The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-08-16

it's madness to go out" And | then |
heard Il noise which told me, that fear
full or not, he was trying to drown con
sciousneSs in the liquor to which he had |
made his way.
However, it seemed to me madness |.
to stay where we were, to be drowned |
like rats in hole; and taking advantage
of the next receding wave, gave the |
boat start, and she went down towards |
the mouth of the tunnel for little way,
a coming current would have driven
her back, only clung to the roof, now
very low down, and rather close to which
the boat now floated. Another thrust,
and pushed her some distance down
but with the next wave that came in,
my hand was jammedagains the Shiny
root, and unnerved with horror, gasped:
Grouse up, Harry! the mouths under
water!"
Hollowly sounded my voice as the
wave sank, and felt once more free,
and in sheer despair forced the boat
lower down the tunnel but this time,
when the tide came in again, had to
lie right back, the boat rose so high and
l felt the dripping sea-weed hanging
from the roof sweep coldly and slimily
over my face; when, before the next
wave could raise us, thrust eagerly at
the side, forcing the boat inward again,
; but in the fear and darkness, got her
; across the tunnel, so that head and stern
, were wedged, and as the next rush of
water came, it smote the boat heavily,
and made her fixture, so that, in spite
ofmy efforts, could not move her eth
, er way.
Wash came the water again ndagain,
+ and at every dash a portion came into
the boat, drenching me to the skin;
2 while now became aware that Harry
Hodson, my companion, was lying stu
) pihed across the kegs, and breathing
: heavily.
. made one more effort to move the
= boat, but it was tighter than ever; and
r after conquering an insane desire to dive
i out, and try and swim to the mouth, /
e let myself cautiously dowu on the inner
h side and stood, with the water breast
t high, clinging to the gunwale of the
l. boat. The next moment it rose above
IS my mouth, lifting me from my feet land
y as it rushed back, sucked my legs be-
y meath the boat; but l gained my feet
= again, and began to wade inward.
,r Yet strong upon me me as was the
p desire for life, l could not leave my
re companion to his fate in SO cowardly {
le way; so turned back, and this tim'
10 swimming, | reached the boat, nov
nearly full of water; and half dragging
ne half lifting, gothis body over the side
ne and holding on by his collar, tried one
m more for bottom. But it was horribl
st time there in the dense black darkness
On IA darkness that, in my distempere
k brain, seemed to be peopled with hide
,ft Gus forms, swimming, crawling, an
waiting to devOur us, or fold us in the
'lrl Shiny coils. The dripping water sounC
ed hollow and echoing; strange whispe
ne and cries seemed floating around; II
" mussels rustled together and ever lout
er came the slap, lap, tapping" of IL
IT water as it rushed in and dashed again
the sides and ceiling of the horrib
ke place.
n, | was now clinging with one hand
up the boats side, while with the other
mir held tightly by Iodson's collar; b
though waited till the wave receded /
fore | tried the bottom, it was not to
90, touched; so, shuddering and horrC
he stricken,I waited the coming wave,al
struck of, swimming with all my migl
'oN 1t was only minutes task but whe
"' after twice trying, my feet touched t
NV bottom, / was painting heavily, and
:, nervous, that / had to lean, trembli
an. and shaking, against the side. But
tbo had tight hold of llodson, whose he
his | managed to keep above water; al
md it was not until warned of my dang
od by the rising tide, and the difficulty
,od found in keeping my feet, that | aga
os essayed to press forward.
tbo Just then, something cold and "
swept across my face, and dashing G
loo my arms to keep off some monster
lod the Deep my hands came in conti
,oll with round body which beat agail
my breast, and in my horror, as da'
ais ed away, was sOmepaces ere the dra
lils ging at my limb told me that | had |
hev my cOmrade to his fate. The next II
ment however, he was swept up to IL
did and once more clutching his collar, a
ark keeping his head above water, ! wad
I 4 1 , l., t,,,, lan
;ing nearly lost my hold, for the same v
to Shiny body swept across my face
my raising my hand, | only dashed aw
lck. one of the long strands of bladder-wt
es," which hung thicIly from the cross ii
V to bers of the roof.
1t was no hard matter to bear |
laps companion along,with me, for | had
only to keep his head up, his body ho
DIN ing along the surface, but my tooth
,uld was uncertain, for now the bottom '
lde, Shiny, and my feet sunk in the o
,ued deeper and deeper, for was nearing
gates through which the fresh Wa
" ?" of the marshes was let in; and thol
# an the water was now only to my midi
and | made my way with difficulty,
ing, there was a perceptible current agai
'ond me.
the Breathing would have been easy,
sthe it not been for my excitement; and |
,ush- hOrrid dread seemed to check
nus very act, Tor all at once hearu me-
now reverberating noise, and the thou
light struck me that they were opening
nd gates, and in another instant the fea
rush of fresh water would come beai
ased all before it,-even our lives.
, my In the agony OF the moment u'l'
he wild unearthly shriell,-so iearf'
nife; cry, that / shrank against the side al
q so wards, and clung to Shiny post, tr