Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-02-16
From Peterson's Magazine.
THE g4a,E EEsI HERO.
By CHARLES J. PETERSON.

The November evening was closing
in, clustering and cold, with every ap,
pearance OF d storm, when three meu
stood on the beach near Cape MAY,
watching PHO! boat thar lay al anchor
in ,he otling. Her dark aud graceful
huff, her slender masts with their launty
air, and indeed hc- whole general appear
ance would have tUrcibly recalled 10 a
lanusman the high mettled thorough. bred.
AS her bow rose 10 NEE! the huge waves
that came rolling in, The tall m4sls swung
backward slowly, describing a curve a
galnss the leaden coloret sky; then hes
IIaIlng for an instant. they pitched 81 d
denly forward neaJlong, as If about lu
2recipi,ate themselves into the deep
simultaneously, the enormous blIlow
came boiling and kissing past the rudder,
10 break, lew moments after. IN thun-
der on the shore; while the light crali
rose dripping, like a waterfowl after a
dive, her huh sIis,euing in the twilight
away back TO her very main chains.
"!sn'tshe beauty ;" said one OF the
spectators. Dang II, there's not Gal
comes here all summer he added ell
Enthusiastically. "shas's got the shape ol
that ar craft"
His companions Laughed. and one OF
Them said, after pause, -
"hude Billy seems 10 have hare time
baiing out. the waves pitch him So"
The lad alluded to was in a small
cookie shell boat. attached by rope to
The stern of the schooner. Al egety
pitch of she latter, the light skIH swuGg
about; now floating loosely. now hurry
ing after the larger craft.
"Ay!" said the frs, speaker Bat
he's got to larn his craft, and the 500 ner
The better, for he's nothing 10 depend on
but il. either for his nanny or himself.
Bun what's thar he suddenly cried, as
the pilot boat shot ahead OF The skill -
which Immediately turned broadslde to
tie waves. Nv heS! if The painter ainr
broke! The boy be drowned"
The rope had indeed parted. IN,
stantly all three, as if By one impulse
rushed into the water, only awaking to
the impossiblliIy of reaching the lad
when the spen; breakers came washing
10 ,heif waists. They looked at each
other in dismay.
lies got no oars, nor even a sail -
If he could hear US, we might tell him
10 get her head 10 the wind" said the
principal speaker. "l!'s chance il he
thinks Of il. BIT in this wind he could
not hear the angel Gabriel. There, Lord
help US. he's gone"
As he spoke. a mighty roller came ad.
vancing from the olling, towering higher
and higher as II approached the boy, till
it seemed to lhe spectators as il the
mountain of waters would never cease
accumnla,ing. When it reached the iiilt
skih, il hung suspended for moment
and then rashed downward. like rool
OF wolves on its prey.
Blu, while the lookers-on held ihei
breaths in horror. he lad, with quick sa
gacily, had wrenehed IA bit of board from
The lining Of the skifi and hurrledl,
snatching up his coat, had fastened tn,
garment to it. With this jury. mast Y,
had managed. a, the lasl moment. t,
bring the skifl's head TO the wind. so ,ha
at the very instaa, the spectators expect
ed TO see his boat hurled bottom upwart
toward them, they beheld it moun.in.
the wave gallanhy, as a storm bird breasts
the gale.
"Weil done, Billy" shouted the prin
cipal speaker, and carried away by IN,
excitement. he gave voice TO heart,
cheer, in which the others joined.
"The lads bora sailor" said one o
the others, whea The frs, burst OF Joy hat
passed. Il, would be mortal sham,
10 let such brave htlle iehow die, eve.
if his poor old mother didn'. look I,
him Tor living. We mus, launch a 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 10 the others
But some time was necessarily occupies
in getting surf-boat into the water, an
during tho interval The skif had nearl,
disappeared IN the darkness aud distance
The lad having succeeded in getting hi
little craft before the wind. as his onl,
chance for permanent safely.
"He's done his best. but It's taking hin
right on TO the shoals. and in half an hou
nothing can save him." said the ma
who sleered, as he stood up and locke
for the lad. Pull away with will
boys, or we'll be zoo laIe after all. ila
he's waving his handkerchief. as live
He sees us and says he's hearty yet
he's trump. and no mistake--pull q
way-here we are, look aliven'
In a moment more the little crew we.
on deck, and as soon a possible The a.
chor was hove, the sails set, and tn
schooner put before The Wild. The anx
; iety of all had become insupportabl,
Notwithstanding every effor, at haste
and in the interval the skiff had vanish
ed. Whe lher she had only disappeare