Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-01

But how are you going to lower 1t
away?"
~ will have to go up on deck for
that" said.
But won't they see your"
'T don't think so. but whether they
do or not we must chance it, bat If
anything should happen to me I'll cut
the boat adrift. and you will be in
Gods hands"
Silently / assisted her to take her
place in the stern sheets. 1t was not
a large boat. On the contrary, yet she
made but a small figure sitting there.
Then went on deck l had can OF
oil with me to oil the blocks. 1t was
as fancied. By that time everybody
on the ship was asleep in drunken
stupor. The ship was deserted so far
as human supervision was concerned.
Still didn't neglect any precaution.
I oiled the shives of the block and
lowered the boat away carefully. inch
by inch. until it was water borne.
treasured my mistress by whispered
words as / did so. She had had her in
structions and right we'll she followed
them. She had her boat hook out and
Tended off the minute the boat touched
the water. For me to Delay the falls
and slide down the forward one to cast
of and take my place in the boat was
but the work of an instant. The oars
had been carefully muffied. Although
the noise of the waves rendered con-
versation quite safe. we neither OF us
smoke a word until | had rowed some
distance from the ship.
II was nearly midnight before we got
everything shipshape, my lady brave.
ly helping me with her best efforts,
and the little vessel threshed CALAMITY
through the big seas.
| had carefully taken my bearings
during the day and as lad good
compass on the boat ! knew exactly
how TO steer. Fortunately the wind
held steady. laid her course SC
as to clear the northeast end of the
! island, around which | intended to
swing so as to be hidden from the
ship at daybrcak.
told her after awhile that she was
| safe. No sound had come from the
| ship and the lights in the cabin which
Mt first we could see dimly presently
| disappeared. Our escape had not beer
! discovered. / suggested at last thai
she should go to sleep. ] arranged the
/ boat cloak and blankets and although
she had to be much persuaded finally
prevailed upon her TO lie down In tbs
boat. her head by my knees. and thus
we sailed on through the night.
When Day broke / hauled aft thu
sheet and headed the boat to the south
ward. for had now crossed the heat
I of the island and could run down thu
other side. BIZ the time it was fairll
dawn i had made enough southing Il
place the north end Of the island be
Il tween ourselves and the ship. ] steer
ed the boat toward the land
/ Ny hopes were high and felt KIM
of EXPLANATION at our escape, although
/ was by no means inclined TO mini
mize the possibilities Of peril we nigh
soon be compelled to meet The ISLAM
was our des..na ton, however. and 10
it therefore i determinedly beaded m
small craft with its precious and stil
peacefully sleeping cargo.
. The island was unlike any had eve
looked upon. In the first place. Tx
J most Pacific islands. 1t was inclosei
, by a barrier reef. over which n
waves broke in whitecaps as far as
r could see ] supposed that somewher
there would be an opening in the rec
through which we could sail. Tha
was invariably the case with all quo