The Argosy — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Black Buoy. EL save him. Yes, I! The skill which I had attained for my own heedless pleasure should be put to stern service. I determined that when the lugger showed her signal in answer to that treacherous one from the shore, I would swim out to the buoy and keep myself afloat at the entrance of the channel until I could hail our people and warn them of their danger. “T never hesitated after I had formed this resolution. I forgot that I was hungry and tired, and began instantly to make my prepara- tions. On the narrow ledge of rock where I now knelt, I undressed and put on my little bathing costume, which consisted only of a tunic and drawers. I made my clothes into a bundle, and stowed them away in acleft. Then, like a cat, I clambered up the rocks, hiding behind every projection, and keeping a fearful watch upon the sentinel at the head of the gully. ‘** Fortunately the gully was not very deep. When I reached the top I crept on my hands and feet until I judged I was well out of sight, and started for the end of the Point. I took my time, for the moment of action was long enough distant, and I had to husband my strength. At last I reached the rock from which I meant to dart, and sat down to wait for the lugger’s signal. “T did not know the time, and could only guess it by calculating from the sunset. How long should I have to wait? How long did “I wait? Heaven knows, but it seemed an age. I got sleepy from my day’s exertions. ‘The night air was cold, too; and my clothing, admirably adapted for exercise, was somewhat scanty for sitting still. Besides, it was damp. The wretchedness of that long watch comes before me now. And, oh! would the slow minutes never pass ? **T waited so long that I believed I must have fallen asleep and missed the signal, and I was on the brink of burying my face in my hands and giving way to despair, when I checked myself — and flash! far out on the dark sea, there it was! I sprang to my feet, every nerve tingling. The moment for action had arrived. “TI paused a moment to take the bearings of the buoy. I knew exactly how it lay from the Point, for I had swam round it often enough. But not in the dark. Not with the water a vast, heaving, black plain, mingling with the black sky. “‘But I never hesitated. In I went, and after a few strokes, the sense of vigorous exercise, exultation in physical power and skill, overcame my misgivings. On I went, struggling hard to keep my wits about me, in spite of the horror that would rush over my brain now and again. It was hard work, too, for the tide was coming in, there were breakers in the shallows, and in the channel the tide ran fast and strong. Once] all but gave up. I got out of the channel among the breakers; and the buffeting and banging bewildered me, so that I fell into a sort of panic. I threw myself on my back, and in the very act, thanks to my practised eyesight, I caught sight of the buoy. There it was, bobbing up and down, like a silly black cork, Gomilchboo <S (E(©) m