Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

or other of storming the secret of his heart.
For that such secret was in him, | had, |
know not how, become firmly convinced.
In the midst Of these precocious and un-
childish thoughts, just before arriving at the
lighthouse, heard heavy gun from over
the ocean, and looking up, there came out OF
the dark wall Of mist, not more than half
mile from where I stood, the hull Of a great
strange ship. Other guns followed in quick
succession, and knew that they were signals
OF distress.
ran TO the lighthouse in moment, but
before could reach the door the keeper and
all his family were on the beach. The huge
ship lowered before us like fortress, and ap-
preached nearer and nearer the shore. She
was standing in on the larboard tack, and try
ing to head to the northward. She was not
deeply laden, but her deck, and particularly
her high, curiously painted stern, swarmed
with human beings. She was lying as near
the wind as possible, but the gale had now in
creased TO almost hurricane. The sea in
shore was tremendous, and every squall near
ly threw her on her beam-ends, and while it
completely deadened her headway, drove her
palpably nearer the lee shore.
Blu, one resource now remained, and we
waited in breaihless silence TO see her tack
ship. Why she delayed so long we knew
not, and we never knew. A few rods ahead OF
her was long suuken ledge, running out at
right angles from the beach nearly opposite my
grandfather's house. 1t was invisible 10 the
devoted ships company. In calm weather,
several of its large rocks were above water,
but in the fearful yeast Of foam which tossed
and tumbled through the storm, and in the
darkness which began to environ all things,
the great ship was driving on 10 unconscious
but sure destruction. The lighthouse keeper
and myself ran along the beach towards the
west, and, as for me, | ielt wings growing on
my shoulders. whirled my arms in frantic
gestures, and yelled and shouted like saw
age, as il these feeble signals could really
warn the majestic vessel Of her impending
doom. In vain. She kept straight on to the
point of horror, and just as we arrived al the
ledge where it Joined the land, she struck near
its outer extremity. Her close-rooted topsais
tapped once or twice with a quick spasm
her stern drifted slowly round towards the
land and then she rolled heavily upon her
bilge,-her sails sopping up the sea at every
heave, aud great waves rnhins her each mo-
meni in white veil of spray and foam They
were weaving her shroud. There came to
our horror-stricken ears, through the gloom
that was se,lling Gu earth and ocean, one wild,
faint yell Of terror and agony, and all was ST.
lent save the hoarse voice of the tempest.
Up to this time, my attention had been so
entirely swallowed up in the fate of the ship,
that took no heed of what was passing on
the beach. / now saw that crowd of men
had arrived, and that they were hauling two
small surf-boats down to the edge of the water
Striding up and down among them, and issu-
ing orders in deep. quick tones, was the CO
lossal figure of my grandfather. He had some
kind Of colored sash about his waist, and wore
large French chapeau.
He was as calm as death. A preternatural
palencss sat on his visage. His lips were
iron, and his face was marble.
Three with me in this boat cried he,
and John Burnet in the other. Who goes
with him, Speak quick, men, he added,
with passion. "A minute is an age now
Who goes with John Burnett
No one stirred. The sea was now strewn
in all directions with the loose furniture Of
the ship, and here and there could be seen
crowds of men and women clinging to spars
and fragments OF the wreck. To launch boats,
in such sea, was indeed, mos, dangerous
undertaking.
One hundred silver dollars to each man in
John Burnet's boat One man came forward.
No more.
Two hundred dollars, shouted my grand
father. None moved.
Accused towards, roared he. you NAV
save hundred lives. Here are women per
ishing before your eyes
No one advanced step.
Can you go with one man, Burnet I,
Hardly, sir, will 60 with two
l could keep back no longer. rushed for
ward to Burnet's boat, and took place by
his side. A cry Of surprise and remonstrance
arose from the crowd, and many voices Said,
Take The boy away. My grandfather looked
at me for half a minute, as though he did not
know me, and then shade Of something un-
u,terable passed across his features. file
sprang towards me, as it TO press me to his
heart, then, checking himself as suddenly, he
dashed something from his finger upon mine,
and said coldly 20 the crowd, He shall CO.,
And went.
Almost the same moment, the two boats
were launched into the surf, and headed as
nearly as might be for the hull of the ship.
| For two or three minutes, | only remember
being whirled and hauled and jerked in every
conceivable direction, and holding on TO the
boats gunwale with all my strength to pre-
vent being washed overheard, or hurled into
the air. The first thing saw distinctly was,
that the two boats had become entangled with
| sort Of raft, or mass of sails and cordare.