Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-06-04
DRIFTING D0wM NIAaARAj
weighed in tho Balance, and
Found Wanting.
BY CONSTANCE +. wooLsoN.
[From AppIeton,s Jourpal.l ]

ING Law tilted sideways on a reef, at little
distance from a small island the current
swept rapidly by, and every instant we ex-
pected to feel her slipping down into the tide
again. We all held our breath in suspense /;
we knew not what TO say or do. 'There Is
hut one hope" said Nathan Day, after pro-
longed survey of our situation ''one Of us
must swim ashore with rope and fasten the
boat securely
"Whoever tries II will be a dead man, "
said Frank Ronalds, looking over into the
seething water.
But Pearl had heard Nathan's words "Go,
rot" she cried frantically, seizing him by the
arm Garry the rope ashore, let yourself
down, jump over, swim, any thing, only save
me, save mel
ii will save you, Pearl, never fear" said
Nathan, taking off his coat.
'AIr. Day, you shall not go p cried Kate,
impetuously. "It is certain death Pearl
Brandegee, you are selfish, heartless girl
and always knew II "
go, CO." said Pearl, unheeding these
sharp words 'you can swim well / know
YOU can Where is the small rope? Frank
lonalds, where Is the rope, say? Why do
YOU hang back? Give Il to me. Here Ma
Than, take il, and save me, save mel"
"Mr. Day." said Mary Rathbone, with the
sound of tears In her voice." do not go, be
seech you.
lie grasped her hand warmly.
al must go. Here is a flask | saved take
il and use il at your judgment; they may all
need it," he said. Then, turning to Pearl
"IIave you nothing to say to me before go2'
he asked, wistfully.
Don't step over this side" shrieked PEARL
''yOu will drown us all with your nonsense
Don't waste an instant, but jump over as
quick as you can. 1t is the only reparaton
f,Nalra fnrh ho uinfy bpnufrlt har
Go, tell you; Frank Ronalds, il he hesi-
tates throw him over"
But with these words ringing in his ears
Nathan Day had plunged into the water, and
was battling with the fierce current. With
thrObbing hearts we watched him The strong
wind had blown the fog away, and we could
STE him in the moonlight. Now he sunk,
now he rose again, now he drifted down, now
he advanced. II was hard struggle, more
than once apparently hopeless; but at last he
reached the shore, and sank exhausted on the
rocks
''He is deadl" cried Kate
Mary Rathbones lips moved in prayer, but
Pearl screamed wildly, "He is not dead
Wicked selfish man, why do you lie there,
instead of drawing in the roper"
At this reproach, Nathan arose, and, throw
Ing down the small coil he had carried ashore
began to draw on the heavy rope which
Frank threw over the boats side. A few
minutes hard work, and the cable was landed
and made fast to the rocks and trees
''You are safe" shouted Nathan, waving
his hand.
''We are sinking" cried Frank, at the
same instant
Ii was only too true; the tug was slipping
slowly down the reef, and settling in the
deeper water.
I'VE are sinking" I" shrieked Pearl, climb
ing up on the side. ''Nathan, come back
and carry me ashore.
Our only resource is to climb up on the
roof, said Mary Rathbone, decidedly, point
ing to the wooden roof over our heads.
Pearl was screaming wildly Alleyne For
sythe was sobbing aloud Mr.. Vanderhey-
hen was asleep his wife still sat with her
face hidden; while Kate and |, paralyzed
with terror, stood locked in each others arms
IL seemed hopeless task, but Mary Rath-
bone undertook It.
''Frank Ronalds, climb up and be ready to
help Miss Jane" she said, issuing her orders
in clear, collected voice. "Now, Miss Jane
step up here; support yourself by my shOul-
der. There-steady now-one more effort,
and you are safe.
reached the roof-how, know not-but
in another moment Kate had Joined me, and
sunk down by my side, weak with excite
ment. Then came Pearl Brandegee, helpless
with terror, and hanging like dead weight
on Mary's slender arms then Alleyne For
sythe, sObered for the moment, but helpless
still and last of all, without one glance
downward upon her sleeping husband, came
Mrs. Nanderheyden, cold and Indifferent as
ever.
Wake up, Mr.. Vanderheyden, wake, OF
you will be drowned - cried Mary, standing
up TO her knees In water, and shaking the
sleeper with all her strength.
With great difficulty SHE succeeded in rous-
Ing the lethargic man, and convincing him of
the peril but, at length, he clambered heav-
lily up, and the brave girl had baIely time to
join us when the boat settled still farther,
and the water came up ON level with ON
raft.
That sailor is still below" cried Frank,
suddenly
Gods will be done, said Mary, solmenly.
we did all we could even If we had had
time, we could not have lifted him up here
The tug seemed to have found an abiding
place ON the reef some rock had stayed hel
downward courae, aud, held in position by
the rope, she no longer yielded to the current
The long minutes grew into hours with slow
agony we feared lest our frail supper
should give way under us and, as the sharl
wind blew down upon our heads, we shivereC
with cold. Under Providence, Mary Rath
hone saved our lives. She made lis mov'
apart, so as to equalize our weight she deal
out small quantities of wine, which seemed
like heavenly cordial in our wet and exhaus
ted state; she talked cheerfully to us sh
soothed Pearl, and watched over Oscar Van
derheyden, who had fallen asleep again
From time to time, she called out answers T.
the anxious ques tons of Nathan Day on shor
bulletins from the wreck-and her bTav
spirit infused life into us as the long nigh
slowly wore on. Once only did Pearl Bran
degee rouse herself from her moaning leth
argy This was when she heard Nathan pro
posing to swim back to the reef.
~ would rather be with you all, he said
Then Pearl rose to her knees.
Nathan Day, don't dare to do it," sh
cried ''the weight of another person migl
crush in the roof and drown me. Don't dar
to do it'll push you off if you come"
Don't try 1t, Mr. Day. cried Mary Ratl
bone, In her turn. ''You might be sweI
down; you are safe where you are"
The night wore on. The wind had II
creased, and, although partly protected b
the island, we could feel its force, while tn
little waves drenched our clothes with spray
AT length, the gray dawn stole up the easter
SKY, and our courage revived.
"A tug" cried Frank Ronalds.
1t was, indeed, tug, sent out by anxior
friends in search of our party. Watchin