Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-03-07

managed to keep our place. 1t seemed
rs II the night would never go. tried to
make believe was dreaming, and that L
was at home abed in my little room; and
Tor minute it would seem true. Then
| wave would come, or little Benny would
cry out, and the dreadful reality would
come back to me.
Morning came at last, and our courag
rose with the sun. l stood up and took :.
survey, but there was a thick fog, and I
could see neil Aer land nor vessel knew
they would send out boats from Var
mouth, and had been praying that they
might find us. Once | fancied | heard
people calling, and shouted and listened
till was completely exhausted. Then I
gave up and shrunk down again. What
with the cold, and fright, and hunger, 1T
tie Benny had fallen into a sort of stupor
! had tied one end of my wooden comfort
er round his waist, and the other to the
pole to keep him from rolling off, for the
water was growing rougher, and | was
afraid might let go of him. The fog
thickened very fast, and at last we could
hardly more than see the end of our raft
All at once your father started UP, AMI al
most shouted:
There's a vessel comingl Harkw
My heart beat SO loud that at first L
could hear nothing else. Then, mo-
mcnt after, the cracking of blocks and
the sound of voices came through the
fog, seemingly within few yards.
| never thought could shout as
loud as | did the next second.
An answer came back so near that IL
almost startled me. They thought, we
found afterwards, that they were running
into another vessel.
We're lostr' cried out. 'Wc are
on q cake of ice--lhree boys'
Great heavensm we heard the captain
say. Then came the order: Down with
the boats"
They struck the water in nearly tho
same minute the order was given, and
then we heard the stroke of oars.
"Whcrc AWAY" came the voice again.
Here" we both shouted.
A minute after we saw the dark side Of
the boat rs she broke through the fog and
slid alongside the ice. | shall never for
get the establishment of the men when
they got sight Of us, or their ordinations
OF wonder and sympathy rs they lifted us
into the boat and pushed for the vessel,
which was hardly dozen lengths away.
The captain was rough looking sort of
but when he heard our story, the tears
ran down his cheeks like rain
600 down into the cabin and get some
thing to cat, and dry your Clothes" he
said, and then ttrAng To the mate, who
had gone aft, he cried Put her away
for Yarmouth
The owner was on board, and was
standing by.
THAT won't do" said he. "Thc boys
ara safe, aud You can send them back
E.em Boston, " for it seems the vessel was
Bound To that port.
The captains eyes flashed rs he
answered
" You're the owner here, but I'm the
captain This schooner goes into Var
mouth llarbor tonight il she sinks ut the
wharf I've got two youngsters down on
the Cape about the size of them boys,
and I'm goin to do just what I'd want
anybody else TO do if they could change
places"
You know what the consequences
will be
NO don't. And il wouldn't make
any difference If did. I'm able to take
'em, and, moreover, I'm wilin'. Head
her moth by east!'
II would be taking up too much time to
tell you how they all tried To make us
comfortable. We were put into bun
while our clothes were drying having
had hearty meal first, and it wasn't
long before we were asleep. When I
woke found the captain standing by me.
Jump up, my lad" said he You're
almost home. We're off the Cape now,
and by five O'Clock you will be in your
fathers house"
Your father and Benny were nearly
dressed, and were wild with delight.
I'm going to see my mother. I'm go
ing to see my mo,herw Benny kept
saying, as one of the sailors was button
ing his jacket and lacing up his shoes.
Then we scrambled on deck. II seemed
such time getting from Bunkcrs Island
up TO the channel Long before we got
10 the wharf people had spied us through
heir glasses, and the word had spread.
II seemed as If half the town was at the
wharf, and you may be sure your grand
mother and Bcnny's mother were not in
he rear.
You can imagine the rest as well M I
,ould tell it. It's n part Of the story l
always skip. Twill only say that Cap
ain Crowcll, who brought us home, and
sho was discharged at Boston, was offer
ID the command Of one Of the finest briggs
hat ever sailed out of Yarmouth, and
vent down In her In storm off the West
ndics, ten years afterwards. Little C0r-
,0rdi