The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-07-21
Ugrillins Narrative.
From tho pride Of the Me.s."l
A STORY OF THE CRIMEA.
SAVING TWO LIVES.

SAVING TWO LIVES.
From his boyhood upw ards, Herbert hat
always had strongly impressed upon hi,
mind, when boating up and down the river
the horrors o0tho wellknown rock at the
mouth of the river Dart lie knew how
many lives had been lost upon it, how much
property sacrificed on its frightful altar; and
while it is the wonder Of every one who Wis.
its Dartmouth that such a hidcous danger
can be left unbouyed or unmarked, every
body who passes up and down the Dart hears
some fearful legend of its past misdeed and
shuddcring, gives it the widest possible
berth.
While Herbert was straning his utmost
glance, watching for another CLEAN of light.
ming to reveal the scene once more. some.
thing like faint cry was heard.
"5y heaven ~ cried he, starting to his
feet, "that cry Is from the rock, and it is a
woman's voice"
Without further thought, except to get to
the scene of danger as quickly rs possible.
Herbert dashed from his covert.
Needless Of the lightning, and regardless Of
the rain. he was speedily wet to the skin; but
that was trivial matter.
After divers falls and bruises, he contrivcd
at last to get down to the shore opposite to
the point where he knew the rock was, and
going slightly up the river. SO that the wind
might convey the cry of the sufferers TO him,
instead Of drowning it, he listened for mo.
mcnt, and distinctly heard the cries of
"IIelp! hclpl We are drowning, we arc
drowning
"Whcre are you? Are you on the rock e.
Yes" shouted back mans voice, 1--WE
are on the rock-the water is rising rapidly
on us, and our boat has gone down. Quick
make haste, if you hope to save us"
"llave you time to wait while run up to
Dittisham for boat z"
mo. no." shrieked back one Of the voices:
1.-THE water is above our waists already, and
sweeping over us with such force We must
be washed away in ten minutes
"Can you swim g.
NO. was the answer.
God help you 1t will soon he over"
muttered Herbert; land fear shall be lost
too. My POOR mothcr!" said he, throwing
off his clothes, one after another; but it is a
duty TO try: help me, God of heaven !" cried
the youth, dropping on his knees for the mo.
mcnt: then running down AS far above the
rock as he thought was practicable, shouted
out,
II will swim to YOU"
lie then plunged boldly into the stream.
with nothing on but his shirt and trousers,
having previously tied the latter round his
waist with his ncckerchicf.
AT the time that Herbert took his leap, the
tide was running strongly up the river. lie
therefore swan boldly down the stream, as if
making for Dartmouth. proceeding slan,ing-
ly across the river towards to opposite shore,
where the beautiful woods of GrceEaway
shaded the boyish steps of the immortal
Walter Raleigh.
In the course Of few minutes lie lifted his
voice up, Where are you gu but he heard no
answer for the westerly storm swept up the
river at that moment with fresh gust, and
drowned the reply. In another second the
hravens were once more brilliant with light
ming, and Herbert behcld, two or three va, DIS
under his Ice, the rugged point of the rock
like some demon holding up his jagged head
while clinging to it, in all the agony and, des-
peration Of impending death, was a young
man, who clasped in his arms girl of some
seventeen years.
Strange i: Is, that in single glance the
human mind takes in the whole character Of
tho face on which it gazes. Even in tina,
awful hour, when the fearful grave that yswn.
cd beneath them appeared about to swallow
up all these three beings, H,rbe,t detected
in that countenance just the very face that
seemed to have haunted him in all the poeli-
cal day dreams of his soul for years: Large,
full 'sreaking eyes, with small delicate face;
long, flowing and luxuriant hair, drcnchcd as
it was with rain and anguisl-strickcn as
those features were with the horror of such
a situation; that single glance, while it filled
his soul with the deepest sympathy for the
fate of his fair unknown. ncrycd lin with
fresh courage to strive against the clements
and lit in his soul stern determination to
succeed in saving her, or TO perish in the at
tempt.
Cheer up" he cried. as. relaxing his
swimming, he put forward both his hands to
guard himself from being dashed too violent
~ by the roaring storm against the sharp and
jagged edges Of the rock; then, as he succeed
ed in placing his foot, and setting his back
against the stream, he said to the man,
Cannot you swim at all Z"
oh. heavens! no, not bit"
Where is your boat 2"
"She struck and filled. and went down in.
stantly. when that squall came on.--We
were trying to cross the stream on the Dart.
mouth side Of the rock, when the squall took
us.
Stay" said Herbert, what stick is that
pointing up! 3
Nothing but ono of the oars entangled in
the rock
IAN right" said Herbert. Now, lister
to me" putting his face close to that of these