The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-09-11

that turmoil their feeble voices were
unheeded.
Down came the iron monster, cutting
the little vessel in two; and then, un-
conscious of the mischief it had done,
passed on, and was lost in the black
ness. The two men were thrown
violently into the water.
tAmos Amosp' cried James, in a
voice of pain, as soon as he recovered |
his senses sufficiently to comprehend !
what had taken place.
No reply. No answer.
But there came floating by q dark |
body. He reached out his hand and |
caught it. 1t was a part of the mast
and rigging and, entangled among the
ropes and cordage, lay Amos, perfectly
unconscious. James extricated his
friend and bound him with ropes firmly
and safely to the floating timber. He
then climbed upon this frail support,
and committed himself to the mercy of
the winds and waves.
They might have been thus in the
water about twenty minutes, when
James saw, or thought he saw, boat
directly in front of them.
"Hallo Boat, there ~
He had succeeded in attracting their
attention this time, for he saw dark
figure lean over the stern, and directly
after came back the words
"Who's there Z? What is it?
"Our boat was run down, and we are
floating on piece of the mast" i
"Who are you?" was the next shout
ed question.
"Amos and Jim, from Barnegat-
been down to Squaun."
They must be friends or acquaint-
ances, thought the wrecked man, when
he saw that upon the mention of the
names they rounded to as we'll as they
could; for this boat was also Grip
pied.
"Can you take us aboard ?" called
Jim, as they passed him.
"We're nearly sinking now. If we
took you two in, none OF us would ever
reach the shore"
James Paused. "Can you take one
of us safely ?"
eyes" responded the voice from the
boat. "We might take one of you-not
two."
"All right throw us a rope"
After successive trials, Jim caught
the line thrown to him, and pulling
himself up was soon alongside of the
welcome vessel, the occupants of which
he recognized as acquaintances, living
a short distance from his home at Bar
negat.
"Jump in, Jim," said the man at the
tiller, as he recognised him in the dark
ness.
"Did you say you could take only
one of us ?" Jim asked, in reply to the
invitation.
eyes, only one-two more in here,
and we'd never see Barnegat again."
"Then take Amos. Help me with
him. He has been hurt, and does not
know anything"
The man spoken to looked over the
side of the boat and saw the motionless,
pallid figure tied securely to the float
ing timber.
"Hes dead, JIM"
"No, he's not" Jim quickly said,
"he's only swooning, like. We were
struck by a steamer"
"Come in, Jim," cried another of
the fishermen " come in, man. Amos
is as good as dead. Come, get in and
save yourself.
"Mates," replied Jim, and his tone
was solemn ard impressive, "may be l
shall never see you again. Promise me
that you'll take Amos safely home
with you! And see to him as soon as
he's aboard l could do nothing for
him here"
"We've no time to parley," said the
man, getting impatient. "If you will
have It so, Jim, you must. Here, boys
lend hand, and let's get him in"
rTbo oorJc xrara ont op1 tho ~
Gus man was lifted gently over the side
He began to exhibit symptoms of re
turning reason, and Jim knew that the
leave-taking must be short. Drawing
himself up the side of the vessel, HI
caught hold of the cold, wet hand, ant
held it.
| Goodbye, old friend ;the partner
ships up.
/ This was all. Climbing again to hi
mast, he loosed the rope that bounC
him to the boat, and in an instant sh
, had shot ahead and was rapidly goins
out of sight.
t Long and anxiously he watched tn
feeting boat at least it seemed long t.
, him; for one does not turn his bacl
t upon life and the beautiful worl
' without sorrow and longing. Smalle
and smaller it grew until at last it dis
appeared.
On foated Jim, his strength fast fail
ing him. All around was soon ink
. darkness, into which he peered anxious
, ly, as if looking for some sign of succol
but save the white caps of the waves
2 which broke threateningly over him, h
3 could see nothing. The wind, whic
3 was still blowing with terrible violence
r whistled around him, chilling and GU
t ting him to the very bone. Alone o
T an angry ocean ! Now on the top {
some tall billow, now down in til
S trough of the sea He thought of Amc
, and Hetty, and wondered whether h
0 friend was almost home. Then rose u
4 little Denny ! God bless the dear bah,
how he loved him he would never
!. this world see him again. When i
S thought of this, when he remembers
e all that was beautiful and pleasant
4 the life he was leaving, his couraf
+ failed him and he cried out, "Oh, Coz
e if might be saved!"
e 1t was not cowardly cry from th
Il man, who had undertaken to die for h
y friend-it was the involuntary uprise
h weak, frail nature against the wish of
brave, true heart. And we read that I'll
It Redeemer of mankind, he who hs
d come into this world for the purpose
e suffering an ignominious death, on IL
II eve OF his great atonement, cried o,
/, with trembling lips:
"Father, ifit be possible, let this CT