The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-04-18
THRILLING ADV ENTURE.

ATHRILLING ADV ENTURE.
It was clear, balmy day in june
when I, Richard Dawson, midshipman,
at home in Cornwall after a two years
cruise, looked up three Of my old school
mates for row along the coast in yawl
hired of waterman, and well freighted
with all that was needed to make the day
merry one.
Away we went, four of the mos: light
hearted lad living. Bob Trelawny
stroke, myself with pair of SOULS, Tom
Davis in the bow-rowing random; and
Billy Finch, our little cock swain, saucily
hugging himself Oh the dwar6sh stature
which exempted him from any greater
share In our labors.
With many quib at each others ex
pense, our laug liter waking up the echoes
of the curiously veined cliffs towering
above us, we glided along the picturesque
coast; sometimes passing beneath huge
blocks of granite, which seemed to need
but touch to topple them down upor
our frail craft; sometimes catching Gimp
ses of tiny coves, whose beauty no foreign
scenery have visited exceeded. Into
one of these our coxswain steered US wher
we began to show symptoms of fatigue
skilfully taking us through the narrow
inlet between the rocks that concealed il
from casual observers.
Perhaps the dark hours that followed
helped to imprint on my memory the
peaceful beauty of that spot, for I car
conjure up-even now that years have
passed over my head,-every detail OF
the fair picture; the high banks hem
ming in the mimic bay, covered to their
sumnits with heather and the endless
variety Of ferns that flourish in the rich
alluvial soil;the trees GROWING the hight,
the signing of the soft breeze that stirred
their branches, and the musical cadence
offalling water as innumerable little riv-
lets bounded from rock to rock in glisten
ing cascades, or like silver serpents thred
ed their way toward the murmuring sea-
The scene was so lovely that even the
mercuri al spirit Of our coxswain was i'm
pressed by it, and he stopped in the
midst Of one of his favorite ditties to ex
claim,
BY Jove, it's sublime -
In "reminiscences of our happy school
days, and song after song from the Mario
of our company, the time quickly passed
away, till the deepening shadows warned
us that we must depart. Our diminished
stores were replaced in the yawi, and.
bending to our work, We soon emerged
from the peaceful cove into the horde,
expanse of St. Michaals bay.
While we were lingering in the cove,
the breeze had freshened, so that our
little boat danced merrily over the swell
ling waves, the bounding motion adding
fresh impetus to the mirth which was
exuberant enough at starting,
We had traversed about half our home
ward way when Tom Davis proposed a
row into one of the gloomy-looking. cav.
ems frequently to be seen on the Cornish
coast. Every one agreeing to the pro.
posal, the boat was backed for a few
yards, the head pointed toward the near.
est opening, and half dozen strokes
sent us into the yawning cavity.
AS we darted under the narrow arch
we perceived that at its highest the cav.
ern rose but few feet above our heads,
while to our great CONSERVATION, we
found ourselves irresistibly carried much
further than we had intended penetrat-
ing into this abode of strange echoes.
As another wave came up, impelhng
us still onward in spite of our most vlgor-
Gus efforts to prevent it, we looked to-
ward each other anxiously, and our cox
swain's voice sounded hollow and unusu-
ally subdued as he exclaimed:
Il say, you fellows, this wont do a,
any price. Stern all II
This, to our increasing uneasiness, we
found it impossible to accomplish. We
had but backed few yards when, with a
whiri and rush against which we could
make no head, another wave rolled in.
and We chung desperately to the side Of
the cavern to prevent our boat being
dashed to pieces on some hidden bouIa.
er.
Though alive to the danger of the DO
siton, and bitterly regretting the foolish
ness in making the venture with so rough
sea running, we did no. fully compre
bend our difiulties until we looked to-
ward the mouth of the cavern. To oul
horror We perceived that it was growing
less and less. As the next wave came
dashing in, its crest reached to within s
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 IL word
we should De buried alive in the eaverL..
With indescribable sensation VIC watch
ed each wave rise higher and higher. and
the faint light grew DINNER; while to