want you tt
bend on the end of that coil of rope
in the bow to it. Be sure to make i
| fa tN fIo ORC