The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-12-09

erus Frequently to be seen on the Cornish
coast Every one agreeing to the propo-
sal the boat was backed for a few yards,
the head pointed toward the nearest open
ing and half dozen strokes sent us INTO
the ya1ning cavity.
AS We darted under the narrow arch.
we perceived that at its highest the cav
EN- rose but few feet above our heads.
while, TO our great consternatiun, we
found ourselves iFresislibly carried much
further than We had intended penetrating
into this abode of strange echoes
AS another wave came up, impelling ua
still onward in spite OF our most vigorous
efforts to prevent it, we looked toward
each other anxiously and our coxswain's
voice sounded hollow and unusually sub
dued- as he exclaimed
al say, you fellows, this won't do at
any price. Stern ALL"
This, TO onriucreased alarm, we found
it impossible to accomplish. We had bat
backed few yards when. with a whir
and rush against which we could make
no head, another wave rolled in, and we
clung desperately TO the side of the cav
ern TO prevent our boat being dashed to
pieces ON some hidden boulder.
Though alive to the danger of the posi-
ton, and bitterly rsgretting our foolishness
IN makiag tae venture with so ronah
sea running, we did not fully comprehend
our difficulties until we looked toward II g
mouth of the cavern To our horror we
perceived it was growing less and less
As the next wave came dashing in its
crest reached to within a couple of feet of
the crown of the rugged arch above US.
The tide was still rising and the dreadful
reality forced itself upon us that in a short
and hope: in word. that we should be
buried alive in the cavern!
With indcscribable sensations we watch
ed each wave rise higher and higher. and
the faint light grow DINNER while to in
crease the horror of our situation. our
boat was dashed to and fro with such
fearful violence that we knew not how
long we might hope to prevent lis being
broken up
Clinging with our bleeding fingers 10
the projecting rocks, we sat with our
faces turned in despair toward the open~
Jag, and the Good hep us!'' that burst
from Trelawney's lips sounded ike words
of docm TO all
Higher and higher crrpt the insatiae
waters, now reaching the very summit Of
the arch and obiiterating the glimmer of
light that yet stole in ; then. as if 70 mock
us, receding till the fsint ray was once
more visible. Again and again this hap
pened but at last we were enveloped in
pitchy darkness. The wall of water had
barred US in, and. unless God helped rs
we had taken our last look at the bright
world without.
1t was hard to die 50 young and even
now ! think it no shame to onr manhood
that choking sObs and earnest cries for
mercy thronged to our lips, as we strug-
aed 20 hold on against the volume Of
water striving always 20 dash us onward
into the deeper recesses of the chasm.
In our haste and alarm we had forgot
ten that small anchor was lying at the
bottom of the boat, but now, as n larger
wave than we had hitherto contended
with came rushing on US, Trelawny gasp
ed out:
1.-The anchor! over with il or we are
lost ! can hold no longer
in an 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
stones TO which we had been clinginC.
and like an arrow we were driven for
ward bet the anchor held; and for a
time we felt we were saved. Up 20 this
moment very few words had been uttered,
for the transition had been too great from
sunshine without to the darkness and ter
ror within to permit of speech. We all
knew by what frail tenure we held our
lives, and silently huddled together, lis
tening TO the wash of the pillows as they
came whirling and rumbling past our
boat, to dash with conclusion like thun-
der, against some recess of the cavern
which seemed TO be far, far away.
Strange fears stole over Us as we
prayed incoherently that the anchor might
hold and the wind drop, or cling instinct
lively to the sides of our vessel, when the
eddying waters hurled by, leaving behind
them transient calm, so profound that
we could hear our own deep breathing
and the bitter grief of our happy little
| coxswain Were not his thoughts with
the widowed mother who, if she lost him,
lost her all
Presently the awful stiffness was brok-
en- by rock cPumhline from the roof and
falling with deafening crash not many
feet from where we Law the sound rpVer-
berating along the cavernous vaults until
it died away in the distance.
After = while we fancied we heard the
moaning of the wind outside our prison
Had it increased And if the result
should be as terrible as we foreboded,
would our fate ever be known TO those
who would mourn for us7 Would any
vestige of the yawl or Der unfortunate
crew be wesked out to sea 10 tell the sad