The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-02-11
From Peterson's Magazine
II III T. L lit l. e "A e H %
DY CHARLES J. PETERSON.

The November evening was closing in,
clustering and cold. with every appearance OF
q storm, when three men stood on the beach
near Cape May. watching pilot-boat that
lay at anchor in the offing. Her dark aud
graceful hull, her slender masts with their
jaunty air, and indeed her whole general ap-
peurance would have forcibly recalled 10
landsman the high melted thoroughbred.
AS her bow rose to meet the huge wave that
came rolling in, the tall masts swung back
ward slowly, describing curve against the
leaden-coIored sky; then hesitating for IN
instant. they pitched suddenly forward head
long, as if to precipitate themselves into the
deep. Simultaneously, the enormous billow
came boiling and Kissing past the rudder, to
break, few moments after, in thunder on the
shore; while the light craft rose dripping,
/ like waterfowl after dive, her hull glis-
tening in the twilight away back to her very
mainchans.
"Isn't she beauty,' said one of the spec
tators. Dang, it, there's net gal comes
here all SUMNER" he added, enthusiastically,
"thats got the shape of that ar craft"
His companions laughed, and one Of them
said, after pause.
Little Billy seems to have hard time
batting out, the waves pitch him So"
The lad alluded to was in q small cookie
shell boat, attached by q rope to the stern Of
the schooner. At every pitch of the latter,
the light skiff swung about; now floating
loosely, now hurrying after the large craft.
"Ay!" said the first speaker. "But he's
got to learn his craft, aud the sooner the bet
ter, for he's nothing to depend on butt, eth
er for his NANNY or himself. But what's
l,L. k,, nil h,,t
shot ahead of the sbtf, which Immediately
turned broadside to the waves. "Whew. if
the painter amt broke. The boy'l be drown.
ei.''
The rope had indeed parted. Instantly all
three, as if by one impulse, rushed into the
water, only awakng to the impossbility oil
reaching the lad, when the spent breakers
came washing to their waists. They looked
at each other in dismay. rt-
"llL's got no oars, nor even sail. III
could hear US, we might tell him to get head
to the wind" said the principal speaker. ats
J a chance if he thinks Of it. But in this wine
he Couldn't hear the angel Gabriel. There
Lord help US, he's gone"
As he spoke, mighty roller came adj
vancing from Tie otiing, towering higher ant
! higher as it approached the boy, TILL it seem
$ ed to the spectators as if the mountain of wa
tiers would never cease accommodating When
it reached the little skiff it hung suspendct
for moment, and then rushed downward
: like troop of wolves on its prey.
But while the OoKers.on held their breath
5 in horror, the lad, with quick sagacty, hat
t wrenched bit of board from the lining O
: the skiii, and hurriedly snatchng up his coat
Q had fastened garment to it. With this ju
!. ry-mast he had managed, at the last moment
: TO bring the skif's head 10 the wind SO tina
e at very instant the spectators expected t.
d Sc his boat hurled bottom upward lowar'
S The IN, they beheld it mounting the wave gal
y Ian lv, as u storm bird breasts The gale.
u well done, Billy" shouted the principa
speaker, and carried away by the excitemen
e h. gave voice TO q hearty cheer, in which III,
: others joined.
j "The lads born sailor" said one Of Oh.
others, when the first burst ofjoy had passed
n sit would be mortal shame to let such
: brave little fellow die, even if his poor OF
$ mother didn't look t him for her living. w
9 must launch surf boat, board the craft, an,
d be after him. He can't live long with tina
y rig"
: The plan Of the speaker had suggested it
n self simultaneously 10 the others. But som,
time was necessarily occupied in getting
81 surf-boat into the water, and during the in
T. terval the skiff had nearly disappeared in The
darkness and distance the lad having succeed
: del n.getting his little craft before tie wind
b IS Only chance for permanent SAT- ty.
"iie's done his best, but its taking hin
right on 70 the shoals, and in half an hou
j. nothing can save him." said the man whc
l. steered, as he stood up and looked Cor the lad
It "Pul away with will, boys, or we'll b.
too late after all. Ha! he's waving his hand
p kerchief, as live. He sees us and says he
Hearty yet trump, aud no mistake
C pull! away-here we are, look a!ive."
o In monochrome the little crew were OF
deck, and as soon as possible the anchor wa
}, hove, the sails set. and the schooner put be
fore the wind. The anxiety of all had be
;. come in'upportable by this time; for III,
delay had been considerable, NOTWITHSTANDING!
c every effort at haste; and in the interval th
= skiff had vanished. Whether she had onl,
e disappeared in the gloom of the sea-board, o
e whether she had been capsized, no che coul
? tell; for all had been too much occupied t
q notice the exact moment when she passc,
It from sight. But the fears or at least doubts
exceeded the hopes. 1t was, therefore, with
sensation Of relief, that the crew felt TIT
r. piot-boat to be in motion, ard as the waters
4 whizzed past, their spirits rose. The verl
schooner seemed to share in the general anx
d iety. No greyhound, loosed from the leash
could have sprung forward more eagerly o.
>. swiftly.
Q The night had now shut in. The wine
;. signed mouinfully up in the sky; a wild so INT
: went fitting overhead, now hiding, now re
Q vealing few, faint stars; and the sea was
), black ink, except where the white cap:
II flashing up for an instant, ominous of com.
ing tempest.
For a long time the rush Of the hull, as i
gded through the waters was The only sounC
: heard. Every eye meantime, was scanning
: the narrow, but tumutuous prospect, in the
- vain hope OF Discerning somewhere the skiff