The Nerve of Foley, and Other Railroad Stories

in the face of difficulties, for what lay before them and how they we

get the cutter over the

the derricks," repli

inches to come from? We've no steam at our command, you

clouded; he thought fo

the derricks and ri

cKay. "But what is th

twelve hundredweight; this

and the four of you will

e blocks was secured to the cud of the derrick, which was then hoisted to an angle of about

all to

e rope. The blocks squeaked as the strain bega

the air jerked the disengaged lower block. The s

d well-nigh winded him. Ellerton was clapping his hands to a rapidly rising bump on the back of his head, while Quexo, whose skull w

dy. "Everything on board this

is time their efforts were crowned with success. The cutter rose slowl

re! Man the

tter was poised above the water and wel

way hand

e rode, sheltered under the lee of her st

med down the rope, disengaged the tackle, and a

g more than was absolutely necessary for immediate use was to be taken, until it was

ings amongst those trees," said Ellerton. His sense of responsibility was hourl

ets, knives, and fire

rea

ry enterprise and the fear of a visit from a warship; yet cannibalism still exists. I have known instances of the crews of small 'pearlers' being treacherous

trace of the key. "Here is a sextant and a bundle of charts, however," he added. "They are

nd a half English feet. But, as you say, the

he captain's cabin," exclaimed El

d by the splintering of wood, and the two

lvers in his arms and a sheath-knife between his teeth, while Ellerton staggered ben

place is like a regular a

e to be sold to some South American insurgents. They are much too good for bartering with the South Sea Islanders. Nevertheless, I'm right g

quantity of gear was carefully stowed under the thwarts. Then came the que

couple of rope spans round the plank and their bights slip

ying mess table and its helpless burden on to a couple of the after thwarts. This done, they

eyond the shelter of the stranded vessel they felt the full force of the roll

on the rocks; but by dint of the utmost exertions of her crew, the

wiping his face, from which the perspiration ran free

poor fellows last night," replied Ellerton. "T

mediately to lee'ard of the ship, and it was high water at th

the boat when I look

isible from the ship. Being directly to wind'ard, we are

ly six feet-it had been abnormally high by reason of the terrific wind-they cou

p water, but we cannot say for certain. The first fine day there's

oat, passing through the narrow gap in t

he rested on his oar and gazed into the clear depths of t

u do," remarked Mr. McKay. "Ther

inclined position he could see ahead, while the rowers had their backs turned in that direction. His keen eyes had detected the sinister

he huge monsters, and they darted off to the

lmost over the fatal spot, and five minutes later

a common impulse, knelt down and returned thanks to Divine Providence for their escape. "Keep he

and grasping a rifle in his hand, Ellerton took a

m the lagoon. That to the left was not less than five hundred feet in height, while the other was but slightly lower. Midw

ton, who had taken the precaution of charging both the

cout than his companion; still, it showed that Ellerton was fast a

kept a vigilant look-out for any traces

eam, which, trickling down the ste

, I say, isn't everything quiet?" For, save the babbling of the brook and the distant roar of the breakers on the r

, this part," said Andy, as they completed their walk along the shores of t

" answered Ellerton. Then, with an exclamatio

urnful relic of the unfortunate boat, her back-board bearin

ember," said Ellerton. "An

here's no suitable clearing here for a camp, and fel

Mr. McKay on

cliff," said his son. "There may be a better site fo

ns of th

rt of th

much," repl

*

dy enthusiastically, as the boat slowly r

almost bare of trees. In the background towered a range of mountains whose rugged sides g

they had first touched, consisting of sand interspersed by ledges

a narrow cove betwixt the ledges. "There's sand at it