Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05

can't leave the men," he said KNOCK out
the shackle-pin handy, and see your halards
elear, ea | wonder. if the. Russian is looking
ior an anchorage inside of Avatchka reef-the
sea Is getting heavy-where can that dory bc?"
80 they waited, intent and uneasy, while
the Fish Eagle plunged her bows more sharp
ly into the breast of every sea. until faint
flash, like the glimmer of a lantern, came
three times out of the darkness, signal there
was need of aid. "They haven't seen the
gunboat; but they can't pull her off against
the, wind and sea-ah, they're. at it againl"
said the mate. "We daren't show light in
answer. l hope the Russian won't see it as
he gropes along the land"
Wen slip, and run inshore for them,"
answered Marvin Fletcher. THAT water viii
come higher than the best French wine, but
II the cruiser is near at hand. they would
hear the cable, sure"
Fhe mate swung heavy hammer, some one
knocked up the pawls; there was a strident
roar of cable, and the headsails huttered aloft,
The skipper jammed his helm a-weather as
the jibs were sheeted home, and, gathering
way, the Fish Eagle drove slashing over the
long roll of spiteful sea, straight in towards
the land, until man ran aft from her fore
deck. The steamers coming down." he said.
Looking. hard to windward, Fletcher made
out something that was only black and shape
hard as he said, I'm spite of all the Russians,
I'm going to have that boat. Lay out on the
boom and loose both rows of reefs. When
you've done, the mate will slack the caring,
and we'll set the whole sail as we round her
up to get the boat aboard" So with her loose
canvas laundering, the Fish Eagle tore through
the sea, until, ,jamrning down his tiller, the
skipper swept her round the boat in long
shoot head to wind. you'll jump for your
lives when you reach us, and hook the tackles
on" he shouted. There's Russian cruiser
coming. It's open sea or 'Vlostok jail"
| Then, as the schooner lay plunging and div
ing with the sea on her weather bow, they
set up the lofty mainsail, and strong hands
gripping the tackles, whipped the boom across
the rail; Lee aheets," " shouted her skipper,
and as the Fish Eagle gathered way the men
looked with anxious faces at the long black
streak to windward, coming down on them
hand over hand. But the free4ance sealer's
vessel is built clean and lean for speed, and
gle buried her lee bulwarks in the welter
thrown off the roaring bows. "She'll have to
stand it somehow" said Fletcher, as the long
fine entrance" lines Of the hull, cut into
the breast of sea-, while tone of icy water
steamers. and a huge, dark hollow yawned
beneath her weather side, as the breadths
of straining canvas drove her through The
sea. But the gunboat was steaming faster,
and glancing up to the weather side, the
skipper saw q red tongue OF flame leap out Of
her reeling funnel
Soon the roar of breaking water drowned
the noise of the reakery, and close at hand
leeward. line of spouting whiteness showed
where the long rollers burst over Ayatchka
reef -Four fathoms," yelled the leadsman.
"Three fathom, and breaking smoother"
came aft the CHEEKY hail; and presently, the
little vessel rolled out Of the piled-up surf
Then the skipper glanced behind him, and,
shaking the water from his hair, chucked as
he said, "The Russians hardly expected we
would cross the Avatchka reef. BY the time
she goes round outside it we'll be far away in
the haze, and should say a steamboats, COM
SO wen close haul her round the lee Of the
island, then stretch out on a bowline, and
every knot the gunboat steams will be another
knot away"
Fletcher was probably right in his surmises,
for when morning broke the Fish Eagle was
alone on wide gray sea, with the mist rolling
along the northern horizon; and her crew were
very thankful as they turned her head towards
the south.