Squatter sovereign., 1855-10-23

~
ly by the roaring Of the storm against the
sharp and jagged edges of the rock; then
as he succeeded in placing his foot. and
setting his back against the stream, he
said to the man, Cannot you swim at all 2
.Oh heavens. no, not Bit
Where is your boat g
She struck and filled and went down
Instantly. when the storm came on. We
were trying TO cross the stream on the Dart
mouth side of the rock, when the squall
took u.s.
Stay said Herbert, what stick is that
pointing ups'
Nothing but one Of the oars entangled
in the rock
sAll right said Herbert. 'Now. listen
to me- putting his face close to that of
these two unfortunate people. when he
Ecould vet scarcely see in the dark. further
than Just discernthe outlines of their heads.
You have no time to loose, and you must
follow implicitly what / :ell you or we
shall all be lost will pull this oar from
its sticking place, and while you put your
two hands upon it-and nothing more, re-
member-this lady must place her two
hands upon my left shoulder. Now. be-
fore we start off in the deep water, is there
any amount of your clothing you can get
rid of? The least thing adds to your
weight. Mems clothes are heavy; ladies'
are light, and do not so much signify
How can get rid of my clothes, they
are all so wet and clinging to me?'
We'll, will help you first of all there
is your coat. Can you hold on the rock
with one hand for few moments 2
| 4 think So
'Verv well, then. first let go your left
hand gently, and with my right will pull
your sleeve off; thenle go your left hard
and we will pull that off,
But there is my pocket book in my
coat M
Has it much money in it?'
'Yes. two hundred pounds
THAT might better have been left on
shore in boating. Is it in notes7'
yes
well. first of all, will take out the
book. Let me feel. Oh. here it is come
it is not so heavy as I feared. I will Just
stick that inside my waisthand Now,
then. I am ready to pull off the left hand
take the hand off the rock. So ! now hold
fast. How the coat sticks! Hurrah. that
is done. Now. then, hold fast with vour
left hand and let go the right. So! there
it goes up the stream to Totness.' said
Herbert. as soon as he had drawn the
coat from its late wearer. and thrown it to
sink in the bubbling tide, Now, what
boots have YOU gnt ons'
ooh. luckily. have got on shoes
We'll, kick them off directly, then
4 cannot-they are fed
well, put one Of your feet out so the
I can get at it. and break the shoe-string
So that is it. There, he is gone. Now
the other 'sa
'Oh. how tbs rocks cut my feetr
Never mind the cuts now. up with the
other foot. / have him. There goes the
second shoe. Now. how about gold watch
and chain Have you got one en7'
| Yes
"Well: give it TO me. I will do my hest
to throw it towards Dittisham shore. If it
docs no. reach the dry ground, we may al
least throw It so far into shallow water that
it may be picked up by the next tide
..Just take it off my neck will you
4 will. All. its nice watch. It is
pity to use it so roughly
'Oh. here is my watch too said the
lady. If You viii take it over my head
Thank you,' said Herbert: and gather:
ing the two watches up in the hollow Of
his hand. he gave them good vigorous
cast towards the shore, and saw them sink
few yards from it. Now, those will be
easily recoverable tomorrow morning.
Have you anything else about you-keys,
or anything of that sort g
"Nothing,' said the lady.
81 have some silver ip my trowsers pock-
ct, said the gentleman.
pitch it all into the river, said Her
bert; this is one Of those occasions on
which money is a curse to man.
Just put your hand IN my left trovsers
pocket and take it all out. then"
Herbert did so, and produced a whole
handful Of silver. which he threw after the
watches.
Now, then. ne are as light as we can
get. The water is rising very rapidly
Be ready to start You must neither Of
You attempt to breath through your mouths,
yea must breath through your nesrils. and