The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-10-07
MISCELLANY.
HE BE IS UE.
By \ SEA CAPTAIN /.


Hook.
We had hard time Of it, beating
about for eleven days off this coast, with
cutting north casters blowing, and snow
and slcet falling for the most oftiat time.
Forward, the vessel was thickly coated
with ice, and the rigging and sails were
stiff, and yielded only when the strength
of the men was exerted to the utmost
When, at length we made the port, all
hands were worn down and exhausted
We could not have held out two days lon
ger without relief.
IA bitter cold night, Mr.. Larkin," L
said to my mate, as | tarried for q mo-
ment on deck, to finish my cigar. The
worthy down-easter buttoned his coat
more tightly around him, and looked up
to the moon before he replied.
It's a whistler, captain, as we used to
say on the Kennebec. Nothiug lives
comfortably out of blankets in such night
as this"
'The tide is running out swift and
strong; it will be well to keep sharp
lookout for this floating ice, Mr.. Larkin."
SAY, ay, sill" responded the mate, and [
went below. Two hours afterwards, l
was aroused from sound sleep by the
yigilant officer.
''Excuse me for disturbing you, cap
tain," said as he detected an expression Of
yexation in my face, but wish you would
turn out and come on deck as soon as
r,ocsihIa -
"Why, what's the matter, Mr. Larkin?
"Why, sir, | have been watching a
large cake of ice that swept by at q dis
tance, moment ago. saw something
black on it; something that [ thought
moved. The moon is under cloud, and
could not see distinctly, but believe
there is q child floating out to sea, in
this cold and freezing night, on that cake
of ice"
We were on deck before either spoke
another word. The mate pointed out
with no little difficulty, the cake of ice
floating to tho leeward, and its white gilt
tering surface was broken by black spot;
more [ could not mako out. sect the
glass Mr.. Larkin," [ said; "tho moon viii
be out of that clond in moment, and
then we can see distinctly"
| kept my eye on the receding mass of
ice, while the moon was slowly working
her way through heavy bank of clouds.
The mato stood by me with the glass =
When the full light fell at last upon the
water, with briIliancy only known to
our northern attitudes put the glass to
my eye. One glance was enough.
Forward therep' [ hailed at the top of
my voice; and with one bound | reached
the main hatch, and began to clear away
the cutter which was slowed away in the
ships yawl.
Mr.. Larkin had received the glass from
my hand, to take look for himself
"There are TWO children on that cake of
ice he exclaimed as he hasteded to assist
me in getting out the boat.
The men answered my hail, and walk
ed lazily aft. In an incredible short space
of time we launched the cutter, into which
Mr.. Larkin and myself jumped, followed
by the two men, who took the oars. l
then rugged the tiller, and the mate sat
beside me in the stern sheet.
"Doyou see that cake of ice with some
thing black upon it, lads:" | cried.
"Put me alongside of that, and / will
give you amonth's extra wages vhen you
are paid off"
The men beat their oars, but their
strokes were very uneayen and fec
bic. They were worn out by tho hard
duty of the preceding fortnight, and tho
they did their best the boat made little
more way than the tide. This was losing
chase, and Mr.. Larkin, who was suffering
torture as he saw how little we gained,
cried out, "Pull lads-Tll double the cap
tain's prize-two months extra pay-pull
lads, for life, pull.''
A convulsiye eff TT at the oars told how
willing the men were to obey, but tho
strength of the strong man was gone.--
One of the poor fellows washed US twice
in recovering his oar, and then gave out
the other was nearly rs far gone. Mr.
Iarkm sprung forward, and seized the
deserted oar ''Lie down in the bottom
of the boat" said he to the man; sand
captain, take the other oar, we must row
for ourselves"
l took the second mans place. Larkin
had stripped to his Guernsey shirt, and,
rs he pulled the bow, | waited for the sig
nal stroke. 1t came, gently, but firm /:
and the next moment we were pulling
along. steady stroke, gradu;l'y increasing
in rapidity until the wood seemed to smoke
in the row-locks. We kept time, each
by the long, and deep breathing of the
other
Such {. pull We bent forward until
our faces almost touched our knees; and
then throwing all our strength into the
the backward movement, drew on the
car, until every inch of the space covered
by the sweep had been gained. Ateyery
stroke the boat shot ahead lke an arrow
discharged from bow. Thus we work
ed at The oars for fifteen MINUTES it
seemed to me as many hours. The sweat
rolled off in great drops and was envel-
oped in steam which generated from my
own body.
"Are we almost up to It, Mr.. Larkin 2
| gasped out. "Almost captain. Don't
give up, for the love of our dear little
ones st home; don't give up captain y
The oars flashed rs their blades turned
up to the moonlight The men who Piled
them were fathers, and had fathers
hearts. The strength which neryed them