Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-06-01
The Rescue.


1t was in the month of February, bright
moonlight night and intensely cold, that the lit
tie brig commanded lay quietly at her anchors
inside of the Hook.
We had had hard time Of it, beating about for
eleven days off this coast, with cutting north
casters blowing, and showing and sleelng, for the
most of that time. Forward, the vessel was
thickly coated with ice, and it was hard work to
handle her. as the rigging and sails were stiff,
and yielded only when the strength of the men
was exerted to the utmost. When at length we
made port, all hands worn down and exhausted,
we could not have held out two days longer
without relief.
"A bitter cold night, Mr.. Larkin,' l said to
my mate, | tarried for moment on deck to
finish my cigar.
The worthy down-easter buttoned his coat
more tightly arouud him, looked up to the moon
and felt his red nose before he replied, Its a
whistler Captain, used to say on the Ken
nebec. Nothing lives comfortable out of blank
cts in such night this
:. The tide is running out swift and strong it
will be well to keep sharp lookout for the
floating ice, Mr. Larkin.
Gay, ay, sir, responded the mate, and
went below.
Two hours afterwards, was aroused from a
sound sleep by the vigilant officer
Excuse me for disturbing you, Captain,
said he as he detected expression of vcxaton
on my face . but wish you would turn out
and come Oh deck as soon as possible.
- Why what's the matter, Mr.. Larkin?'
Why, sir, | have been watching q cake o
ice that swept by at q little distance moment
ago saw something black apon it--somethin9
that | thought moved-the moons under .
cloud, and | could not distinctly, but | really
believe there's child floating out to sea, in this
freezing night, on that cake of ice"
We were on deck before either spoke another
word. The mate pointed out, with no little diff
fculty, the cake of ice, floating off to-eeward,
and its white glittering surface was broken by q
black spot-more | could not make out.
. Get me the glass Mr.. Larkin the moon will
be out of the cloud in moment, and we can see
distinctly
kept my eye upon the receding mass of ice,
while the moon was slowly working her way
through heavy bank of clouds. The mate
stood by with glass. When fall light fell at
last upon the water with brillancy only known
iE northern latitudes, put the glass to my
eye-one glance was enough.
" Forward there !" | shouted at the top of my
voice, and with one bound reached the main
hatch, and began to clear away the little cutter
which was slowed away in the ships yawl.
Mr. Larkin had received the glass from my
hand, to take look for himself. "ly God -
he said in whisper, as he set to work to aid Inc
in getting out the boat my God, there are
two children on that cake Of ice =
The men answered my hail, and walked lazily
aft. In incredibly short space of time We
launched the cutter into which Mr.. Larkin and
myself jumped, followed by the two men who
took the oars. | rigged the tllcr, and the mate
sat beside me in the stern sheets.
" Do you see the cake Of ice with some black
upon it. ?' I cried put me along side Of
that and III give you bottle of rum each to-
night and a month extra WAGES when you arc
paid off.
The men bent to their oars, but their strokes
were uneven and feeble. They wore used up by
the hard duty of the preceding fortnight and
though they did their best, the boat made little
more wav than the tide. This long chase,
and Mr.. Larkin who was suffering rs he saw how
little we gained, cried out: . Pull, lads; I'll
double the Captains prize: two bottles OF rum
and two months pay pull, lads, for the love OF
God, pull -
A convulsive efforts at the oars told how will
ling the men were to obey, but the strength OF
the strong man was gone. One Of the poor fel-
lows washed US twice in recovering his oar, and
then gave out the other nearly as far gone.
Mr. Larkin sprang forward and seized the oar
:. Lie down in the bottom of the boat, said
he to the man . and, Captain take the other
oar; VIC must row for ourselves"
took the second man 5 place. Larkin had
striped to his Guernsey shirt, and as he pulled
the bow oar waited for the signal stroke. Itcame
peptlv. but firm and the next moment we were
pulling long, steady stroke, gradually ncreas-
ing in rapidity until the wood seemed to smoke
in the oarlocks. We kept time each by the long,
deep breathing of the other. Such pail We
bent forward until our faces almost touched cur
knees, and then, throwing al strength into
the backward movement, drew on the oar until
every inch Of the space covered by the sweep
had been gained. At every stoke the boat shot
ahead like an arrow discharged from bow.
Thus we worked at the oars for fifteen minutes
it seemed to me as many hours. The sweat roll
ed off in great drops, and was enveloped in
steam generated from my own body.
g Are we almost up to it, Mr. Larkin p
gasped out.
"Almost, Captain-don't give up for the
love of our dear little one at home, don't give
up, Captain -
The oars flashed as the blades turned up to the
moonlight. The men who piled them were faith
ers, and had fathers hearts; the strength wbich
nerved them at that moment was more than
human.
| Suddenly Mr.. Larkin stopped pulling, ana nay
heart for moment ceased its beating; lor the
terrible thought that he had given out crossed my
mind But was quickly re-assured Dy his 'o'oc ~;
- Gently, Captain, gently-a stroke oi wv ~
! there. that will do u and tue next hiouieh'
the boats side came in contact Win iie1niA y
and Iarkin sprang from the boat with his heaVy
CO, mon the ice. | started up, and, calling up
-, tbe men TO make fast the boat TO the ice, fol-
| lowed.
We ran to the dark spot in the center of the
mass. and found two little boys. the head of the
smaller nesting in the bosom of the larger; both
were fast asleep The lethargy, which would