The Kanzas news., 1858-04-03
An Exciting Sketch.

An Exciting Sketch.
1t was in the month of February, 1881,
bright moonlight night and intensely cold,
that the brig commanded lay at her anchor
inside of Sandy Hook.
We had hard time of it, beating about
for eleven days off this coast, and with cut
ting north -easters blowing, and the snow
and sleet falling for the most of the time.
Forward, the vessel was 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
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 longer without relief.
ga bitter cold night, Mr.. Larkin,' said
to my mate, as tarried for a moment on
deck to finish my cigar.
The worthy down-easter buttoned his coat
more tightly around him, looking up to the
moon, and felt his red nose before he replied.
"It's whistler, Captain, as we used to
say on the Kennebec. Nothing lives COM
Portable out of the blankets in such night
as this
s'The tide is running out swift and strong !;
it will be well to keep sharp lookout for
this floating ice, Mr.. Larkin.''
"Aye, aye, SIR responded the mate, and
I went below.
Two hours after I was aroused from
sound sleep by the vigilant officer.
Excuse me for disturbing you, Captain"
said he, as he detected an expression of vex-
alton on my face, "but wish you would
turn out and come on deck as soon as posi-
ble."
"Why-what's the matter, Mr.. Larkin ?''
"Why, sir, have been watching a 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 cloud and l could not
see distinctly; but 1 do believe there's a
child floating out to sea this freezing night,
on that cake of ice.''
We were on deck before either spoke an
other word. The mate pointed out with no
little difficulty the cake of ice floating off
to leeward, and its white glittering surface
was broken by black spot-more l could
not make out.
"Get me the glass, Mr.. Larkin-the
moon viii be out of the cloud in moment,
and then we can see distinctly"
l 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 brilliancy
only known to our northern ATTITUDES, put
my glass to my eye. One glance was
enough.
''Forward there % I shouted at the top
of my voice, and with one bound reached
the main hatch, and began to clear away the
ships yawl.
Mr.. Larkin had received the glass from
my hand and took look for himself.
"My God % he said in whisper, as he
sat to work to aid me in getting out the boat
tiny God there are two children on that
cake of ice %
Two men answered my call and walked
lazily aft. In an incredible short space of
time we launched the cutter, into which Mr.
Larkin and myself jumped, followed by two
men who took the oars. rugged the tiller,
and the mate sat beside the stern-sheet
'Do you see that cake of ice with some
thing black upon it, lads ?'' cried-"put
me alongside of that and I'll give YOU a
bottle of rum each, tonight, and months
extra wages when you are paid off, The
men bent to their osrs, but their strokes
were uneven and feeble. They we're used
up by the preceding duty of the last fort
night, and though they did their best, the
boat made but little more way than the tide.
This was long chase, and Dir. L., who was
suffering IS he saw how little we gained,
cried out:
"Pull. iads-I'n double the Captain s
prize; two bottles of rum and two months
pay. Pull, lads, for the love of God t'
4 eonvulsiye effort of oars told how will
ing the men we're to obey, but the strength
of the strong arms were gone. One of the
young fellows washed Us twice in recover
ing himself, and then gave out: the other
was nearly gone. Mr.. Larkin sprang and
seized the deserted oar.
clay down in the bottom of the boat, %
said be to the man, 'tand, Captain, the other
oar; we must row for ourselves"
I took the second mans place: Larkin
had stripped to his guernsey shirt; As he
pulled the oar waited for the signal stroke.
It came, eentls but firm, and the next mo-