The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-19
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily nstalments on this page
THE
--THE
SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLINGwOOD
CHAPTER XIII.

We were not a moment too soon The
ehunder storm had all this while been
raging with little II any diminution OF
fury, the rain continuing TO pour down
upon ms in steady torrent But hith-
erto there had been no wind We had
barely completed our task OF making mat
tiers secure fore and aft, however. when
the lightning and rain ceased all in an
instant.
Now. look out for the wind SIR" said
II to Smellie.
when the rain comes before the wind,
| Stand by and well your topsails mind"
Let the breeze come as soon as II
likes" was the cheeNul reply; I'VE shall
want breeze 10 help us out o. the creek
presently. But we may as well get the
canvas on her whilst the calm lasts. II
possible; so run your knife along the lash
ling OF that mainsail, whilst | overhaul the
sheet and cast adrift the halliards"
So said. so done. and in another min
ute the sail was loose. We then tailed
lon 10 the halliards. and after a long
and weary drag managed TO get the sail
Get after a fashion. But we had hardly
| begun this task before the sauall burst
| upon us, and well was II for us then
that the schooner happened TO be moored
| In 40 completely sheltered a position. The
wind careered. roaring and bowling past
etoutest forest giants as though they were
plant reeds; but down in the narrow
channel under the lee OF the trees. we
felt no more than mere scufne. which,
however. was sufficient to make the main
sail nap heavily, and this effectually
reused all hands below
rhe rrs' 'nt'ulet'on We received of 'h'-
.ss loud bs,ier'ns sss.ns, fhs ~
side o. ne congo o on doors accom- 90 ned
nv mptde1 ei9ct .stions o. anger TO his
however 80 90 ~ 90. me -i'sotesJ nAeG:
|ee knee thst on prisoners we're ssfe
10; tine lessI 20. as soon Ne
hso Sc, uhe nia.lIaaL 40 our sd tisfae tioL
skimmed out on the jbJooom and cast
loose the jib. then slipped inboard again
and helped Smellie to hoist IT, This done
by Smellie's order 7 went aft to the
wheel. whilst he. armed with the cooks
axe. cut the hawsers fore and aft by
which the schooner was secured TO the
bank
The wind was very battling Just where
we were: moreover we happened. unfor-
tunstely. to be on the lee side OF the
GA nal. and for a couple OF minutes after
cutting adrift we were In imminent dan
ger Of taking the ground after all our
trouble Between us, however, we suc-
ceeded In 40 far hattening in the main
sheet az to cant her bows To windward.
and though the schooners keel actually
stirred UP the mud for distance OF
quite 70 yards. at last had the graft
fication OF seeing her draw of the bank.
The moment that she was fairly under
weigh I drew Smellie's attention 20 the
violent pounding at the companion doors,
and suggested a precautionary meas
ure that we should run one OF the guns
UP against the doors In case of any at
tempt 20 batter them down, which we
accordingly did: the wheel being ashed
for short period necessary IN enable
us 10 accomplish this task
Very fortunately for us the wind had
by this time broken M the dense black
canopy OF cloud overhead permitting a
star or two TO peep through the rent.
here and there; the moon too. just pact
her second quarter. had risen 30 that we
now had a fair amount OF light to aid
us. The navigation Of the narrow cresk
was, however. so difficult that lookout
was absolutely necessary. and Smelie ac-
cordingly went forward and stationed
himself on the stem head to con the
ship
CHAPTER XIV.
WE REJoIN THE DAPHNE"
The people In the cabin. finding that
no good result followed their violent
pounding upon the inside or the com
panion doors. soon abandoned so un-
profitable an amusement and was
Just beginning TO hope that they had
|
90 submit with good grace 20 the
Inevitable. when crash came bullet
through the teak doors and past ny
head In most uncomfortable pro oSimity
90 my starboard car.
SmelHe looked round at the sound.
Any damage done, Hawkesley7' lie
hailed
None go far. I thank YOU" replied
J. ansl I spoke there was another
report. and another bullet went whiz-
yine past. well to port this time for
change A minute or two passed. oid
then came n regular fusilade from
quite half dozen pistols. discharged
simultaneously should say. one ,f the
bullets knocking OF the worsted cap
] wore and grazing the skin of my
right temple sufficiently to send a tnin
stream of blood trlckfinE down into
the corner of my right eve.
You seem To he In warm corner