Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-08-20

dred yards. She was still, however.
well in view, and the murl<y uncertain
twilight was settling into clear star
lit night. Our boilers were strained
to their utmost, and the frail shell vi
brated and crealSed with the fierce en-
ergy which was driving us along We
had shot through the pool past the
West India docks, down the long Dept
ford Reach, and up again after round
ing the Isle of Dogs The dull blur in
front of us resolved itself now clearly
enough into the dainty Aurora Jones
turned our scarchlight upon her, so
that we could plainly see the figures
upon her deck. One man sat by the
stern, with something black between
his knees over which he stopped. Beside
him lay dark mass which looked like
n Newfoundland dog. The boy held the
tillcr, while against the red glare of
the furnace ] could see old Smith,
stripped to the waist, and shovclinr
Goals for dear life. They may have had
some doubt at first as TO whether we
were really pursuing them, but now as
we followed every winding and turn
ing which they took there could no
longer be any question about it, At
Greenwich we were about three hundred
PAGES behind them. At BLACKWELL we
could not have been more than two
hundred and fifty ! have coursed
many creatures in many countries dur
ing my checkered career, but never did
sport give me such wild thrill as this
mad, flying man hunt down the
Thames SfaalI,.
them, yard by yard. In the silence
OF the night we could hear the
painting and clanking of their ma
chinery. The man in the stern still
crouched upon the deck, and his arms
were moving as though he were busy.
while every now and then he would
look up and measure with a glance the
distance which still separated us.
Nearer we came and nearer. Jones
yelled TO them to stop. We were not
more than four boats lengths behind
them, both boats flying at tremen-
dous pace. 1t was a clear reach of
the river, with Barking level lpon
one side and the melancholy Plum
stead marshes upon the other At
our hail the man in the stern sprang
up from the deck and shook his two
clinched fists at us, cursing the while
IN high, cracked voice. He
was good-sized, powerful man,
and as he stood poising himself
with legs astride ! could see that from
the thigh downwards there was but a
wooden stump upon the right side. At
the sound of his strident, angry cries
there was movement in the huddled
rl6I A he. Analy Ne4,- II =
itself into a little black mantle
/ have ever seen-with great,
misshapen head and shock of tangled,
hair. Holmes had already
drawn his revolver, and / whipped out
mine at the sight of this savage. dis
torted creature. He was wrapped in
some sort of dark ulster or blanket,
which left only his face exposed; but
that face was enough to give a man
sleepless night. Never have I seen
features so deeply marked with all bes-
tiality and cruelty. His small eyes
ylowed and burned with somber light,
and his thick lips were writhed back !
from his teeth, which grinned and chat
tered at us with half animal fury.
Fire if he raises his hand,' said ,
Holmes, quietly. We were within
boats length by this time, and almost !
within touch of our quarry. can see
the two of them now as they stood. the
white man with his legs far apart, J
out curses, and the unhal- !
lowed dwarf, with his hideous face, and /,
his strong yellow teeth crashing at us
IN the light of our lantern.
It was well that we had so clear