American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-02-14
From BtackwOod's .uagazine.
THE NOCTURNAL SEPARATION.

papers which he had forgot.-Just as he came upon
deck again, tremendous took the vessel astern,
AMI swept him overheard. Mrs. N1onti tainted away.
Captain Burder Immediately cut The barge rope, and
ordered the crew 10 make for the island, saying, it
was absurd even to think of saving my companions
life, and that we should be than fortunate if
we escape similar fate ourselves. The men rowed
furousy, and we soon gained the rock, and landed
in saiey, though not until the bows OF the boat had
been stove in by the violent percussions she under
went while we were getting ashore.
i twas SO dark that none OF us attempted to explore
the apparently isolated spot upon which we had
been obliged to take refuge; and my thoughts
chiefly directed to the recovery of Mrs Mont, who
!, continued in state OF inscnsbility for consdera
bic ime and revived only to feel the agonzing con-
viction that her husband no more. Capt Bur-
der and his crew stood watching the schooher as
The rapidly went to pieces and had great deal OF
conversation among themselves, which the noise Of
f the prevented me from overhearing.
About an hour after we had landed Samno came
running to me, and whispered, that he believed Mr..
Mont was still alive, for he had re emily heard some
one shouting at distance inme tiiately accompa-
MED him projecting point of rock about 100 yds
off, and we both called as loud could A voice
which instantly recognize to be that OF my friend
answered us; but it was etime before ,ble
to distinguish what he said. Al last | ascerained
f that he had reached the shore by clingins part
of the wreck and that he could not gain the spot
I, (which we STOOD, on accoun. of an arm OF the sea
. (which extended inl the interior OF the island; but
that he would lnm -dlately endeayor TO find his way
: round the head It. On hearing this. entreated
y him to desst from any such attempt, till day light
= should render It secure and successful one. He al
last consented, and nNst ned to Mrs. Mont, and
j Communicated the Joy 4 dings Of her husbands
preservation winch affected her neatly as much as
S her previous belief in his death had done.
: Long before dawn We had all assembled on the
" point OF the rock already mentioned; and the first
J., beams OF the M rning Showed Mr.. Monti opposite
II TO The place where stood, and divided from US
& by what ppeae ed to be Of the sea- about one
II bundled and fifty yards wide. After exchanging
ew words with his wife, he set out to compass its
s. head and thus get round to US, while Sammo went
! 10 meet him.
i We waited their arrival impatiently for nearly
halt al hour, and then saw the negro coming to-
wards with looks of despair We ale all de-
J, ceiyed," cried he this is not arm Of the sea,
but channel between two distinct islands; we are
Of on one and Mr. Mont on the other; he cannot pos
o. sibly reach US, unless he swms across, brought
i, over in boat. What is to be doneF" This intel
ligence filled Mrs. Mouti and me with dsmay fol
both knew That the boat totally unfit oi service
!, land that her husband tould not swim.-Eyery one
y appeared in some measure TO participate in our dis
n. tress and disappointment, except captain Burder
3 who when asked il there were any OF rescu
ling Mr.. Mont, said, that it beloved him to sc
81 across he channel as he best could.
u Mr.. Mont soon appeared on the opposite rock
and explained the hopeessness OF his situation NOR
M fully than Samno had done. The channel had
rapid current; the SET of which we perceived wou
'e, vary with the ebb and flow of the tide; but it
so strong that expert swimmer coul
= scarcely hope to battle its iorce and reach the ad
verse shore. No efIectual plan of relief suggeste
lxn
ny cessaIy that something should speedily be done
I'M Tor though we had picked up considerable quau
~ tity oil wrecked provisions, Mr.. Mont had non
iii of any kind. We tn reore saw at once that Ii
must either risk his life upon the sea, or pers
with hunger.
In the afternoon under the influence OF these cor
victions he began to collect together all the piece
a Of plank he could hnd and having torn up his sh
Ia. and handkerchief into strips, he bound the tmbt
H. together, so as form sort of raft This he cor
ing yeged to the utter extremity OF his own island, hoT
les ing the sweep of the current might carry hin
a'ra when embarked TO the lower end OF the oppos
shore. These preparations viewed with to
- turing suspense and anxiety by Mrs. Mont and m
and when her husband had placed himself upon Il
olv raft she grew half frantic with alarm, and enreatt
ted him to dtsst. However, after few moments
nS irresouon, he pushed oil, and was whired rapid
' ,,'n along by the stream.
u.s. None OF us dared to speak, scarcely even
: breathe, during this soul-absorbing crisis. Sever
her Of the crew stood upon the edge of the cliffs Wi
mi ropes in their hands, waiting to afford the advent
ash rous navigator assistance he passed; and the
D. hopes OF being able TO do so were strengthens
when they observed the influence which an edo
had in drawing the raft towards the shore. M
Nlonti was soon within seven eight yards of u.s.
One of the seamen then seized ihe end OF the rop
and made strong effort TO throw it towards Il
raft, but he lost his balance, and fell into the waite
dragging the line along with him. The gold
moment elapsed, and the object of our solicitu