Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-01-17
MiStellauepWS.
The Mouth of the Leamy.
BY TIE AUTHOR OF 1.-THE HEIR OF
REDCLYFFE,"
CHAPTER V,

REDCLYFFE,"
CHAPTER V,
lie fumed and ragged at the many delays
that had prevented the return of the Elz
abcth, sometimes even attributing them to
cont,iyances on the captains part to cause
Amisc 10 have time forget her bridegroom,
and even when perception of his own er
ror. IL recollection Of Raleigh's warning
of the evils that an unblcssed son was said
to bring on voyage, and even the dis
covery that the superstition of the
sailors bad begun to point to him as
the cause of all their misiortunts,
all combined to press on him, it had hith-
erto merely increased the surly gloom and
defiance of his deneanor. But now
standing in a foundeiing ship, the waves
ready to ensulf him, and himself and all
the brave men around powerlcss to avert
their fatc--his spirit softened, his eyes fill
ed with tears; instead OF the sound OF
waves. bis ears were filed with the SIM
day peal and clash of the five bells of that
square tower that rose above the hcadland
OF the Leamy the home faces looked
wistiully upon him,-and when Stafford
spoke OF pardon, it was to heart already
melted.
Moments Of repentance! All. how few.
how bitter! how much to be done within
them! Those were the days when Pietv
WIS oatspoken, end sea captains PRAYED
aloud for their crews. and Lionel Stafford
was uttering his cntreaty for mercy and for
givencss, when there was a sudden shout
The sun rising Suddenly from the sea.
round disc i'll its full power and brill ance.
shed his light athwart the waves, ilumin
atng their ioamng crests, and disclosing
beyond a long. low line Of rocks. which.
measured by the sailors practiced eye.
promised hope and refuge from the death
which had just before seemed inevitable
There was IA lond, ringing shout. and the
reeulsion offeeling might almost have pre-
vented the powers Of availing themselves
OF the chance Of preservation, had not
their captains steadiHess calned them for
the efforts. The ship was indeed drifting
nearer the rocks. but it could not he long
kept ailoat and the breakers which dash
ed over the reef made the approach fear
fully perilous. The only hope was of a
rope being conveyed to the rocii but who
could be the bearer in that sursing seal
Brave as were the sailors, they looked on
each other in hesitation when u plunge
into those lcaping waves became the mo
mentary alternative; but while Stafford
was about to give the command to King
colnhe, Mark Lynch stepped forward. say
ing as he iaid hold on the rope, Send me.
Captain. here ia service for me: aud if |
perish. your i'll luck goes with me, Nv
lads. if you see the Leamy again. hear wit
ness that in all that has b, en- amiss | bear
the blame
Stay. Lynch, said Stafford affrt ton
ate'y, 'yol cannot face yon waves like an
older man. How could meet item if l
let YOU risk yourself p
! i am a better swimmer than the 9th RS,
said Mark and this WAS true, His coast
training had taught him great dextcrity
aud he had the light activity. that accom-
panirs gentle blood. Besides, he added,
su,ing my heart is isht enough to buoy
me up since peace was made with you-
Fare you well. Lionel. II you get home,
and not, say to nv father that il is my
last wish you should speed well with the
heiress.'
/ The two Young men, so long cstranscd,
grasped one another in strong embrace.
! Iheu, with the rope round his waist. and 4
mu.rered prayer.-not so much for his
ava safety as that he might bear away the
weight Of lis sin from the innocent. -
Mark sprang overheard. Bseathltss,y
was he watched, now struggling with the
waves. now lost behind tlleir mountain
height. now borne aoft on the summit,
now apparently dashed downward with
~. IL a. l,,. IL,
steady pull on the rope showed that he
was still making his way. He rose-rose
lose on the en0rmous breaker. very
playtlling on its gigantic lap, unable to di
rect his course, then, with the roar as of a
hundred thunlers. he was hurried down,
wards Would he he dashed to fragment.
ou the Jagged rocks? He knew not: and
in one monent more, lie found himself
lying. battered brea,hless, helpless hnt
still living and sound man, upon the sandy
beach, with barely the instructive power IL
cling in desperation to rock close at hand
as the returning wave lowered with. rs i
were an cnragcd bii!ow high in air above
his head, fell over, swallowing, drowning
cndcavoriug to wrench him back with it in
to the depths; hut still he kept his hold
and gathered his powers sufficiently Il
i:rawl somewhat higher. There, after
few moments, he was able to make the rOp,
fast to rock and a ter shaking it as
signal to those in the ship, he sank dowi
again, ent and exhausted. and knew n
more ill he foand himself lying with HI
head on Staiford's knee, and his hands be
ns ch fed by old kingcomhe.
1t was all that could be done, either 70
him who was merely exhausted and pruis
ed. or for others whose transit had CO
, them broken limbs or ribs. About thirt
stood upon the rock, without food, water
clothing. or shelter from that glariag sun
which would soon he vertical.
Would not death in the cool ocean hav
been preferable to such wasting anguish!
There were many who thought so er
noon. Some, in the fever of their dcliriou
agony, would have leape1 at once into tn
waves, had they not have been forebl
: withheld. The misery was unspeakahl,
y but even in the midst, Marks brow WI
cleared oi its worst furrow.
4