The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-13
-THE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
BY HARRY COLLINGwOOD
CHAPTER w.

be said to be fairly in the river.
From this point. away We stretched'
the perspiration streaming from the men
at every pore. Fortunately the tide had
begun TO make before we started, and
IL was therefore in our favor. We had
sounding-line with us. which we used
at frequent Intervals and by Its aid we
ascertaiued that at a distance of one mile
from the shore the shallowest water be-
tween the ship and Shark Point was
about three and n half fathoms at low
water
This was at spot distant some 3l1
miles from the point Half mile FUR
ther on we suddenly deepened our water
to 45 fsthoms; and a distance OF only
quarter OF mile from the point as we
rounded e. the lead give US Is fathoms,
shortly afterwards shoaling to elk
fathoms, which depth was steadily main
tained for distance OF eight miles up
the river, the extent OF our exploration
on this occasion. On our return Journey
we kept little further off the shore, and
found corresponding increase In the
depth OF water: a result which fully salts
fled us that we need have no hesitation
about taking the Daphne inside should
II at any time seem desirable so 10 do
Immediately abreast OF Shark Point Is
= an extensive creek named Banana Creek;
and hereabouts the river Is fully six miles
wide on making out the mouth OF this
creek IL was our first intention to have
explored IT. but on rounding the point
and fairly entering the river, we made
out so many snug, likely-lookng openings
on the southern side that we determined
to confne our attention to that side first.
In the first place, Immediately on round
ing Shark Point We discovered a bay at
the back OF IT, roughly triangular I'm
shape, about four miles broad across the
base, and perhaps three miles deep from
base 10 apex. At the further end Of the
base OF this triangular bay we deserted
the mouth of the creek; and at the apex,
or bottom Of the bay, another. The lat
ter OF these we examined first making
the discovery that the mouth. or opening,
gave access to three creeks instead OF
one; they were ALL however too shall
low to admit anything drawing over 10
feet, even at high water; and the land
adjoining was also so low and the bush
so stunted-consisting almost exclusively
of mangroves-that only a partial con-
cealment could have been effected nm
less a ships upper spars were struck for
the occasion. A low-rigged vessel. such
as felucca, would indeed find comnleta
shelter In either of the two westernmost
creeks-the easternmost had only three
feet OF water in ii when we visited a !.
but the shores on either side consisted
only OF brownish-gray fetid mud. OF a
consistency little thicker than pea-soup.
ana the facilities for embarkinR slaves
were so utterly wanting that we felt sure
we need not trouble ourselves az anv
future time about either of these creeks
That other creek. that which have de-
scribed as situated at the further and Of
the base OF the triangle forming the bay
was undoubtedly more promising; though
like the others. IL could only receive craft
OF small tonnage, having q little bar OF
It's own across Its mouth, on which. at
haf-ude, which was about the time OF
our visit. there was only seven feet of
water. Its banks. however, were toler-
ably nrm and solid; the Jungle was thick
er and higher; though little more than
cables length wide at It's mouth. Il was
nearly mile In width a little further
In; and branching OF from IT, right aud
left there were three or four other snug
looking little creeks. wherein a shin os
light draft might lie as comfortably as
if In drydock, and wherein. by sitnnly
sending down topsallant masts she would
be perfectly concealed. Mr. Austin would
greatly have liked to land here and ex-
plore the bush a bit on each side OF the
creek but our mission Just then was 10
make a rough survey Of the river rather
than OF Its banks. so we reluctantly made
our way back once more to the broad.
rolling river.
(To be continued tomorrowJ