Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-08
Giterarp Selections.
SAVING TWO LIVES.
A NAVAL STORY OF THE CRMEAN WAR

his mind, when boating up and down the
river, the horrors Of the well-known rock
at the mouth of the river Dart. Heknew
how many lives had been lost upon 1t,
how much property had been sacrificed
on its frightul altar; and while it is the
wonder of every one who visits Dart
mouth that such a hideous danger can
be left unbuoyed or unmarked, every
body who passes up and down the Dart
hears some legend of its past misdeeds, and
shuddering, gives it the widest possible
berth. ..a..
While Herbert was straining his ut
most glance, watching for another gIeam
of Lightning, TO reveal the scene once
more, something like a faint cry was
heard.
by 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
as possible, Herbert dashed from his
covert.
Needless of the lightning, and re-
gardIess of the rain, he was speedily
wet to the skin; but that was trivial
matter.
After divers falls and bruises, be con-
trived at last to get down to the shore op-
positet 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 moment, and distinctly
heard the cries Of
Help, help! We are drowning-we
are drowningw
Where are you-are you on the
rock p
Yes" shouted back a mans voice,
I'VE are on the rock-the water is rising
rapidly on us, and our boat has gone down.
Quick-make haste-make haste, if you
hope to save US"
Have you time to wait while 1 run
up to Dittisham for boat"
No, no? shrieked back one of the
voices; " the water is above oar waists
already, and sweeping over us with such
force we must be washed away in ten
minutes"
" Can you swim?"
mo" was the answer.
God help you! 1t will soon be
ever" muttered Herbet, " and 1 fear
shall be lost too. My poor mother p
said he, throwing of his clothes one after
another, but it is duty to try. Help
me, God Of heavenw cried the youth,
dropping on his knee for one moment; !;
then running as far above the rock as
he thought was practicable, he shouted
out
Z" will swim to you"
He then plunged boldly into the stream,
with nothing on but his shirt and trowsers,
having previously tied the latter round his
waist with his neckerchief.
At the time that Herbert took his leap
the tide was running strongly up the riv-
er. He therefore swan boldly down the
stream, as if making for Dartmouth, pro-
ceeding slantingly across the river to-
ward the opposite shore, where the beau
tiful woods Of Greenway shaded the
boyish steps Of the immortal Walter Ra-
leigh. .....
In the course Of a few minutes he lift
ed his voice up Where are you?" but
he heard no answer, for the westerly
storm swept up the river at that moment
with fresh gust, and drowned the re-
ply. In another second the heavens
we're once more brilliant with lightning,
and Herbert beheld, two or three yards
under his lee, the rugged point of the
rock like some demon holding up his
Jagged head, while, clinging to it, in all
the agony and desperation of impending
death, was a young man, who clasped
p his arms girl of some seventeen
years.
Strange it is, that in single glance
sne human mind takes in the whole char
ac'er Oh the face on which it gazes. Even
IN mat awful hour, when the fearful grave
that yawnedbeneaththem appeared about
to swallow up all these three beings. Her
bert detected in that countenanee inst the
very face that seemed to have haunted
him in all the poetical day-dreams of his
soul for years. Large, full, speaking
eyes, with small, delicate face; lone
fowing, and luxuriant hair, drenched as
il was with rain, and anguish-striken
as those features were with the horror OIL
ouch a situation; that single glance
while it filed his soul with the deepest
sympathy for the fate of this fair un.
known, nerYed him with fresh courage