Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-09


on the shoulder.
Here's the Ray Ned" said he.
so much for the first stage then,
said Sercombe, who heard him, and he
leaned on his oars. The current took
us with gentle wash into the bosom
OF the larger stream. The clouds con
gregated solemnly and, to my fancy,
with an aspect of sullenness. The mir
was still, and the sweat broke out on
the rowers. We changed again, and
under the fresh impulse the tub ran
down the Ray.
I'VE may pick them up any moment
now" remarked Sercombe, and / OBJ
served him, in the stern. loosen his coat
and feel i'll his pockets.
'The boats leaking" said Mont
gomery in my ears. stopped rowing
and repeated his words to the others.
Here was a dilemma. Sercombe paid
no heed. He was staring, as l could
just perceive-staring out upon the
river over our heads.
'Do you see anything?" he asked
NO one answered MN.
"Stay on your oars" he commanded.
and l no longer recognized the soft
voice of our old enemy. but something
jtronger and imperious. 1t sounded OF
Chile and Peru. We ceased rowing.
What do you hear?" he inquired.
Nothing" came from Montgomery.
"I'll trust your ears, lad" said Ser
combe. Drive on
The river opened wider, and the
banks fell away on either side, sloping
softly up to great black heights, and
now current from the sea came hum
ming over the river bar and met us,
striking the tubs beall with dull
plush She swung and twisted, groan-
ing in her sides.
That's the estuary" said Montgom-
cry.
Sercombe leaned forward. "And
we've not caught 'em," he said musing-
sly. Hood must have had a notion.
Well, you see, he was bound to push
on
Our changes had taken place with
punctuality, and now lay across the
bows and had my ear to the channel.
The wind came up and blew gently
about my face. Good" sighed Ser
combe chats refreshing. l thought l
should stitle.''
Sheppard, who was yachtsman, cast
glance over his shoulders at the black
horizon but he said nothing. The cur
rent throbbed under the belly OF the
boat, and she rose and fell upon the
waves.
81 suppose we're out noww asked
Sercombe.
Darkness environed us, and l could
see nothing forward or upon the left.
A gloomy mass of shadow lay upon the
right hand
We're hugging the right bank"
said. II think we're in the estuary. I
can see nothing"
well, keep her in close" said Ser
combe, jerking his rudder. THAT
winds coming up bit"
A flaw sailed out Of the night and
played upon us sharply. With that cur
rent drawing below her and under the
stress of the gust she reeled and hung.
Then she began slowly to creep along
the water Sercombe jammed the boat
close to the shore Then out Of the
abysmal darkness the wind brought
new sound to my cars
l turned to the others. They're In
front" I murmured.
"What's that?' called Sercombe from
the stern.
spoke louder.
"Give me the sculls," said Sheppard.
''Confound your hulking form, man!
She'll fill if we give her the ha'p'orth
of chance. Keep under the lee Of the
shore, and we'll run her along"
"Go double, boys" urged Sercombe.
They bent to their work with zest,
and the boat spun along in a lull of the
wind. The sound Of oars dipping IN
water grew clearer.
Sheppard dropped his scull. Its all
right" he declared I'VE can catch
them. I've no doubt of that Let's
think. What are we going to do?'
"Why, catch 'em!" cried Montgom.
cry.
1--WE must strike somewhere and
some time" said 1. "The question is
shall we do it now"
Sercombe sat considering, and L think
we all unconsciously were awaiting his
decision. he pulled the rudder strings
suddenly with resolution.
well get bit nearer anyhow" be
remarked, land the wind will keep
our news from them. But l fancy this
has got to be settled on terra lirma."
II agree with you," assented.
"Pull on, then" he replied and him
self prepared for action.
AS Sheppard and Montgomery dipped
their oars swell Of the ticte struck
her on the broadside, whittier she had
fallen away. simultaneously capful
of wind darted upon us. The Tub rolled
over and kicked till the gunwale lay
under the water. We flung ourselves
to the farther side, and she righted, the
sea pouring in cataract across her
bows. Her nose sank deeply in the
trough, and felt the boards slant
away from me toward the stern.
"She is sinking said Montgomery.
"Give way: Give wayw called Shep-
pard sharply. Put her head up" And
the two drove the souls through the
masses of foaming water. The dingey
1,std IN