Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-10-19
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z EA,BATHING ADVENTURE.

On the morning Of August Is, q young
er brother was staying with me, alad Of
eighteen, six feet high, and slender. He
did not swim. g. We Left my house little
after six A gale that had ragged during
the two previous days had abated, and air
and sea were both calm as calm could be.
The great town Of Liverpool, cvidentlynot
yet awake, was shrouded in mist and
smoke. which rose in great column above
it. The tide had been flowing for au hour
or so, but the water was too low for the
shore to be suitable for bathing from be-
low the red and yellow rocks. which for
generations have borne the prosaic names
Of red and yellow noscs.. .Wksp ztsss tide
is out, there are mussel-beds snd fisher
mems stakes at this part Of the shore,
which convert bathing from pleasure 70
pcnance. So we directed our steps to q
firm bank of sand just below the rocks
upon which the battery stands. and close
to the lighthouse. Here I knew we
should soon be in fine deep water. Along
the shore We had noticeda few early RI
sers taking their morning saunter, but
where we bashed there was no one in sight,
and. save solitary gull who was pluming
his wings. not living creature was TO be
seen. turned to my brother rs we went
in. and when the water was aboat breast
high, said, "Tom. don't 60 any further
there are holes here. and you do not swim !"
With this admonition was quickly in
the enjoyment. of my swim, and had got
about City yards from my brother when a
cry from him caused me to turn my head.
and to my horror 1 saw him apparently
out of bis depth and struggling for life
How horrible seemed the distance between
me aud him? Those City yards seemed to
me TO mean his iife-he, the Benjamin Of
the family. Irush through the water.
see him 60 down. Thank God there he
is again above water! He goes down
again. This is too dreadful. I strain ev-
cry nerve TO cleave the palpable Auid that
divides us. Alas! when I am three or
four yards distant he goes down again for
the third time. am at the spot in IN
instant, and clutch his arm end drag him
10 the surface. Now comes the question.
"What next, and next r. We are in
many fathoms Of water. The current has
drifted him far away from the Shore
Has he ssreagth to rest his hands upon
my hips. as | swim with him in = "Ifs
no use. Sam, am drowned = sa dead
it is all over" as he gulps down another
draught Of salt water. s'For Gods sake.
Tom, try and pas your hands on my hips.
and don't clutch at ma. W We must beth
drown. and nothing can, save us." He
tried it, poor fellow but he was TOO. far
gone. Then climb On my shoulders, NY
boy."d He put his'srm around my neck
and bis.legs rosnd. my boay.a and hung
there. dear but deadly freight, Whsl
was to be done? l could Just support oul
joint weight by padding. bat 81 how
long With such load ] feared could
only bold out for a few minutes. = 1
could have dragged him by tic hair ofhi.
head. aud 50 swan 10 shore with him
but. nearly drowned - Be .alsssdy vss, ]
knew that would setsle him. He instine.
lively csinss cscser 10 mel feel that sls,
means death. TON, yoa are dcwnins
me; upcIasp my neck. and ~ili Try an.
other plaa.s With sondesful doc;lity hc
obeys. and put enc hand under his rishl
arm, aud keep his head above water thus.
Now an, holding him By The wrist. and
his bcdy Hops like sli.t Of corpse sgain.'
mine. ~ ~
For nomens . blzrk shcuxss tske.
possession Of my soal---tAis state Of thing,
eaa lsss hsa Essle lessers 10 helr IS ii
hand; he must drewns and . surely
| shall drown if I remain sith his oppres.
sing weight. Cast him q snd Eie & e
cared. Il uas snly Cor menens. and
| Gels shss il I leff him there aod reschei
lsle shore slive sfithoaf hin. I. sho1A q
liAs remainder sfny Peer lie xslk slse.sl