The Washington times., 1904-11-20
CHAPTER XXI.
Hanging by a Thread.


and the increasing narrowness of the
stream inuIcated the approach to the
NTH cataract.
Then Prince BardofI ran forward To
survey the prospect
Il like the looks of things" he said
scanning the heights which they were
now skirting The river is high. and
we have a good chance TO shoot the
rapids If We can only tighten the boat"
How far away are we from the cata-
ract?" asked Dorothy.
An hour at most. We must begin TO
throw things overheard. or We shau
never float over the rocks. It's the
worst cataract on the Nile"
Without further hesitation the prince
began loosening the big gun from its
stanchions.
ITS like losing an old friend" he
said bitterly, "and our best defender.
But there's no help for It. We may be
compelled to take to a plank before
another hour.
Dorothy watched the lOosening Of the
seven-pounder. which had helped them
break through the lines of Berber and
had annihilated two fleets OF pursuers;
and as the long steel tube slid down
and disappeared in the Nile. it seemed
to bear a portion of her very heart with
it. She told this TO the Russian.
''Oh, it's not so bad" said he. I'VE
shall soon abandon the ship. for we
could never pass Abou Hamed, even If
we fioated long enough 10 reach there.
Besides, II is better that these guns go
overheard than that they should fail
into the hands OF the enemy"
True" over went the last gun and
into the furnace went the last armful
of wood.
we might as well pitch the engines
and boilers over next" added the prince
why sO?'
I'VE have reached the end of our fuel
and the boilers are weakening with the
strain"
Cut up these carriages. Strip the
vessel Of the WOOL work. suggested
Dorothy.
we need all that for a raft. Mind
you, If we go 20 pieces in the middle
Of the NTH cataract we must reach
shore, and with our provisions, too"
The woman's brow clouded. over
with everything. then" she sighed
The pumps had cleared the hold below
decks of the swishing water. and the
best time for the sacrifice seemed 10
have arrived. The prince straightway
began unbolting the boiler stays from
the deck.
1t was a herculean task, but with he
roic industry II was soon accomplished.
First one and then the other Of the huge
boilers We're toppled over upon the
decks edge, listing the Alldeen to a
eraH
overheard. The engines followed piece
meal. and thus the Alldeen soon found
herself without the power OF a IOcomo-
ton or resistance against even deha-
beah.
A sense Of helplessness came over the
runaways. and they realized the des-
peration of their case. There was no
time 20 repine. however. and the con-
struction Of the raft was begun Ia ear
nest.
"Our lives on toss Of shilling re-
marked the prince, az he spiked a small
chest TO the center Of the raft and be-
gan filling II with their necessities
Then. when all was done. he said 10
his companion: "Comrade. let Us enjoy
our last breakfast on board the ALI
deem. II may be the last for
Don't say forever " broke in DOro-
thy. with quivering lips. Then, after a
moment: do you know, the thought OF
leaving the Alldeen, after she has borne
us safely TO this haven OF refuge, dis
tresses me more than can tell. Does ii
affect you at all?"
II dare not give way 10 sentiment. 3"
said the prince. "The Alldeen has done
as good service. but there is no use
cIinging 10 her from an impulse OF graf
itude. All ! want 20 do is 10 shoot the
cataract and get as far along toward
Abou Hamed as possible. We have
/ trusted ourselves 10 the water long
enough. We are getting into a more
or less neutral country. The people
are Mahdists, to be sure. but not so
rabid and fanatical as those farther
south. under the immediate influence Of
the Mahdi or his successor, / think !
shall be able 70 handle them when the
time comes"
Dorothy was scanning the cliffs %
sandstone. which seemed 20 have been
cleft by the steadily flowing Nile al
some remote period, and now lowered
above them like white hooded senti-
nels. Suddenly she saw the princes
face blanch. as he slammed down the
/ lid of the provision chest. and ran for
ward 20 the tiller ropes
stand by" he commanded. 1T viii
, take two 10 manage this wreck through
/ the cataract"
Dorothy crept under cover and took
/ her position. From her point Of want
/ age she saw the writhing, seething cata-
/ ract not a mile ahead. The river was
/ so narrow that it appeared 10 pour its
/ huge volume through a mighty funnel.
/ To make matters worse, here and there
1 in the foam-fecked mass could be seen
/ points of rock.
Keep 10 the right OF the channelr'
/ commanded the prince; keep 10 the
right and avoid the rocks. II Is a dan
gerOus pass, but the only one"
God save u.s." murmured Dorothy.
The prince leaned over the PROV and
noted that the Alldeen was as high out
| Of water as could be expected-fully
nine inches higher than before the strip
ping Of the craft OF her guns and ma
chinery.
THAT means our salvation he NUT
tered. Then they plunged into the roar
and turmoil of the cataract. and the
poor shot-battered Alldeen began a
dance Of death in the lashing Nile.
After once encounterlng the cataract
the force Of the waters was so great
that the rudder was useless. Now list
ing TO port now careening to star