Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-02-29
THE RAS0S'S CHILD.
CHAPTER |.

and now the ship was enyeloped IN
fiery sheet. Men and women rushed
madly over the side to meet a quicker
but less painful death The boats, with
one exception, had been overladen and
capsi2ed There were hasty prayers,
and heartrending cries Of misery and
distress. Death lowered, yulture like,
ever his victims a; some chung desper-
ately to the vessels, side, some support
ed themselves in the water by articles
gnatchcA hastily from the burning ship,
and with which they bad leaped wildly
INTO the sea The captain sang through
bis trumpet " Take heart and sustain
yourself rs long as possible. a ship Is
coming to our relief
James Durant stood upon the almost
deserted deck with his only child, but
four years Of age, folded closely IN his
arms. He discovered it ut last, but it
was ut least four miles off. Before the
ship could arrive, they must be burned
to death or, if he springs, as others
hud, down into the water, both he and
the child would be drowned, ion he was
no swimmer.
The little arms were twined about his
neck, The pale check rest conhdinRty
against his own, but the brave child did
not tremhlc
80 my God, is there no help 8"
cried the dcspairing tatheras the flames
swept nearer, and felt that his present
position could be held but little long
en-
" Here, give the child to me, and |
will save her, y and turning quickly Mr..
Durant stood face to face with II strang-
er who Fad lfe-preseryer in his
hand.
"Quick there is no time to be lost
The child can have my hfe-presever
aud it will float her easily. Yonder is
another ship | have been watching 1t
for the last five minutes. 1t will reach
rs in haitian hour mt the most. There,
that is fastened securely. Now little
gill, | am going 10 throw you into the
water. You are not afraid
" No, no, but father
The father caught her frantically In
his arms.
" My darling Eva, you may never see
your father again; but ito not fear,
God will guard you, and somebody viii
find you and take care OF You. II yon
never see papa again, remember he Is
in heaven with mamma. y
" Has she no relatives y asked the
stranger.
!" Mono in this country; | am from
England, and am travelling for her
health. "
Take that pin from your bosom and
tasten it in her clothing.
Heaven help you for the thought, =
sail the father; and IN n moment the
square and compass VAS ghstenlng on
tue bosom of the child and the
stranger took her from her fathers
alaS saying: | am stronger
lhaa Won, she must be cast beyond
fine reach Of these poor drowning
WrctcbeS, or they viii rob her of her
lite preseryer,
The white drapory tluttered through
the air, and sank below the waves ;
then rising, it aoated lightly on the
water.
James turned to the stranger with
fearful eyes,
May God bless You and preserve
ven, nohlest and best Of men, But you,
ms we'll as myself, must be lost
No | am good swimmer, and here
IL q niece Of board with which YOU can
sustain yourself until relief arrives.
The father cast another glance At the
white specl floating rapidly away, and
with I'm inward God preserve her
snraug INTO the sea, followed 10y the
stranger but the two hoated in dillcr-
eft directions, and they saw each other
mo mere,
Two hours later, James Durant
awake, rs from the sleep Of death, and
found himself in the cabin Of a strange
ship, with kind and sympatmzing faces
all around him, in a moment he realized
nil that Ind passed, and said eagerly,
though feehly, My ehlld, little Eva,
is sine safe r. There was no response,
and low moan escaped tho fathers
Inns,
Courage, SIR, said a lady with
tynnl eyes, "some Of the passengers
were saved hy another ship,
The fathers eouutenauea lighted
cod grant that she may he safe,
Nr nuraut recovered his usua
strength In a few hours, ana sough
among the saved for the stranger VIII,
hui proved himself 50 true q Masoui,
Brother, hnt ae WIS not t. he found.
lie must 10 Ill the osher ship,