Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-29
copyrish.. isa. By D. Appls.on 4 Co., Hsv York.

down the battens into the boat, whith'
er Slocum had preceded him. A vigor'
Gus shove sent them clear Of the frig'
ate; a bit Of close reefed sail was
hoisted on the dinghy apd she gathered
way toward the distant shore.
After two hours of hard running
having at last come well within the
harbor mouth and reached point op-
posite the old chateau, they bore w
and began ratching in toward the
shore. It seemed to the old sailor al
the helm, after they had made several
short tacks, that they were getting
perilously near the breakers. AS ne
peered ahead he thought he could see
the white caps, and he believed, as he
turned his ear up to windward, that ne
could hear the roar of the mighty
waves. One more tack and they would
certainly be in the midst OF them.
Grafton had ordered him to throw
the dinghy up into the wind and cheek
her way while he investigated the
situation. He had gone forward and
was kneeling down by the mast peer
ing ahead trying to get his bearings.
Finally, having satisfied himself as well
as he could in the darkness, he called
out a command to the sailor at the
tiller. Although it looked like certain
destruction old Jabez was toe thorough
q seaman to hesitate to obey, and when
Grafton directed him to put the helm
over he let her go of. slipped out the
sheet, and in a few seconds they
gathered way and were rushing
straight for the breakers.
They could now dimly make out the
black mass Of the cliffs before them.
In the tower Of the chateau which
rose above them were two lights.
Grafton sought them out from other
lights in other windows in the castle.
He was sure of the tower, for he
thought he recognized its conical top;
though the darkness was so 1eep, there
were signs of a break in Il clouds
In fact, they had broker over the
tower. Was that star oove 1t to
lead him on?
One light Grafton surmised came
from the oriel window in the tower
the other from the window Of the
Dom adjacent to 1t. BY what happy
ortune did they chance to be lighted
hat night? If he were right in his
opinion he knew his course to the
mouth Of the passage to the little bay.
Once In the channel leading to 1t, he
would have to trust to instinct to feel
his way through.
Mind your steering. now, Slocum!"
he cried. Keep your weather eye lift
ing and obeying my orders exactly!
Our lives depend on 1t. starboard q
little! So! think we can win
through, but it's touch and go. Steady!
Do you see those two lights?"
81 sees m, SIR"
Keep them In range until I say
further. Steady, now! Nothing of
for Gods sake, man! Hold her VI
to it,"
The boat steered with an uneasy
helm. She had tendency to fall OF
to 60 leeward, that is; but old Jabel
set his teeth hard, contracted hi:
brows, and, peering steadily out at the
lights high above and far ahead o
them, kept her on her course.
They were nearing the shore rapidly
now; 1t looked awfully close. Tht
cliffs loomed up in front Of them grim
and terrible. There was no entrance
through them, no rift even. no wa!
that he could see. Their course seemed
madness. Another moment and the!
would be beaten to pieces. But th'
business of the old sailor was to ODE!
orders and steer the boat. He pu
everything else out Of his heart ant
watched and listened, all his skill ant
discipline at his own command, and a
his captains service.
"Well done!" Grafton called bacl
to him. "Now let her go off little
Easy, now! Very we'll. dyce! Port
once more. So! Port, port again!"
Port 1t is, sir!" cried Jabez, as th'
boats head fell of to starboard II
obedience to the command.
Then. in compliance with the rapit
and changing directions OF Grafton, h
lulled up to port and then again swuni
to starboard: twisting about. in obedi
ence to Grafton's instructive coming
through the narrow pass through tn
reefs.
They were right in the breakers now
The waves were Kissing, boiling AM
roaring around them on every side
The sea was white with the surf. TIL
old man thought his last hour ha
come in that riven sea; the rapid sue
cession of commands from the captain
however, left him no time for reflec
ton; the boat whirled about, darte
/ back and forth. swung from side t
side like a mad-woman, 9. Bacchante
under their skillful handling. Sh
seemed doomed dozen times, and tha
she was not shattered was wonderful
Suddenly right in front Of them loome
black mass Of rock.
"Luff!" roared Grafton. "Luff he
hard!"
The little boat spun around ono
more like dancing girl, her starboar
side just scraping jagged reef. The
came leaping up into the wind, the
bore away on the other TACK.
"That was a close shave" screame
Grafton, "but we're all right yet. Civ
her a good full now. God! But It
dark! We've lost the lights, but
think we can feel our way. Har
overt" he shrieked, as another roc
rose up in front of them.
AS they cleared the rock, they sud
denly whirled about, swept through
narrow opening, and found themselve
in smooth water. The cliffs rose hig
above them on every side. The wint
though they could still hear It roarin
! family, seemed to die away suddenly
! The change from the wild clamor Q
| the pass to the silence and stiffness i
the bay was startling. The dingh
drifted in for few moments and the
slowly came to standstill, the waite
Tipping along her keel. The men So
quiet, but with beating hearts an
painting breaths from their labor an