The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-10-03

George, almost mechanically, did as he wa
told. The next moment dark wave swep
over him. and he lost all consciousness. Wher
heresived the ship had completely disappeared
and he found himself with the captain floating
on two planks lashed together. Their situa
: ton was perilous in the extreme, nothing wa:
to be seen around but the dark surface Of the
water, varied by icebergs and floating frac
ments of the wreck. Captain Varenne at lengil
described large level piece Of ice, and Will
the assistance of a broken oar, after long and
painful efforts he reached it. His dress consis-
ted of a woolen shirt, pair of thick trousers
and stockings, together with his hat, which he
had the good fortune to keep on his head, bu,
4 poor George had scarcely any clothes, and was
bareheaded. Thoroughly exhausted and numb
ed by the cold, they lay for sometime on the
ice without stirring, the captain pondering on
the means of escape, and the boy thinking Of
his good mother, and of the tears she would
4 shed ifshe knew the situation of her son. The
darkness and the hard frost of night coming on
added to their misery. The cold was so pene-
trating that, in order to avoid being entirely
frozen, the captain hindered George from going
to sleep, and forced him to walk up and down
with him on the ice, as the only means of saw
ing themselves from falling into state of fatal
stupor. The pangs Of hunger soon began to
augment their suferings asEs
AT daybreak, they deserted four men on
raft at a great distance off In vain, however
did they Shout and make signals, their compan-
ions in misfortune did not see them Towards
evening their hopes We're revived by the ap-
pearance of three masted vessel Anxiously
did our two shpwrecked mariners watch its
movements. They saw it sacken SAIL and,
presently after perceived that the four men on
the raft had been taken on board. Now, would
| they come for them? Planting the broken oar
upright, and remounting it with his hat and
handkerchief, the captain waved it continually
and shouted as loudly as he could After halt
an hour passed thus in agonizing suspense, the
vessel sailed away without its crew perceiving
them, and slowly disappeared from their eyes
At this dreadful sight, poor George fell at
the captains feet, and exclaimed: "Oh! must
we, then, stay here to perish with cold and
hunger?" ~-asg,s -. ~ ; ,-z-a--s~ r.. ~,
Without replying the captain felt in his pocket
and taking out a biscuit wet with salt water, Of
fered it to the child. George seized it-with
avidity and was putting it to his mouth, when
remarking that the captain had none for HIM
self, he said: And what will you do, captain?'
"Eat it," said Varenne briefly.
The boy did not wait to be desired second
time. .. .@.@u-N
The next night was dreadful. Varcnne pre-
served moody, despairing silence, only from
time to time he moistened with piece of ice
the lips of the poor child, whose strength was
fast failing.
80 captain am very cold-very weak. O
my poor motl.erP' And then came back wildly
to his remembrance his little soft white bed, in
which his kind old nurse used to tuck him up so
snugly every night, his nice supper of white
bread and hot mik-even the piece of dry
bread which was given him for supper when
ever he behaved badly. Oh, what would he
give now for even one-half of that piece Of
bread! Thus passed the long weary night in
dreadful suferings and unavaling regrets. AT
day break, as soon as che fog was sufficiently
| dispersed to allow them to distinguish objects,
they perceived floating past the ice cask oi
cider With great exertions the captain at
| length succeeded in securing it, and heavy
draught greatly refreshed them both. .~-.
"Captain.' said George, eve have forgotten
one thing which may save u.s.
"What is that?'' .....-
y.
eyes, captain" continued George .as he tried
to knee on the slippery ice, whenever mamma
was in grief she used to pray to God, and he
always comforted her. She often told me SO,
and she always spoke the truth. Do, dear cap
tain, kneel down by me- Whether from con-
viction or merely from wish to please the boy,
Varenne obeyed, and George, in simple, child
ish words, asked their heavenly Father to for
give them all their sins, and especially his great
one in disobeying and forsaking his parents, for
which he was now justly punished, also, for
their Savior's sake, to take care of them, and
deliver them from their dreadful situation.
They had not long risen from their knees,
when they saw drifting by them small empty
boat, which the captain recognized as having
belonged to his ship. They caught it, got into
it, and Varenne guiding it carefully through
the icebergs-the slightest shock from which
would have crushed it like an egg shell-soon
perceived that they were not far from land.
At length they reached the shore, and Ian
ded, the captain carrying George in his arms,
for the chld's limbs were weak and numbed.
The sun rose, and in some degree warmed
them, and the captain filled his hat with mus
sells, which he found among the rocks. George
had often eaten of these shellish, delicately
cooked and sent up to his parents table, but
never did he think them half so good or savory
as now that he was glad to devour them raw.
Their hunger in some measure appeased, a
new fear took possession Of the captain. He
wanted to explore the coast, and ascertain
what chance they had of escaping, but George
was too weak to accompany him and he dared
not leave him alone, for fear Of the bears and
other wild animals which infest these northern
lands Indeed, in bis own weak and totally
unarmed condition, he could make her little re-
sistance were they to attack him. When rumi-
mating over this dilemma, George suddenly
gave cry ofjoy, and with trembling hand
pointed out his companion an English vessel
sailing along the shore. What joy! The crew
perceived them, and three men put off in boat
towards the shore where they were. The cap
tains habitual reserve gave way before the
transport caused by this unlooked-for delive-
rance, he folded George in his arms and with
tears Of joy embraced him as ifhe had been his
"Let us kneel down, captain" whispered the
boy, and thank God for his goodness in saving