The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-01-07
[Frum Peterson's Magazine.l
The Little Hero.
BY CHARLES J. PETERSON.

The November evening was closing
in, clustering and cold, with every APP
pearance of a storm, when three men
stood on the beach near Cape May,
watching pilot-boat that lay a, anchor
in the otling. Her dark and graceful
hull, her slender masts, with their jaun-
ty air, and indeed her whole general
appearance would have torcbly recall,
ed to landsman the high mettled tho
rough bred. As her bow rose to meet
the huge wave that came rolling in, the
tall masts swung backward slowly, de-
scribine curve against the lead-n- col
ored sky; then h">I'atng for an instant,
they pitched suddenly forward head
long. as if to precipitate themselves into
the deep. Simultaneously, the -nor-
nous billow came boiling and Kissing
past the rndd-r, to break, few mo-
ments after, in thunder on the shore;
while the light craft rose dripping like
a Waterfowl after a dive, her hull gIis-
tening in the twilight away back to ket
very main-chalns.
"lsn't she beauty" said one of the
spectators. Dang it, there's not gsl
comes here all SUMNER ne added, en-
Enthusiastically, "that's got the shape of
that ar craft"
His companion laughed, and one of
said, after pause,
Little Billy seems to have a hard
time bailing out, the waves pitch him
So"
The lad alluded to was in small
cockle-shell boat, attached by rope to
the stern of the schooner. AT every
pitch of the latter, the light skltl swung
about; now floating loosely, now hurry
ing after the larger craft.
"Ayn' said the first speaker. "But
he's got to larn his craft, and the soon
err the better, tor he's nothing to depend
on but it, either for his nanny or him
self. But what's that !" he suddenly
cried, as the pilot boat shot ahead OF the
skih, which Immediately turned broad
side to the waves. wNhew if the
painter amt broke! The boy'll be
drowned!'
The rope had indeed parted. In
: stantly all three, as if by one impulse,
rushed into the water, only awakimg to
the impossib1l,ty Of reaching the lad,
when the spent breakers came washing
to their waists. They looked at each
other in dlsmay.
"lie's got no oars, nor even sail. II
he could hear us, we might tell him TO
get her head to Tie wind" said the prin-
cipal speaker. "lts chance If Ire
thinks of it. But in this wind he
couldn't hear the angel Gabriel. There
Lord help us, he's gone"
AS he spoke, mighty roller came
advancing from the ofing, towering
higher and higher as it approached the
boy, till it seemed to the spectator as il
the mountain of waters would never
cease accumulating. When it reached
the little skltf, it hung suspended for a
moment, and then rushed downward,
like troop of wolves on its prey.
But while the lockers on hold their
breaths in horror, the lad, with quick
) sagacity, had wrenched bit of beard
| from the lining of the Skltf, and hurried
, ly snatching up his coat, had fastened
, the garment to 1t. With this iury.mast
he had managed, at the last moment, to
bring the skill's head to the wind, SO
that at the very instant the spectators
expected to see his boat hurled bottom
, upward toward them, they beheld il
, mounting the wave CALAMITY, as storm
bird breasts he gale.
"Wcll done, Billy" shouted the prin-
cipal speaker, and carried away by the
excitement, he gave voice to hearty
cheer, in which the others joined.
| "Thc lads born sailor" SAID one OF
the others, when the first burst of Joy
had passed. at would be mortal
f shame to let such brave little fellow
die, even if his poor old mother didn't
look to him for her living. We must
, launch surf boat, board the craft, and
be after him. He can't live long with
that rig
The plan of the speaker had suggest
. ed itself simultaneously to the others.
But some time was necessarily occupied
in getting surfboat into the water, ami
, during the interval the skilf had nearly
, disappeared in the darkness and distance
f the lad having succeeded in getting his
little craft before the wind, as his only
chance for permanent safety
: Giles done his best, but it's taking
him right on to the shoals, and in half
an hour nothing can save him." said the
man who steered, as he stood up and
looked for the lad. "Pul away with
will, boys, or We'll be too late after ALL
Ha ! he's waving his handkerchief, as
live. He sees us and says he's hearty
vet-he's trump and no mstake-puil
anywhere we are, look alive !"
In moment more the little crew