Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-08-18

| 80: W. "S, ViCtof. Ttpllcu Us near u
end-if we ever reach the shore, it will be loa
ing lifeless amid the ice'
Courage said he, do not despond ar
Selling my arm, we moved with speed in the d
rectlon where lights streamed from the gay an
pleasant mansion which we had so madly lief
An, how with mingledhopes and fears our hear,
peat, as with s'rainng eyes we looked towar
the beacon. In an instant even az we sped q
along, the ice opened again before us, and ere
could check my impetus, | was, with the lar
tern in my hand, plunged within the flood. NJ
companion retained his hold of me, and wit
herculean strengthhe dragged me from the dar
tide upon the fral floor over which we had bee
speeding. In the struggle, the lantern fell iron
my grasp and sunk within the whirling waters
Great God ! exclaimed Victor, the field w
stand upon is mOring and 50 it was. TIN
mass closed up the gap into which had falcr
and we could hear the edges which formed thu
brink OF the chasm, crushing and crumblinp a.
they moved together in the conflict. We stoo,
breathes>ly clingng to each other, listening {,
the mad fury of the wind, and the awful roa
OF the ice which broke and surged around us
The wind moaned by us and above our head
like the wall of nature in agony, while mincnl
with Its voice could be distinctly heard the om
nous reverberatons which proclaimed genera
breaking up ofthe whole surface of the lake.
lhe wind and current were both driving the ice
towards the Detroit river, and we could see by
the lights on the shore that we were randly
passing in that direction. A dark line, scarce.
y observable, revealed where the distant shore
narrowed into the strait; but the hope of ever
reaching it died within me, as our small platform
rose and sunk on the troubled waves.
While floating thus, held tightly in the grasp
OF my companion, his deep breathing tanning
my cheek, felt my sense gradually becoming
"rapt with sweet dream, and so quickly did il
steal upon me, that in few moments all the
peril of our position was yelled from my mind
and was revealing in a delightful illusion.
was floating upon an undulatlng field of ice, in
trumphal car, drawn by snow white steeds,
and in my path gttered myriad gems of the icy
north. My progress seemed to be as quiet as
the falling of the snow-fl flake, and swift as the
wind, which appeared drawn along with my
chariot. wheels. TO add to this dreamy delight.
many forms of beauty, svmetrica as angels.
with eyes radicnt as the stars of night, foated
around my pathway. Though their forms APP
peared superior to earth, the tender expression
Of their eyes was altogether human. Their e.
therial forms were clad in flowing robes. white
as the wintry drift; coronets Of icy Jewels cir.
ced theirbrows, and glitteredupon their graceful
necks their golden hair tloated upon the sport.
i've wind, as if composed of the suns bright rays
and the effect upon the infatuated gazer at these
spirt-like creations, was desire not to break
the spell, lest they should vanish from before his
entranced vision. To add to the charm of their
power they burst into music wild as the ele.
mens, but yet so pantively sweet, that the
senses yielded up in utter abandon to its sooth.
ing swell. had neither the power nor the wish
to iiuve but undo, the inhuepco Of tb;, ,a,;.i.;u..
lrpa Anafa nj in ap oil htass
being, attended by an angel throng, whose volup
tuous forms delighted, and whose pleasing voic.
es lulled into all the joys of fancy eysium.
From this dream was aroused to the mos
painful sensations. The pangs of death car
bear no comparison to the agony of throwing
off this sleep. Action was attended with torture
and every move of my blood seemed as if motcr
lead was coursng through my veins. My com
panion, by every means he could think of. wa:
forcing me back to consciousness but | chung
with the tenacty of death to my sweet dream
! He dashed my body upon our floating island he
Tinched my flesh fastened his fingers into IN,
hair, and beat me into feeling with the power o
his muscular arm. Slowly the figures of my
dream began TO change-my triumphant ca
vani.hed-dark night succeeded the soft lgh
which had before tioated around me, and the fa
forms, which had facinated my soul by the
. ptdutN. were UDW CIoliptu iIitO IbIics, Wiloss
voices mingling in the howl of the elements
sounded Ikea wall of sorrow, or chant of rage
They looked into my eyes with orbits lit b,
burning hatred, while they seemed to lash m,
with whips of the biting wind, until every fibre il
my brain was convulsed with rage and madness
| screamed with madness, and gra- ping the mus
cuar form OF my companion, amid the loud how
of the storm, amid the roar Of the crushing ice
amid the gloom of dark night upon that uncer
tain platform of the CONCEALED yet moving wa
tiers, fought with hun, and struggled for tn
mastery. raned ii Iws upon his body and h
returned them with interest. tried to plung
with him into the deep waters that were bab
bling around us, but he held me back as if wer
a child and in impotent rage wept at m
weakness. Slowly our perlous situation force
itself upon my mind. bacame conscious tina
platform, brittle as the thread OF life, was a
that separated me from IA watery grave and
fancicd that the wind was murmurlng our re
QUEEN as i, passed. Hope died within me; bu
not so with my companion.
Speak to mer he cried arouse, and let m
hear your voice shake off this slupor, or you ar
LOST.
why did you wake me ? inquired, Will
in that lcthargy was happy
while there is hope you should never yiel
to despair said Victor. i discovered you free.
ing in my arms. Come, arouse yourself MOI
fully; Providence has designed for us anotht
grave than the waters of Lake ST. Clair, or el
this we would have been quietly resting in SON
Of the clIasms beneath. We are floating rapi,
ly into the river, and will here find some chanc
to escape
Here, at last answered ], desponding
we are likely to find our resting place
Shake oft this despondency = exclaimed VII
, tor, it is unmanly. II we are to die, let it be
a struggle against death. We have now on
TO avoid being crushed between the fields of c
Oh that unfortunate lantern if we had on
retained it-but no matter, we will escape vel
aye, and have another dance among our frien,
, in yonder old hospitable mansion. Courage! Ii
exclaimed, see, yonder lights are dancing o
! posite ne upon the shore. IIark ] he;
shouts
A murmur, as Of the expiring sound Of shou
rose above the roar OF the ice aud waters--b
: it failed to arouse me. The lights, though, "
soon plainly discerned; and on the bluff, at II
very mouth of the river column of flame b.
! gan to rise, which cast a lurid light far over II
! surface of The raging lake. Some persons stoC
) al the edge Of the wood waving lghtei tnrche
} and though from their manner that we wei
discovered,
We are safe, thank God = says Victor
: They have discovered us
J Hope revived again within me, and my mu
cles regaincd their strength. We were onl
distant about one hundred yards from shore, al
: rapidly nearing it, when scene commence
} which, for the wildly terrific, exceeded aught
h,l IzT.- -