The Van Buren press., 1870-09-20
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MISCELLANY.
The Rescue.


bright moonlight night, and intensely
cold, that the little brig that command
ed lay quietly at her anchors inside Of
the Hook.
We had hard time of it beating about
for eleven days off this coast, with cut
ting north casters blowing, and snow
and sleet falling for the most OF the 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.. Larkins," l
said to my mate, as / tarried for mo
ment on deck to finish my cigar.
The worthy down easter buttoned his
coat more tightly around him, looking
up to the moon-and felt of his red nose
before he replied:
ats whistler, Captain, as we used
to say on the Kennebec. Nothing lives
comfortable out OF blankets in such a
night as this"
"The tide is running out swift and
strong. it will be we'll to keep slla-p
lookout for the floating ice, Mr.. Larkins."
"Ay, ay, sir" responded the mate, and
l went below.
Two hours afterwards | was aroused
from sound sleep by the vigilant officer,
Excuse me for disturbing you, Cap
tain," said he, as he detected an expires
sion of vexation on my face :" but l wish
you would turn out and come on deck
as soon as possible"
Why-whats the matter, Mr.. Lar
kins."
"Why, sir, / have been watching a
cake of ice that swept by at a little dis
tance, moment ago l saw something
black upon it-something that thought
moved. The moons under cloud, and
l could not see distinctly; but / do be-
leve 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 difficulty, the cake of ice
floating off to leeward, and its white gilt
terng surface was broken by black
spot-more | could not make out.
"Get me the glass. Mr.. Larkins--the
moon will be out of that cloud in mo-
ment, and then we can see distinctly"
l kept my eye on the receding mass of
ice, while the moon was slowly working
its way through heavy bank of clouds.
The mate stood by with glass. When
the full light fell at last upon the water.
with a brilliancy only known to our
northern latitudes, put the glass to my
eye. One glance was enough.
" Forward there!" l shouted at the top
Of my voice, and with one bound reach
cd the main hatch. and began to clear
away in the ships yawl.
Mr.. Larkins had to reach tho glass
from my hand, to take look for him
self
"My Godn he said in walsper, as
he set to work to aid me in getting out
the boat" God. there are two chill
dren on that cake of ice =
Two men answered my hail, and walk.
ed lazily aft. In an incredible short space
of time we launched the cutter, into
which Mr. Larkins and myself jumped,
followed by the two men, who took oars.
| rugged the tiller, and the mate sat be-
side me in stern sheets.
"Do you see that cake Of ice with
something black upon it, lads ?" ! cried ;
"put me alongside that, and I'll give you
u bottle of rum each tonight and a
month extra wages when you are paid
off,"
The men bent to their oars, but their
strokes were uneven and feeble. They
were used up by the hard duty of the pre-
ccdng fortnight, and though they did
their best, the boat made little more way
than the tide. This was long chase
and Mr. Larkins, who was suffering as
he saw how little we gained, cried out /:
"Pull, lads--rll double the captain s
prize; two bottles OF rum and two
months spay. Pull, lads I! for the love Of
God, pull"
A convulsivc effort Of the oars told
how willing the men were to obey, but
the strength Of the strong men was all
gone. One Of the poor fellows washed
us twice in removing his oar, and then
gave out; the other was nearly us far
gone. Mr.. Larkins sprang forward and
seized the deserted oar.
"Lay down in the bottom Of the boat, "
said he to the man; and, Captain, take
the other oar; we must row for our
selves"