The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-06-20

| stood with the storm tearing through the
remans'Of his grizzly hair; bald, rugged,
| and weather beaten, the coarseness OF his
features seemed for the moment subdued
-softencd by the feeling within is,breast
as he stood there no inapt representa-
tion of seer Of old.
SIS there no chance for them ?" l
shouted.
The old man shook his head and
shrugged his shoulders. "Precous lit
tie" he said, "unle>s them chaps come
down with the liie-boat; but who'd 20
out -
1t did look a desperate venture, indeed,
TO attempt launch boat with such Il sea
on, and having no reply, l stood shading
eyes and gazing out to sea.
''Bang."
There was another flash, and another
dull, ocaolcss report, and as the veil of
spray seemed TO clear during lull in the
storm, | could perceive large thrcc-mas-
ted vessel about five hundred yards from
the shore and once, as she wheeled over,
and showed her deck 4 could see that it was
crowded with people.
"Gol help them ~ / muttercd
"Amen !" said the old man; and lust
then, away to our lift, we saw the life
boat carriage coming down at a trot,
drawn by two stout horses while loud
and prolonged ''hurray - welcomed its
Arrivals another flash, and its follow
ing heavy report, seemed to groan of pain
in its hour Of sore distress.
''rhcy'll never 90 out to her." said the
old man, sholting in my ear, for after
the ull, the storm came down with re-
doubled fury-thc wind shrieking and
howling past, cutting the crcsts of the
waves off as it came tearing over the hill
of waters, and dashing over the salt spray
in my face till it almost seemed to cut
the hash while at times the women
who had come down were completely
held back against the steep sand-ban
There look thcre." cricl the old
man, suddenly seizing my arm. ''Catch
ing ut straws. Why there's a boat load
coming a shore. There; don't you see
-nOw Il top o that breaker ~
caught sight Of small boat crowded
with figures, and then there seemed to be
tall wave curl over it, and saw it no
more.
"Gonc' said the old man; 81 know
ed it! Nothing could live in such Il
storm"
"Lct's so to the life boat, and see if
they arc going off, said | but the Old
man was intently gazing out to sea.
"Ihcrc; Just as said," lie shouted
hoarscly, lust in the place. Shes
struck" And then, above the yelling Of
the storm, we coull hear II crash, and Il
wild shrek, that seems to ring through
me now upon II stormy night, when tar
/ inland listen to the howling wind.
'lts now or never" said the old man,
/ Us he ran down towards where the life
boat stood upon It's carriage, with Il crowd
Of men AMI women, the women hanging
on TO their husbands. AMI apparently beg
/ ging that they would not dare the perilS
/ before tGcm.
The sea had looked fearful enough
/ from where we stool before but here,
as we dared 90 TO the breakers, it looked
/ perfectly awful, willie the attcmpt TO
launch boat seemed absolute madness.
1t was evident that the men thought so
too, though, as we came up, one sturdy
fellow shouted: 'I'm ready, mates if
you're going a remark that elected no
response, for every one stood stUli lly
gazing out towards the doomed vessel.
Just then, in the dull haze scawards a
| blue light shOnc ont over the water Ike II
star; but still no one moved. All at
once, the old man by my silc hid hold
of my arm, and whispered; Give me Il
lit, sr;" anl before | knew hardly what
his object was, he had climbed by my
help into the boat. "'Now, then, YOU
boys" he shouted wildIyi Il cant stand
this! Stand aside, and let some Of the
old ones come -
The spell was broken. Women were
hastily thust asi'lc, and boats crew
was soon made up, amidst the shlleking
and wailing Of swect-hcarts and wives,
who ran about the beach wringing then
/ hands.
"IIurray for old Marks" shouted Il
voice at my elbow, and the crowd loudly
chcercd the old man. Then oars were
shipped and all made ready, the old sailor
sczng the steering oar as he stood up in
his place with Il lilc-bet on and his hat
blown oii-looking noblcr than ever.
"Now are you all ready ~ he shouted.
"No, no" was the cry; and in the
hush Of expectation, two men rose in the
boat, dashed Off their life belts, aud
amidst hali-muttereI groans, leaped out
from their places, and ran up the sand to
the bank, where they disappeared
"Iwo more ~ shouted old Marks, and
for few moments, so dread was the
peril, not soul moved then two stout
lads came rushing towards the boat, pHr-
s;icd by an elderly mana perfect giant.
"Stop them !" he roared. 'Yer shan't
60, lads"
lie came up to them by the bolt-side
as they were climbing in, and endeavored
TO stop their progress but in his turn he
was seized from behind by a couple of
men, and the two new comers were in
half minute equipped for the dire .strug-