The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-11-23


stores were replaced in the yawl, and bend
| ing to our work, we soon emerged from tn
. peaceful cove into the broader expanse O
St. Miehael's bay.
While We were lingering in the cove, tn,
breeze had freshened, so that our little boa
danced merrily over the swelling waves, tn,
bounding motion adding fresh impetus +,
the mirth which was exuberant enougb a
starting.
We had trayersed about half our home
ward way when Tom Davies proposed {
row into one of the gloomy looking cavern.
frequently to be seen on the Cornish coast
Every one agreeing to the proposal, the
boat was backed for a few yards, the head
pointed to the nearest opening, and half q
dozen strokes sent US into the yawnino
cavity.
AS we darted under the narrow arch, we
perceived that at It's highest the cavern
rose but few feet above our heads ,rh;,o
to our great CONSERVATION, we found our
selves irreslstlDIy carried much further
than we had intended penetrating into this
abode OF strange echoes.
As another wave came up, impelling us
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 subdued as
! he exclaimed:
Il say, you fellows, this won't do at
any price. Stern allr'
! This, to our increasing uneasiness, we
found it impossible to accomplish. We
had but backed few yards when, with a
whirl and a rush against which we could
make no head, another wave rolled in, and
we clung desperately to the side of the
cavern to prevent our boat being dashed to
pieces on some hidden boulder
Though alive to the danger of the posi-
ton, and bitterly regretting our foolishness
in making the venture with so rough a
sea running, we did not fully comprehend
our difficulties until we looked toward the
mouth of the cavern. To our horror we
perceived that 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 short
time we should be closed in from light and
hope; in a word, that we should be buried
alive in the cavern
With indescribable sensations we watched
each wave rise higher and higher, and the
faint light grow DINNER; while to increase
the horror of our situation, our boat was
dashed to and fro with such violence that
we knew not how long we might hope to
prevent its being broken up.
Clinging with bleeding fingers to the
projecting rocks, we sat with our faces
turned IN despair toward the opening, and
the " God help US " that burst from Ire
lawney's lips sounded like words of doom
TO all.
Higher and higher crept the insatiate
waters, now reaching the very summit of
the arch, and obliterating the glimmer of
light that yet stole in; then, as if to mock
us, receding till the faint ray was once more
visible. Again and again this happened; !;
but at last We were enveloped in pitchy
darkness. The wall of water had barred
us in, and, unless God helped us, we had
taken our last look at the bright world
without.
1t was hard to die so young; and even
now | think it no shame to our manhood
that choking sobs and earnest cries for
mercy thronged to our lips, as we struggled
to hold on against the volume of water
striving always to dash us onward into the
deeper recesses of the chasm.
In our haste and alarm we had forgotten
that small anchor was lying at the bottom
of the boat, but now, as larger wave than
we had hitherto contended with came rush
ing on US, Treawny gasped out:
"The anchor over with it or we are
lost | can hold on 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 re-
linquish their grasp of the jagged stones to
which we had been clinging, and like an
arrow we We're driven forward; but the
anchor held, and for time we felt we were
saved.
Up to this moment very few words had
been uttered, for the transition had been
too great from the mirth and sunshine
without to the darkness and terror within,
to permit 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 a
conclusion like thunder, against some re-
cess 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 clung instinctlvely
to the sides of our vessel, when the eddying
waters hurled by, leaving behind them a
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 broken
by a rock crumbling from the roof and fall
ing with deafening crash not many feet
from where we lay, the sound reyerberating
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.
I 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 US. Would any vestige of the
yawl or her unfortunate crew be washed
out to sea to tell the sad tale
At last-and what an eternity it seemed
we could discern faint glimmer of light.
4 few seconds and it had vanished. Then
like bright star dawning upon US, it stead
IL i