The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-05-13
Miscellaneous.
From the New York Dispatch.
II III E r e s. C UE.
SKETCHES BY THE CAPTAIN.


at her anchors inside Of the Hook.
We had hard time of it, beating about for
eleven days off this coast, with cutting north
casters blowing, and snow and sleet falling
for the most of that time Forward. the YES
sci was thickly coated with ice, and it was
hard work to handle her. as the rigging and
sails were stiff, and yielded only when the
strength ofthe men was eXerted TO the ut
yanost When at length we made the port, all
hands were worn down and exhausted. We
could not have held outtwo days longer with
..out relief.
ia bitter cold night, Mr. Larkin,' said to
my mate, as l Tarried for moment OH deck
TO finish my cigar.
The worthy down-easter buttoned his coat
more tightly around him, looking up to the
moon-and felt of his red nose before he re-
piled
.'tJl's whistle captain, as we used to saw
on the Kennebunk. Nothing lives comfort
able out ofblankets in such night as this"
"Tke tide is running out swift and strong;
it will be well to keep sharp lookout for this
floating ice, Mr. Larkin.'
"Aye, aye, sir" responded the mate, and
went down below.
Two hours afterwards and was aroused
from sound sleep by the vigilant officer
"Excuse me for disturbing you. captain"
said he, as he detected an expression of vex-
i
out and come on deck as soon MS possible"
"Why, what's the matter, Mr. Larkn?"
"Why, sir, have been watching large
cake flee that swept by at n little distance,
moment ago; saw something black on it:
something that thought moved: the moons
under cloud, and could not see distinctly,
but so help me God, believe there's a child
floating out 10 sea, in this freezing night, OH
that cake Office"
4. e,
mother word. The mate pointed out with no
little difficulty the cake of ice, floating off to
: leeward, and its white glinering surface was
broken 10y black spot; more l could not
make out.
''Get me the glass, Mr. Lurkn, the moon
will be out of the cloud in a moment, aud
then we can see distinctly"
kept my eye on the receding mass of ice,
while the moon was slowly working her way
through heavy bank of clouds. The mate
stood by with the glass. When the full light
fell at last upon the water, with brilancy
only known in our northern attitudes, ] PUT
the glass 10 my eye. One glance was enough
Forward, thereI' | shouted at the top of
my voice, and with one bound reached the
nain hatch and began to clear away the little
cutter which was slowed in the ships yawl.
Or Larkin had received the glass from my
hand, to take look for himself 'My God!''
me in getting out the boat---"My God, there
are two children on that cake of ice!"
Two men answered my hail, and walked
lazily aft: In an incredibly short space of
time we launched the cutter, into which Mr.
Larkin and myself jumped, followed by the
two men who took the oars. rugged the
;tiller, and the mate set beside me in the stern
Sheets.
"Do you see that cake of ice with some
or 10 I,1 4
long-side that, and I'll give you bottle of
rum each, tonight, and months extra wag-
es when you are paid off,"
The men bent to their oars. but their strokes
We're uneven and feeble. They were used
up by the hard duty ofthe preceding fortnight
and though they did their best, the boat made
little more way than the tide. This was u
long chase-and Mr. Larkin, who was suffer-
ing as he saw how little we gained, cried out,
"Pnll, lads-l'll double the captains prize;
aswo bottles of rum and two months pay; pull
dads, for the love ofGod, pull"
a, conyulsive effort at the oars told how
willing the men were to obey, but the strength
aof the strong man was gone. One of the poor
tfellows washed us twice in recovering his
oar, and then gave out; the other was nearly
sas far gone. Mr. Larlin sprung forward and
seized the deserted oar
Lay down in the bottom of the boat,'' said
he to the man. Sand captain take the other
oar; we must row for ourselves"
took the second mans place; Larkin had
stripped to his Guernsey shirt, and as he pull
ed the bow, waited for the signal stroke
III came gently but firm, and the next moment
we were pulling long, steady stroke, grad
eually increasing in rapidly, until the wood
seemed to smoke inthe oar locks. We kept
time, each by the long deep breathing of the
other Luch pull! We bent forward until
our faces almost touched our knees and then
throwing all our strength into the backward
movement, drew on the oar until every inch
of the space covered by the sweep had been
gained. At every stroke the boat shot ahead
like an arrow discharged from bow, Thus
we worked at the oars for fifteen minutes-it
seemed TO me as many hours. The sweat
rolled off of me in great drops, and ! was en-
,veloped in a steam generated from my own
body.
"Are we almost up to it. Mr. Larkin?"
gasped out.
"a, "Almost, captain-don't give up; for the
love ofour dear little ones at home,-don't
give up, captain~
The oars flashed as the blades turned up to
the moonlight. The men who piled them
We're fathers, and had fathers hearts: the
strength which nerved them at that moment
was more than human.
Suddenly Mr. LarEin ceased pulling and
my heart for a moment almost ceased its
beating, for the terrible thought that he had
gwen out crossed my mind. But was quick
~ treasured by bis voice.:
"Gently, captain, gen,ly--a stroke or two
f1lOre--tbere thar will floo-and the neYt mo-