Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-07-27
In II Cornish Cavern.
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.

that was needed to make the day merry
orc.
Away we went, four of the most light
hearted lads living. Bob TrelAwny
stroke, myself with pair of sculls, Tom
Davies in the bow-rowing random and
Billy Finch, our little oockswain, saucily
hugging himself on the dwarfish statue
which exempted him from any greater
share in our labors.
With many a squib at each others ex-
pense, our laughter waking up the echoes
of the curiously veiued cliffs towering
above us, we glided along the pictures
que coast; sometimes passing beneath
huge blocks of granite, which seemed to
need but touch to topple them down
upon our frail craft; sometimes catching
glimpses OF tiny coves, whose beauty no
foreign scenery l have ever visited ex-
ceeded. Into one of these our cocxswaln
steered us when we began to show sy mp-
toms of fatigue, skilfully taking De
through the narrow inlet between the
rocks that concealed it from casual observ'
ers.
Perhnps the dark hours that followed
helped to imprint on my memory the
peaceful beauty of that spot, for can
conf ure it up-even now that years have
passed over my bead-every detail of the
fair picture the high banks hemm1ng III
the mimic bay, covered to their summlts
with heather and the endless variety OF
ferns that flourish in the rich alluVlal
soil the trees browning the heights, the
signing of the soft breeze that stirred their
branches, and the musical cadence OF the
falling water as innumerable little rlvu-
| let's bounded from rock to rock In gllsten-
ing cascades,or like silver serpents thread
ed their way toward the murmuring sea,
The scene was so lovely that even the
mercurial spirit of our coxswain was i'm
pressed by it, and he stopped in the midst
of one of his f4vorite ditties to exclaim,
"By Jove, it's sublime !"
In "reminiscences of our happy school
days, and song after song from the Mario
of our company, the time quickly passed
away, till the deepening shadows warned
US, that we must depart. Our diminished
stores were replaced in the yawl, and,
bending to our work, we soon emerged
from the peaceful cove into the broader
expanse of St. Michael's bay.
While we were lingering in the cove,
the breeze had freshened 80 that our little
boat danced merrily over the swelling
wavea,t the bounding motion added fresh
impetus to the mirth which was exuber-
ant enough at starting.
We had traversed about half our home
ward way when Tom Davies proposed a
row into one of the gloomy looking cav
ems frequently to be seen on the Cornish
coast. Every one agreeing to the propo5-
al. the boat was backed for a few yards,
the head pointed toward the nearest open
ing, and half dozen vigorous strokes
sent us into the yawning cavity.
As we darted under the narrow arch,
we perceived that at its highest the cav
ern rose but few feet above our heads,
while, to our great CONSERVATION, We
found ourselves irresistibly carried much
further than we had intended penetrat-
ing into this abode of strange echoes.
As another wave came up, impelling US
still onward in spite of our most vigorous
tff,rts to prevent it, we looked toward
each other anxiously, and our coxswain'-
voice sounded hollow and unusually sub
dued as he exclaimed:
Il say, you fellows, this won't DO ut
any price Stern all !!
This, to our increasing uneasines9, we
found it impossible to accomplish. We
had but hacked few yards when, with a
whrl and ruah against which we could
make no head, another wave rolled in,
and we chung desperately TO the side of
the cavern to prevent oar boat being
dashed to pieces on some hidden boulder
Though alive to the danger OF the posi-
ton, and bitterly regretting our foolish
ness in making the venture with 50 rough
n sea running, we did not fully compre-
bend our difficulties until we looked to-
ward the mouth of the cavern. To our
horror we perceived that it was gro Hing
less and less A. the next wave came
dashing in, its crest reached to within
couple of feet of the crown of the rugged
arch ahove Us The tide was still rising,
and the dreadful reality forced itself
uuon us, that in short time we should
be closed in from life and hope; in 81
word. that we should be buri alive in
the cavern.
With Undesirable sensations we watch
ed each wave rise higher and higher, and
the faint light grow DINNER; while to
increase the horror of oar situation, our
bo1t was dashed to ard fro with such
fearful viola,ce that we knew not how
long we might hope to prevent its being
broken up.
Clingiug with our bleeding fngera to
projecting rock1, We sat with our faces
turned in despair toward the opening, and
the God help us" that burst from Ire
lawney's lips BOUNDED like words of doom
to all.
Higher and higher crept tie inAatiete
waters, now reaching the very summit of
the arch, and celebrating the gljmner of
light that vet stole in; then, as if to mock
us, reoeding till the faint ray was once
more visible. Again and again this hap
pened but at last we were euvelopcd il
pitchy darkness The wall of water hid
hedged us in, and, uuless God helped Us,
we had taken our last looB at the bright
world without.
1t was hard to die so young; aud even
now I think it no shame to our manhood
that choking sobs and earnest cries for
mercy througed to our lips, as we strug
gled to hold on against the volume of
water striving always to dash US onward
into the deeper recesses of the chnam.
In our haste and alarm we had forgot.
ten that a small anchor was lying ut the
bottom of the boat, but now 81 a larger
wave than we had hitherto GOntented with
came rushing on Us, Trelawney gasPed
out:
The anchor over with it or We are
lost l can hold on no longerv
In on instant had it over the side
On came the believing wave; the boat
was lifted upon it; our hands were forced
to relinquish their grasp of the jagged
rocks to which we had been clinging, and
like an arrow we were driven forward,
but the anchor held and for / time we
felt that we were saved.
Up to this moment very few words had
been uttered, fer the transition had been
too great from the mirth and sunshine
without to tn darkness aud terror with
in, to admit of speech. We all knew by
what frail tenure we held our lives. and
silently huddled together, listening to the
wash of the pillows as they came whirling
and rumbling past our boat, to dash with