National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-05-03

Then we were both silent, and
watched the boats now further
away from US, and the blazing ship
seeming to he the centre Of a glori-
Gus ring of light, on the outside of
winch IKE sparks we all lay waiting
Tor the end we knew was soon to
come. Everywhere else was dark
as pitch, not even a star was to be
seen, while the waves just rose and
curled little over as they washed
against our raft excepting the dull
roar and clackle of the flames, ev.
eiytLing was as still as death.
All at once l started, for the cap
tain spoke sadly as be looked at his
vessel and out of the silence his
voice sounded wild and strange:
If I'd had a crew like you, my
man | think we could have saved
her , and then he spoke no more,
70. Just then, from being quite still,
The good ship seemed TO roll a little
.oward us, and then to the other
side, slowly as if just bending 10 the
breeze ; and then we could almost
see the water creeping up her burn
ing sides as clouds of steam arose
and with one cal IL steady dip for
ward she seemed to plunge right
down beneath the golden waters.
Then there was rising and falling
OF the sea, and a deep, dense dark.
ness, out OF which close b. me c.ime
one of the bitterest, hcarttearing
sobs | ever heard from the breast of
man; and | did not speak, for l felt
that it was the captain sorrowing
for the loss of his good ship.
For a good piece the silence was
as deep as the darkness, and then
/ the captain was the first to break it
in quite n cheerful voice:
Can y,-- lay your hand on the
rope p he says and | passed it to
him, aud then | could hear him in
the dark busily at work tying and
fastening ; and ut last he says:
Now crawl on again it will bear
YOU better : and faint and wearily
managcd 20 crawl on, and lay with
my feet III the water and my head
ON the bag of biscuit; and directly
after felt him crawl on too, and We
took hold of hands and lay there in
the deep darkness while he said that
prayer out i'll such a soft, deep voice
that prayer as we first learnt
kneeling down years ago By our
mothers knee. When he came to
Deliver us from evil he stopped
short aud soon, worn ont there in
the great ocean, floating on a few
/ pieces of wood, We both fell asleep,
and slept till the warm, bright sun
shone upon us and told us that an.
other day was here.
The first thing the captain did
was to stand up and look around,
and then he said he could see only
one boat but he hoisted up one OF
! the pieces Of wood, and wedged it
IN the coop with handkerchief fly
ing at the top, after which we made
a hearty meal of the biscuit, raw
bacon, and water. After this the
captain got one OF the coops on the
other, and by binding and lashing,
he made a much higher and better
raft, so that we could keep our bis.
: cult and bacon ont OF the water and
sit dry ourselves.
And so we lay all that day till to.
wards evening, when we found that
the boat was coming towards us,
and Just at dusk it was within hail;
and if ever Ia telt hopeful or joyful
before in my life, it was then. They
/ had no room for us, but they took
/ lis in tow, and the weather keeping
calm, we all rowed and worked in
turns, steering according to the
captains direction for the nearest
land for when our turn came we
two went into the boat, and tw 9th.
crS came out on the raft, and so we
toilcd on for days, when one morn.
ing there was a joyful cry:
"A sail" Il sail!
And it was, too, within a mile Of
us, palmer and palmer as that glorl.
: Ous sun rose and then some laugh.
ed, some cried, AM one Or two seem.
ed half mac with joy, as after
while she ran down towards us,
picked us up, and proved to be
British man-of,war, II omew ard
bound.
In another week ] was back in
the port left, without money, but
with as good and true a friend in
Captain Ellis as ever walked. ! had
life, and with il came hope and
somehow, since then, things have
prospered with me in the old com.
try-the old home that once left
to 60 far at sea.