Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-10-04
EVENING STAR.
HRIFT OF THE RAFT

SHRIFT OF THE RAFT.
The terrible storm which ravaged the coas
Of Norway on the 18th of October, I7I7, wa
remembered In that country long after th,
hand of time and the industry of nan had ob
liberated the marks Of it's fury As sudden a
IL was tremendous, 1T arose after several weeks
OF settled weather, and having wrought more
havoc in few hours than ordinary temnest,
effect in days, it subsided with corresponding
rapidlty, leaving upon the minds of the De
ants who witnessed its terrors q singular im
preston with regard to it's origin. For wears
the herdsmen of that rugged land, and the
sailors OF that dangerous sea, believed that
the dreadful storm, which had swept away
sheep and shepherd amid the ruin of house
and fold, and had dashed the largest craft
upon the rocks that received the shattered d
fishing boats, was caused by q sudden exer.
tion among the demons Of the Pole, who, for.
bldden by the mandate Of Heaven to enter
earth while 1t shall move in its appointed Or
blt, are perpetually laboring to disturb its
charmed circle, that they may rush in to
havoc by land and by sea
Strange tales are told of the events of that
fatal day, and Of the night which ensued: and
the following legend, relating to one Of the
voysgers who suffered in the storm. bears
some evidence of tho feeling with which the
Norwegians regarded so terrible a visitation
a feeling with which is mingled some vague
recollection OF the time when Norway itself
was one of the most unfortunate of the stakes
in the game played by the great continental
powers.
The tempest was rapidly subsiding as dusk
drew on, but the cessation of the violent tur-
mOil brought no comfort to the scanty crew Of
the i'll fated ship Drontheim which had sailed
from the port OF that namc on the preceding
day, and met the wrath Of the storm in full
career. She had been bound for France; but
at the time We speak Of, she was a naked and
helpless hull, drifting whittier the caprice of
the wind. which seemed to blow from all
points OF the compass at once, choose TO hurry
her. She was now making her rapid but in
voluntary course northwaTds but to the few
human beings who yet clupg to her decks, the
state OF her shattered sides, through which the
water was forcing its way at twenty wounds,
lett 1t matter OF hide0us concern where they
might meet the certain fate which awaited
them. 1t was obvious that many minutes
could not elapse before the vessel and all she
contained should be sucked into the troubled
abyss on which she yet foated. Her smaller
boats had long since been Carried away by
burst of the storm, which, hurling three or
four monster waves across her deck, had swept
every mOveable thing from her surface, in
ciuding more than One-third Of the wretchsd
crew In the next moment, one Of terrified
madness, tho survivors had crowded the boat,
which hardly touched the fOaming pillows ere
it was swampcd, and went down with evcry
soul 1t bore Not dozen men remained on
the fated vessel, when the sudden and horri.
bic change in motion which announced the
foundering of ship, took place. She ceased to
make way-the violent agitation which had for
hours rendered it nearly impossible to stand
upon her deck was exchanged for a sudden
lurch, followed by second and third and
then tho hIdeous ioar of the waters rushing in
on every hand, told the frantic crew that all
hope was over. Amid the loud and agitated
Prayers of a few, and the blasphemous rawlings
Of the rest, the waves Of the Northern Sea
closed over the Dronthcim for ever.
AS the vortex caused by the sinking of the
ship disappeared one man alone was strug
CLING in tho water in the energy of despair
His rich dress rather encumbercd his move.
ments, but he was in the prime Of manhood,
and practised swimmer, and was putting
forth his full strength, in the hope of finding
some relic Of the ship on which to float for the
chance Of life. Bat this hope waxed fainter
with his limbs, for the gathering dusk was
rapidly reducing his chance of discovering any
object around him, and the waves still ran
too high and aDgrily to allow him a chance of
endurance much longer. lie still swan, but
his despair was almost total, when he dis
cerned a dark body few yards distant lie
struck vigorously forward, and, to his inex-
pressible relief, discovered that it was small
raft, On which a human body was lying. A
succession of violent strokes, now animated
by renewed hope, brought him to its side, and
in a moment or two, the Count de Burigny
was clinging to the buoyant mass
When he had somewhat recovered his
breath, his next effort was to Dlount upon the
raft itself; but as he made the attempt, the
figure which already occupied it arose to a
sitting posture, and gently repulsed him. Be-
fore he could speak, it addressed him in a
pleasing voice, which, however, was piercing
enough to make itself distinctly heard amid
the dashing waters
"Stay, my son; you are welcome to all the
support my raft will afford you, but for both
of US to mount would entail destruction on
BOTH
Father" gasped the count, "whoever you
may be, you will surely assist in saving my
life.''
Truly, my son." returned the other voice,
you apply for help at a most unreasonable
time. But am bound at least to succor you
with my advice and therefore advise you
to swim for some rocks which are distant
about quarter Of league, in the direction
Of which 1 am pointing They are always
above water, and in the morning you will GER
tainly be discovered by somo vessel +"
Thanks, father, replied the count, " but
L ucIc, Will euc
Of being safe for a moment, than again run the
risk of my life in struggle with the waves
for a chance Of reaching some rocks may not
be able to climb ....-.-.
"Such is the wisdom Of man. said the
other " ever confident in the present, ever
distrustful of the future. But l tell you, my
son, that yon rocks are easily accessible,
and that if you strike away now you are safe -
''Safe or not, father, l remain here; and
therefore entIsat you, If you have the means,
to steer us in search of this same rocky plat
form-we shall have the satisfaction OF beiGg
saved together" ,
81 am on my own course, my son, and ad-
wise you not to keep my company" said the
other voice. Tie words induced the count to
examine his companion as closely as possible,
but the fast failing twilight only enabled him
to discern figure in q priests robe, the hood
of which effectually shrouded the features OF
the wearer. 49,. ..
"You speak strangely, father" said tho
count; "but I hold my intention, ferventiy
wishing I had something easier to hold, tor
my fingers are numbed, and this wood is slip
perry" .... e.,
II have warned you, my son but IT you
insist on remaining l will do what can to AID
you"
Ubo Gonna eoa,oad apUoOed with his dress