Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-08-24

inn sad silence. There could no longer be
any doubt about the matter-Lillian had fal-
len overheard
The few manning hours of the night
wore away. The gale subsidized. Mrracu-
lousy as il seemed to Us, the ship had es-
capped being stove and as the sea had gone
down with the gale there was no more dan
ger. Overwhelmed with grief, yet feeling
it his duty TO try and console his wife, the
captain descended into the cabin, leaving
the management of the snip N the hands OF
the mate. Presently the steward came on
deck. He wished to know if any OF the
hands had seen Blusco that morning. This
was the name of I large Newfoundland dog,
which had been great favorlte with Lillian,
and she had taken special delight IN feeding
I'm. The dog had grown exceedingly fond
of his young mistress, and would how his
alta, hment in many ways peculiar 10 hls
kind Now that their darling was lost, the
captain had ordered the steward to bring
Blusco to them, thinking that the sight OF
him might afford Il meIanct oily consolation
to his wife. Having searched the cabin
through without being able to find the AMI
NAL, the steward came on deck as we have
said to inquire if he had been noticed by
any of the hands We all answered in the
negative None of us had seen the dog
since the previous night. There-upon the
ship was ran>acked fore and att, for the
missing animal and although we searched
in every nook and corner he was not to be
found
While we were wondering what became
Of him, the man at the mast head sung out
that there were whales astern. He instant
ly ordered the boats 10 be lowered and be-
fore we had time 10 divest ourselves OF the
idea that We We're looking for the dog, were
padding swiftly in the wake of great fat
bow head The whale made straight for a
field of ice. In the distance, and went down
when he got in the midst Of 1t. We follow
ed HIN almost to the spot where he had dis
appeared and then laymotlonIess and silent,
waiting for the next rising. Large masses
OF ice flashing gloriously in the early rays
OF the sun, and moulded into thousand
different shapes, surrounded our little craft
on every hand, floating by with swift maies-
tic slowness, and now and then crashing a
gain5t each other with a force that caused
some OF them to rend asunder. STANCE.
beautiful monuments are these, fashioned
10y the hand Of nature-monuments OF
the frozen mariners that sleep below;
There it goes again, sand old Bill But
Ter. III whisper.
What asked the mate.
NAT Ddlhin8 lblSt- iCiliI'h LIN. ~
been hearing 1t ever since we left the ship,
sin
The mate leaned upon his stcerage oar
and listened.
1T is il seal, he said.
Beg your pardon. sir, repl ed Bill; but
never heard seal bark like that.
Good heavens" exclaimed ii Portuguese.
80 loud that the mate was Obliged to rap
him on the head with his knuckles, Good
heavens - he added III lower tone, me
think that one dog.
Good heavens Mikell me think 5 the
same. rem2rked another Portuguese little
fat fellow by the name OF Pat Plunket.
1T does sound mighty like dog, SAID
the mate as the barking became more DIS
tinct Perhaps it is Blusco on the ice
cake.
Turning the boat around with his steer
oar until her bows pointed III the direction
of the noise. the mate now ordered us to
paddle ahead. We obeyed and the boat
Shot f rwarG with an easy speed. The bark
ing sounded nearer every moment, until at
last it emanated from no other throat than
that of Biu>co.
But where was he
This was the question that now rose to
our lips We could hear him plainly. but
see nothing of him. Bv the sound of his
bark. We should have Judged that he stood
on a summit of an iceberg we were then APP
proaching, and was but few tathoms dis
tant. Yet notwithstanding, this no Blusco
was visible What could it mean? Had
some mermaid charmed the dog into l'visl-
bihty? ~,
Ne continued to approach. The barking
became much louder, and was now full OF
frantic iov. The icebcrg-a rather Large one
-trembed as though under the llfiuence
of an epileptic fit. Still there was no Blus-
co IN sight.
Our boat struck against the iceberg
pair of bright eyes cleaned at Us through
chink in the crystal wall-they were the eyes
of Blusco! The mystery was explained.
This monument of ice was hollow, forming
a rude little chamber in which the dog was
snugly ensconced.
NV God oh heaven be praised Just
look there exclaimed the mate, turning TO
Bill and motioning him to look through the
reyice. from which he had just drawn his
own eyes.
Bill did as requested, and beheld sight
which filled him with as much JOY as 1t ala
with amazement. Reclining III one corner
of the ice bound apartment-her long gold
Ell hair falling upon her pale face, ana the
siken lashes yelling her beautiful eyes--he
saw the unmistakablc figure of Lillian.
With few blows of our hatchets We soon
succeeded in effectng an opening IN the Ice
wall. The little girl and Blusco we're taken
our and put in the boat.
We laid back upon our oars with all the
we possessed while the mate draw
ing brandy flask from his pocket, poured
few drops of the liquor down Lillian throat
Rv the faint pulsations of her heart, he
, -, ,ba. tba currents of life were not fro |
zen that she had only sunk INTO that cold,