Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-08-15

! or tnln narrow ceuaF DOaTuS, anu Weighing
hardly more than hundred pounds. Amos
knows all this in moment. That skiff was
built by bis hands 'Tis his own little boat
bearing Ace's name, the name he couldn't
paint out no how. And God bless her Alice
herself holds the oars
With flying curls, and head over shoulder,
she watches the tremendous seas as they come
laundering in, threatening instant destruction
to her frail bark. But, guided by her steady
hand, the good skiff springs lightly up, high
up the almost perpendicular wall of water,
| fingers an instant on its foam-crowned crest,
then with dart, like the swoop of all osprey,
shoots down the far side.
| Amos waves his hand and tries to shout
| His breath is almost gone, and from his throat
! filled with salt water, comes only gurglng
moan. No matter, he has seen her and she
knows it.
They have seen her too from the shore
The valiant Hessians were drawn up in battle
array. The enemy is in sght-a defenseleSs
girl-out on the heaVing ocean, alone in an
open boat. Courage, brave soldiers, fifty car
bines strong. Steady in the ranks now. Make
ready Take aim Fire.
Two or three scattering shots answer the
command. They might as well have fired at
a swallow on the wing as at that soaring, div
ing little egg shell, tossing on the long seas.
For humanity s sake, let us believe that most
of the troopers emptied their pans, and not,
as they assert, that the ocean spray has damp
ened their powder.
lice does not even know of the kind mes
SageS the HeSsians are sending after her. Ev-
cry nerve sharp braced every fibre ieuSe with
/ -;.I tbo
waveS-hcars only their hollow roar as they
dash upon the sand The least turn of an oar
might swamp her boat aud leave her-broth-
er to drown She did not once turn her head,
but with steady, well timed strokes slowly
draws near to him. Though almost exhausted
he swims into the serf TO meet her. She sees
him coming, and waits in the trough as he is
thrown towards her by curling wave. He
grasps the quarter rail as she leans far over
the other side to balance his weight as he clam.
bcrs in. But the wave lifts the light boat
away from him, aud his strength is all gone.
For the first time Alice pales with alarm
What can she do ? If she but move toward
him, the canoe will turn over, ard both be lost.
Her despair is complete when she sees him
loose first one hand, then the other, and drop
into the sea. The next moment, however, his
face appears above the sternsboard, smiling
encouragingy Cl:ngiug to the board, he d.
rects her, in hoarSe, choaking whispers, to pull
over the bar. How gladly she bends to the
work The little boat does not lift quicker
to a sea than her heart to his grasping words
'Tis weary pull, towing a mans weight so
far. Those poor amrs do ache terribly. But
when they reach still water, when she can at
last ship the oars, she springs to the stern
locker and her strength is renewed as her hands
touch his, cold and iuanimate though they are
She almostS lifts him into the boat, where he
sinks down, limp and lifeless enough-dear in
deed to the alternative which he chose rather
than hanging.
Oh for a GIRL in these days, with the fore
thought which placed in the boat heavy coat
and the stores halt drowned mar might need
Thanks to such considerateness, and to the
kindeSt ministrations, Amos soon revived, and
in an hour was pulling Justify up-shore, by
light of the stars. That he was not much the
worse for his long bath | infer from his march
ing back to Deal that night, surprising the
HesSanS with force enough to put them utter
ly to rout, rescuing Col. Reynolds, and saving
his home and hers from pillage.
| know not what change may have come to
the heart of Alice Hendrckson during that
night on the sea, but certain it is she bacame
the wife of Amos Their story was told to the
writer hereof, by their son, Captain Ben Con-
over, the brave old wrecker of Deal.