Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-16
CHATTER XIII.
Some Shots to The Purpo,e.

| TT WAS considerably later that we were
compelled to scale the face of n ragged
chalk blum, whence onward we progressed
more singerly at the very verge Of one Of
the characteristic low, abrupt cliffs of the
region. Below us the sea growled menac-
| ingly as II gnawed at the rocks
1t now drew on toward evening" fact
made evident by a sharper tinge Of chill
in the air and perceptible darkening Of
| the vague distorted shadows which we
| passed without knowing what caused them.
But the way began to seem intermnable.
| and | became sensible OF fatigue. Crow
ing impatient I sprang ahead and caught
| UP with Sevrance, who at once stopped.
'well?" he said
Grady Joining us at that moment put
| the question; Would we ever arrive at the
| landing? To which Sevrance replied by a
doubtful shake Of the head
This cursed fog :" he said, In an under
tone, which was. nevertheless, vindctlve
| enough. And night coming on. tool
ITS dlscouraglng" sympathized
where do you fancy we are?'
II don't know. To my way of thinking
we should have passed the spot some timo
ago there was and should be now a beaten
path running down to the cliffs edge, a
railing and flight OF stairs to the beach
below. md it's that I've been looking for
BY mischance have missed IT, but"
whats thot?" Grady demanded sharply
Listen, thin" he said. Faith
thought | heard whistle, your honors"
As II to credit his interruption. there
sounded at that moment a sharp and clear
and shrill whistle. apparently from some
point out over the waters.
THE MyoSotisi" cried Sevranoe clutch
ing my arm. They've drlftod in by dead
reckoning, going upon the voice Of that
lighthouse horn"
I raised my hand. gesturlng for silence
just ms the tinkle Of bell floated in there
after, for time, we heard quite distinctly
the dull clamor of the engines the jangllng
Of bells, and the voice of a man--presum-
ably sailor in the bows-callng out a
series OF nautical phrases which l have
forgotten. Sevrance said that he was talk
ing soundings.
They're standing close in," he exclaimed
to us. but there's little danger, and deep
water almost to tho edge of the beach.
They'll discover their mistake before long
and draw off to anchor"
The event proved the accuracy of his
deductions for within the next few min
utes the sound gradually receded uf'i the
voice of the man with the lead was almost
indistingulshable. and the noise of the en-
gines stlled to a murmur.
Shortly afterwards the whistle sang
again, and we heard the clangor of steel
chains running through hawser holes. They
were anchoring. Both Sevrance and drew
deep breath Of relief. 1t remained for
us only to locate the head of the landing
and await the party from the ship.
We spent half an hour or so in a fruit
less search, and then the twilight deepened
into a purple dusk. and we were forced
to desst for fear of making n msstep in
the darkness and falling over the edge of
the cliff Wretchedly enough-hungry,
weary. cold and wet-we hudded together
in the shelter of a spreading tree and COM
posed ourselves to walt.
1t proved trying to the utmost of our
patience For long time there was no
sound from seaward
With the final stage of darkness, how
ever when there remained to us no more
than mere glimmer of light, there came
q most welcome change in the weather, in
augurated by the touch of breath OF air
upon our cheeks
Sevrance wet his finger and held It up
"A land breeze" he announced "if It holds
or freshenS, we'll have n clear night. That
may he what they are anticipating out there.
In fact I shouldn't care to cut loose from
the vessel in boat and run up and down
the coast, looking for landing, In this
Internal"
already the breeze was waxing. the folds
OF mist about us trembling and wavering
under it's assault.
Ten minutes of this" he prophesied.
"and we'll"
Even then the fog lifted, rolling back
from the face of the earth like a wall OF
snow, slowly but resstlessly blown out to
sea by that thrice blessed wind.
Praises be-" Grady gave thanks fer
vently.
Sevrance sllenced him with word. how
ever, and we stood quietly watching the
panorama Of land and sea that unfolded
TO our eyes.
CONTINUED TOMORROW