The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-12-08
An E.ci,eIng sketch.
THE RESCUE.

We had hard time of it beating about
for eleven days of the coast, and with cut
ting north.easterH blowing, and snow and
sleet falling for the most of that time.--
Forward the vessel and thickly coated with
ice, and it was hard work to handle her, as
the rigging and sails were stiff, and yielded
only when the strength Of the men was ex-
erted to the utmost. When at length wo
made the port, all hands were worn down
and exhausted; we could not have held out
two days longer without relief.
ga glitter cold night, "Mr. Larkin." 1
said to my mate, as tarried for moment
upon deck to finish my cigar.
The worthy down easter buttoned his
coat more tightly around him, looking up
to the moon-and felt bis red noise before
he replied.
"It's whistler, Captain, as we used to
say on the Kenncbec. Nothing lives CON-
Portable out of the blankets in such night
as this"
The tide is running out swift and strong;
1t will be well to keep sharp lookout for
this floating ice, Mr.. Larkin."
cay, ay, sir" responded the mate, and
l went below.
Two hours afterwards, l was aroused
from a sound sleep by the vigilent officer.
"Excuse me for disturbing you, Cap
tain," said he, as he detected an expression
of vexation on my face; shut wish you
would turn out and come on deck as soon
as possible"
"Why-what's the matter, Mr.. Larkin |?
"Why, sir, have been watching cake
of ice that swept by at a little distance, a
few moments ago; saw something black
upon it-something that thought moved.
The moons under a cloud, and l could not
see distinctly; but do believe theirs
child floating out to sea in this freezcing
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
off to the lceward, and its white glittering
surface was broken by black spot-morc
I could not make out.
"Get me the glass, Mr.. Larkin-the
moon will be out of the cloud in moment
and then we can see distinctly.
I kept my eye on the receding mass of
ice while the moon was slowly working its
way through bank of clouds. The mate
stood by with glass. When the full light
fell at last upon the water with briltncy
only known TO our northern latitudcs, |
put the glass to my eye. One glance was
enough.
"Forward thcrcw shouted Mt the top
nf my ra;oa, and with ono bound reached
the main hatch, ana began TO clear away
the ships yawl.
Mr. Larkin had received the glass from
my hand to take look for himself.
"Mv Godw he said in whisper, as he
set to work to aid me in getting out the
boat-my God, there arc two children on
that cake of icc!"
Two men answered my call and walked
azly aft. In a. incrediateblc short space
of time we lanchcd the cutter, into which
Mr.. Larkin and myself jumped, followed
by two men who took the oars. / rugged
the tiler, and the mate sat beside the stern
sheet.
ADO you see that cake Of ice with some
thing black upon it, lads" | cricd-"put
me along side of that, and I'll give you
bottle of rum each TO night, and months
extra wages when you are paid off. The
men bent to their oars, but their strokes
were uneven and feeble. They were used
up by tho hard duty Of tho preceding fort
night, and though they did their best the
boat made but little moro way than the
tide. This was long chase ard Mr.. L.,
who was suffering as he saw how lite we
gained cried out.
"Pull lads-Fll double the Captains
prize; two bottles of rum and two months
pay. Pull, lads, for tho love of God r'
A convulsivc effort of oars told how
willing the men were to obey but the
strength of the strong arm was gone. One
Of the young fellows washed us twice in
recovering himself. Mr.. Larkin sprang and
seized the deserted oar.
"Lay down in the bottom of the boat"
said he to the man; "and captain, take
the other oar; we must row ourselves"
took the second mans place; Larkin
had stripped TO his guerncy shirt; rs he
pulled the oar waited tho signal stroke. |
1t came gentle but firm, and the next mo-
mcnt wo were pulling long steady stroke
gradually increasing in rapidity until the
wood seemed to smoke in the oar locks
We kept time each by n. long deep breath
ing of the other. Such pull We bent
forward until our faces almost touched our
knees, and then throwing all our strength
into the backward movement until every
inch of the space covered by the sweep had
been gained. AT every stroke tho boat
shot ahead like an arrow discharged from
a bow. Thus we worked the oars for fif-
teen minutes, it seemed to me as many
hours. The sweat rolled off me in great
drops, and was enveloped in steamer
from my own body.
"Are we almo to it, Mr.. Larknp /
yasped out.
Almost captain-don't give up? for tho
ovo Of our dear little ones ut bome-don't |
give up captainw
The oars flashed rs the blades turned up
10 the moonlight. Tho men who piled them
were fathers, and had children; the strength
which nervcd them at that moment was
moro than human.
Suddenly Mr.. Larkin stopped pulling,
aud my heart for moment almost ceased
beating; for tho terrible thought that he
had given out flashed across my mind
n