The San Francisco call., 1913-07-27

chance to get away, but they reported
that the launches of the guards were
cruising UP and down. We had NJ
chance to get away, If they should SPY
Us, because, Of course, our boat was
very very slow, and the launches were
swift.
"Six days had passed and 1t was
necessary to make a break at once.
Antoine the Bull declared that we
must start that sixth night, so we
waited for an ebb tide and pulled our
stubborn boat out into the water.
Everybody climbed in in hurry and
let ourselves drift in the swift cur
rent out toward the open sea.
1--WE were at the mercy of chance. 1t
had been impossible to make oars. We
had no tools in the first place and there
had been no time. Every man had
worked at his utmost speed, lashed on
by the terrifying Antoine, and there
had been hardly any sleep for anybody
during that six days and nights OF few
erish TOLL So we just drifted before
the wind.
when morning came--it dawns very
early in that part of the world-we
found that we were at sea and the
mainland was a faint line that soon
faded away. But If we had suffered in
the camp, we had to go through fearful
pains out there in that open boat
Remember, we were without a
stitch of clothing. Everything had
been used to put into that craft that
rolled so hard that every minute we
thought we were going to be flung into
the sea.
Nobody had the least idea where
we were going. But Antoine pointed
out that the sun beat in our faces in
the day and that at night 1t was at our
backs. So at least we we're going north
ward. Slowly our boat rocked along
in an agonizing way. and at the end OF
the sixth day we felt sure that we were
off the coast OF Dutch Guiana, which
lies above French Guiana. There was
hope!
sBut the hardships we're too much
even for that hardy band, although
Antoine had picked the strongest He
guarded the scanty store of water and
would allow only few drinks day
to each man. Our thirst was terrible.
for the sun beat down from cloudless
sky for the first six days.
Rebellion arose. While the Bull was
asleep three of the party charged him,
seeking the treasure Of water. They
tried to hurl the giant into the sea with
bitter curses. But Antoine was too
much for them. He was awake at the
first touch. With what seemed scarcely
an effort he flung the attacking trio
into the water and they swan around.
trying to climb back again. Antoine
mocked them for hours until at last
they sank. Nobody else dared to raise
his voice. Besides, hadn't the three
tried to take our water from us?
There were three less to bother
about; that was all.
Now we were nine. We drifted
nearer to the shore and the next day
great storm arose. It came just as we
thought we were about to land. For
time the boat kept right side up, but
only while the gale was gathering.
she went over and all were
in the angry sea. The waves
we're immense and three more were lost.
"Six left, and all in the water!
Even Antoine was helpless. He was
my friend and he could not swim. We
were now at the mouth OF one OF those
great yellow rivers. There are really
thousands of sharks at such places and
our peril was very great. So while An
tome and another man whom l liked
clung to the upturned boat, swan on
behind pushing the boat as best could
toward the shore. The others had to
shift for themselves.
Even in the storm the fms Of the
sharks soon showed themselves. They
were diving all about US, coming nearer
and nearer as the circles in which they
swan narrowed. Soon one man
screamed and then another as they
There we're four left
The storm died down as night came
on. All the time | was swimming and
pushing the boat. On all sides were
the dorsal fms of the man-eaters as
hey followed during the hours of dark
ness. | cannot tell how I lasted. No
doubt fright gave me the strength OF
forty men.
II suppose It was the fact that was
always in motion that kept me from
being gobbled up by the sharks. In the
light of the dawn we saw that another
was gone. Only three OF
he twelve left
At last the wind and tide drove us
IN sand bar and we were safe. AS
1ear as we could guess it was o'clock
n the morning when the gale hit us.
and it was about 5 o'clock the next
morning when we were cast on that
,ar.
Safe, but at what a cost, Antoine