The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-09-07
Through the White
" Darkness.
eeX u YELL. Billy, shall we try
Y Y GAS it is the only way

"As it Is the only way
to get there, guess we
will have to-"
The speakers were Sergeants Chones
and Carter of the 3rd R. G. r. in gar
rison at Halifax, N. S. They were
standing on the Queens Wharf, to
which was tied a small rowboat with
two pairs of oars in it. 1t was mid
night, and the harbor was enveloped
in fog so dense that an object ten
yards away was quite invisible. It was
not black darkness, as there was
full moon shining, but it was thick
whiteness that was worse.
Chones' company was encamped on
McNab's Island for it's annual mus
kerry practice, and Sergeant Billy
Carter was in charge of the squad of
markers in the rifle-butts. Sunday
morning they had obtained leave to go
into Halifax for the day, and now they
were contemplating the trip back. 1t
certainly had dangerous aspect.
Great ocean liners and smaller sailing
vessels were liable at any time to pass
up the harbor, and the chances of be-
ing run down were great. Besides, the
tide was ebbing, and if they should
lose their bearings they might be swept
past the island and out to sea, where
they would certainly be lost.
But on the other hand, their leave
expired at reveille, and if they were
not present in camp, there would be
trouble with the officer commanding.
1t was distance of about four miles
from the Queens Wharf to the camps
landing place on McNab's. Georges
Island lay between them, and they
could hear her fogbell ringing, while
from the lighthouse on McNab's the
steam foghorn droned intermittently.
"Ihave made the trip at night BEFORE"
said Carter, "and think we had better
strike across for the Dartmouth side
and follow the shore till we are oppo-
site McNab's, and then row straight
for it. There won't be so much risk of
being run down, and the island is near
er the Dartmouth side than it is to
Halifax"
Gall right, old man; let's start"
10 reach the Dartmouth side of the
harbor was comparatively easy. 1t
was only necessary to keep the bell on
Georges Island to their left, as they
rowed, and to pull directly away from
the lights of the city as long as they
were visible. They did not attempt to
row quickly, but endeavored to put the
same power into both oars so as not to
row in circle. This is difficult thing
for green Oarsmen to accomplish.
Only veteran boatmen can row in a
straight line, without taking a point
for which to steer.
When they had been rowing about
fifteen minutes, Carter, who was in the
bow, shouted suddenly:
"Stop, quickp
Both men put all their strength in a
backward stroke, but in spite of this
they bumped into something. Chones
looked around and saw towering
above him, the white sides of a
British cruiser, which was anchored
there. A voice from above shouted:
"Wotinellsup down there?"
"Oh, it's all right" replied Carter
"We just came near putting hole
through your side, that all. Goodbye
he added, 1--WE won't do it again."
They rowed round the ship, and
turning at right angles to her side
pulled away, and soon after they
! noticed the yellowish tinge in the fog
} which indicated that they were ap
!. preaching the shore, and in few min
) utes they distinguished the outlines O
5 large warehouse, which stood at th'
r waters edge. Turning south, the,
: kept close to the shore, and they knew
l that the worst part of it lay befor,
/: them.
"There are two barns or the main
land, directly opposite the Island" sal,
Q Carter, sand when we come to them
t we'll just have to trust to luck to keel
our direction"