The Cairo bulletin., 1904-09-01
Copyrsht. lgOl, By y. AppIetoa o.. New YorA


I this uniform I'm a prisoner Of wal
only. Remember my instructions"
Il shall not forget them.
| Goodbye"
Goodbye, and God bless you.
| shall be III fever Of anxiety until ynp
return" exclaimed the lieutenant as
they parted.
Waving his hand Grafton stepped
10 The gangway and dropped easily
down the battens into tho boat, whith-
or Slocum had preceded kim. A vieor-
/ ous shove sent them clear of the ffig-
ate; a bit Of close reefed sail was
| hoisted on the dinghy and she gathered
way toward the distant shore.
After two hours of hard running,
having at last come well within the
harbor mouth and reached d point OPP
posite the old chateau, they bore up
and began ratehlng In toward the
shore 1t seemed to the old sailor at
the helm, after they had made several
short tacRs. that they were getting
periIously near The breakers. As he
peered ahead he thought he could see
The White caps. and he believed. as he
turned his, ear IN To windward, that he
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 check
her way while he investigated the
situation He had gone forward and
was knoeling down by tho mast peer
ing ahead trying to get his bearings.
Finally having satisfied himself as well
as hs could In the darkness, he called
cut a command to the sailor al the
tiller. Although it looked like certain
destruction. old Tabez was too thorough
g seaman to hesitate TO obey, and when
Grafton directed him to put the helm
over he let her go off, slipped ont the
sheet ard in a few seconds they
gathered way and were rushing
straight for the breakers.
Thoy could now dimly make out the
black mass OF tie c;iffs before them.
IN the tower of the chateau which
rose above them were two lights.
Grafton sought them ont from other
iiahts in other windows in the castle.
He was sure Of The tower. for he
thought he recognized its coniea top;
though the darkness was so deep, there
were signs of a break in the clouds
ia fact, they had bGoken oyeg the
tower WAS that star above it to
lead him on?
One light Grafton surmised came
from Tie oriel 4 ow,in the tower,
the other from BE window Of the
room ADJACENT to it. BY what happy
fortune did they chance to be lighted
tAat night? II he were sight in his
opinion he knew his course to the
mouth ofAhe passage TO the little bay.
Once in the channel leading to it, he
would have TO Trust 10 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 it. Starboard 2
ilttle' Sol / think we can win
Shut It's touch and go. Steady
10 you see those two lights?"
Il sees IN, sir"
Keep them in range until say
further Steady, now! Nothing Off,
for Gods sake. mani Hold her up
to it!"
The boat steered with an uneasy
helm. She had a:tendency 10 fall off, |
TO go leeward, that is; but old Jabez |
set his teeth hard. contracted his
brows, and. pecring seadily out at the
lights high above and far ahead of |
Them. kept her on her course.
They were nearing the shore rapidly |
now; it looked awfully' close. The |
cliffs doomed no in front Of them grim
and terrible There was no entrance |
through them, no lift even, no way
hat he could see. Their course seemed !
Another moment and they |
would be beaten TO pieces. Bit the |
of the old sailor was to obey
orders snd steer the boat. He PIT /
everything else ont Of his heart and
watched and listened, all his skill and
discipline At his own command, and at
his captains service
Wei donel" Grafton called back
10 him. Now let her 80 off little.
Easy, nowl Very we'll, lycel Port,
1nce more. Sol Port. port again!"
Port it is, sir" cried Jabez, as the
beats head fell off 10 starboard in
obedience to the command.
Then. in compliance with thei rapid
md changing directions Of Grafton, he
ulled up 10 port and then again swung
% starboard: twisting about in obedf-
,rce 80 Graftcn's instructive coming.
through the narrow pass through the
-oefs.
They were right in the breakers now.
The waves were kissing. boiling and
-oarine around them on every side.
The sea was white with the snrf The
Id man thought his last hour had
,oTne Ia that riven sea; the rapid sue
-ession Of commands from the captain
aowevos. left him no time Tor refec-
ion: the boat whirled about. darted
lack and forth. swung from side to
,ide like q mad-woman. a Bacchante, !
inder their skiiiful handling. She
4eamea doomed q dozen times. and that
me was not shattered was wonderful.
Suddenly right in froat Of them loomed