The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-04-10

381 33o0Ua itw
aunso vs. MA est 70 ssazss ~ ~ ~ hFse left :, W
Hx1sMt Sssia y " u ~ !
1911 - intspsSe - So tAe61s
!,s Fig ssF.ssa'd W a'''slz = - s.Ass
Ws I'd 5 iarlI tims a IL hsaiiae sks.s.6or
elsvea day. of this coast with cutting northeast
scs blpuiat. end snow aid slset falling for the
NOT II tAs time. Forw,sd the vessal was thick.
" coated with ice, and it was hard work 70
handle her, - the rigging and sails were stiff.
md yielded only when tho strength Of the nsn
was exertsa to the utmosk-When ak length We
made The port, ill hands worn down md exhaus-
ted, We could not have held out two days longer
"A littse cold night. M. Larlin, |" I said to my
mate, = tsrried for moment ON deck 70 finish
The worthy down easter buttoned his cost
more tightly around him, looked up 70 the moon
and then felt Of his I'D nose before he replied
to me- * ss
ats whistler, capt.ia,as we used to say ON
the Kennebsc. Nothing lives comfortable out Of
blankets in:such night q this.r IS
"The tide il RAINING out swift ard strong; 1t
xii Y vel 70 keep sharp look out for the
.tAye, ava, sir, responded the mate, and went
Two houtR afterwards. ] was aroused from .
sound sleep by the vigilant officer.
Excuse me for disturbing you, captain" said
he, as he detected an expression Of vexation on
my face "but wish you would turnsout and
come ON desk q soon as possible" = e ss.s
"Why, what is the matter, Mr.. Larkin."
"Why, sir, have been Watching cake Of ice
that swept BY at q little distance moment ego !;
saw something black upon it; something that
thought moved the moons under cloud, and
could not see distinctly, but 80 help me God, Il
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. Thesmate pointed ont, with no little diff
Aculty the cake of ice, floating off 70 leaward and
its white glittering surface was broken by black
spot more could not make out.
"Get me the glass Mr.. Larkin; the moon will
be out of that cloud in moment, and then we
canssee distinctly" q, .-as .le suoh
/ 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 tho full light fell at last
upon the water with brilliancy, only known in
Northern latitude. put the glass to my eye.
One glance was enough.
Forward there! !" shouted at tho 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.. Lark1n had received the glass from my
hand, to take look for himself.-"My God !" he
said ina whisper, a. he set to work to aid in get
ting out the boat-"my God, there are two chill.
dren On that cake of ice !"
Tho men answered my hail, and walked lazily
aft. In an incredible short time, we launched
the cutter, into which Mr.. Larkin and myself
jumped, followed by the two men who took the
oars. Irigged the tiller, and the mate set be.
side me In the stern sheets
''Do you zee that cake of ice with something
black upon II, my lads !" I cried ''pxt me along
side Of that and I'll give ysu bottle of rum
each tonight and q months extra wages when
you are psid off, 7E,
The men bent to their oars, but their strokes
were uneven and feeble. They were used mp
by hard duty Of the proceeding fortnight, and
though they aid their best, the boat made little
and Mr.. Larkin, who was suffering n 10 saw
how little was gained, cried out
"Pull. lads-I1l double the captains prize !;
two bottles of rum, and two months pay pull
lads, for the love Of God, pull J" ~ n'e'' -ris
A conclusive effort ct the oars told how will
ing the men were to obey, but the strength Of
the streng men was gone. One Of the poor men
washed ms twice in recovering his oar, and then
gave out; the other VS. nearly gone. Mr.. Lar
kin sprung forward and seized the oar. A,'n'
'.Lay down in tho Bottom Of the boat, /" said he
to the men, and captain, take the'other oar; We
must row fcs Ourselves = ~ 'l'S9st as'' , =
I took the second mani place; Larkin had
stripped to bis Guernsey shirt, and = b. pulled
the bow, I waited for the signal stroke. Il came
gently. but firm, and the next moment we were
pulling long, steady stroke, gradually incrsss-
ing in rapidity until the wood seemed 70 smoke
in the oar-locks ..saliy 4 ss4s 5sf i'ss ei,s Z,
We Kept tims each By the long. deep breathing
Of the Other. Ssoh pull. We bent forward
until orr faces almost touched oSr knees. and
then, throwing all our strength into the bask-
ward movement, drew on the oar until every
inch of the space covered BY the sweep had been
gained. At every stroke the boat shot ahead
like an arrow discharged from 5 bsv. " Thus W
worked ut the oar Tor fifteen minutss-it seemed
to mo a. many hours. The sweat rolled of from
me in great drops, and was enveloped in steam
generated from my own body.
"Are we almost up to ii, Mr. Larkin ?" gasp
ed ont. 9i err
almost, captain-don't give up; for the love
Of our dear little ones at home, don't give up,
captain"
moonlight, The men who pulled them were
fathers, and had fathers hearts, the strength
which rerved them ut that moment was more
than human.
Suddenly Mr.. Larken stopped pulling, and nay
heart for moment ceased its beating for the
terrible thought that he had given out crossed
my mind. But was quickly treasured by his
voice.
"Geatly, captain, gently-a strike or two more
there. that will do" and the next moment the
boat came in contact with something, and Lar.
kin sprang from the boat with his heavy feet
upon the ice. started up and called upon the
men to make the boat to the ice, followed.
We ran to the dark spot in the center of the
;ttla kha1 ,>o -