Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-07-27
GALLIPOLIs, OHIO JULY 27. 1854

STAYED man-of-war, but she kept gal
lantly on; and now she rolled heavily
aud slowly, but never abated the swift
fight towards shore. It was midnight
when the wind was highest. The
howling of the cordage was demonical.
Now a scream, now a shrek, now a
wall, and a laugh of mocking madness.
On, on we flew.
1 looked up and turned quite round
the horizon, but could see no sky, no
cloud-all was blackness; in moment
1 felt again that strange thrill, and at
that instant fancied blackness ahead;
and the next, with crash and plunge,
the Foam was gone? Down went my
gallant boat, and with her another ves-
sci, unseen in the black night. The
wheel to which 1 had been lashed had
broken loose and gone over with me be-
fore she sank 1t was heavy and cut
it away, and it went down in the deep
sea above my boat. And, seeing a
spar, seized it and thrill of agony
shot through me, as l recognized the
delicate finger of a woman. l drew
her to me and lashed her to the spar by
my side; and so, in the black night we
two foated away over the stormy ocean.
NY companion was senseless-for all
knew dead. A thousand emotions
passed through my mind in the next
five minutes. Who was my companion
on the slight spar? Whose was the
vessel I had sunk? Was l with the
body of human being, or was there a
spark of life left? And how could fan
it to flame? Would it not be better
to let her sink than float off with me
thus alone, to starve or die of thirst and
agony?
l chafed her hands, her forehead, her
shoulders. In the dense darkness l
could not see feature of her face, nor
tell if she were old or scarcely
if white or black. The silence on the
sea was fearful. So long as 1 had been
on the deck of my boat, the wind,
whistling through the ropes and around
the spars had made continual sound;
but now l heard nothing but the occa-
sional sparkling of the spray, the dash
of foam cap, or the heavy sound of
the wind pressing on my ears.
At length she moved her hand feebly
in mine. How my heart leaped at that
slight evidence that l was not alone on
the wide ocean. l redoubled my exer-
TONS | passed one of her arms around
my neck to keep it out of the water,
while l chafed the other with both of
mine. 1 felt the clasp of that arm
tighten-I bowed my head toward hers.
She drew me close to her and laid her
check against mine. 1 let it rest-it
might warm hers, and SO help to give
her life. Then she nestled close to my
bosom and whispered, "thank you
Why did my brain so wildly throb in
my head at that whispered sentence?
She knew not where she was, that was
very clear. Her mind was wandering.
At that instant the end of the spar
struck some heavy object, and we were
dashed by huge wave over it, and to
my Joy, were left on floating deck. /
cut the lashing from the spar, and fast
ened my companion and myself to the
new raft or wreck, l knew not which,
and all this time that arm was around
my neck, and rigid as in death.
Now came the low, wild wall, that
precedes the breaking up of Storm
The air seemed filed with viewless
spirits, mournfully singing and signing.
l never thought of her as anything else
than human being. 1t was that hu-
manity, that dear likeness of life, that
endeared her to me. wound my arms
around her, and drew her close to my
heart, bowed my head over her, and, in
the wildness Of the moment, pressed my
lips to hers in long passionate kiss Of
intense love and agony. She gave il
back, murmuring some name of endear-
ment, wound both arms around my neck,
and laying her head on my shoulder,
with her forehead pressed to my cheek
fell into a calm slumber. That kiss
burns on my lips to this hour. Half q
century of the cold kisses of the world
have not sufficed to chill its influence
1t thrills me now as then! 1t was mad.
ness with idol worship of the form God
gave in the image of himself which ir
that hour l adored as even God! l fee
the unearthly joy again to-day, as l re.
member the. clasp of those unknown
arms, and the soft pressure of that fore
head. knew not, 1 cared not, if sh,
were old and haggard, or young anc
fair.
L only knew and rejoiced with JOY
untold, that she was human, mortal o
my own kin, by the great Father of ou
race.
1t was night of thought and emo
tions and phantoms that can never b
described. Morning dawned gravely-
the first faint CLEAN of light showet
me driving cloud above my head
was welcomed with shudder. Ihate,
; light. l wanted TO float over tha
heavenly ocean, with that form clingin,
t to me and my arms around it, and M
lips ever and anon pressed to the pas
sionless lips of the heavy sleeper.