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

took Denny from his arms and laid him
away in bed, Jim neglecting to give him
his customary goodnight kiss. At
length he arose and taking down his
pipe from the shelf, slowly and abstract
edly filed it with tobacco from the
pouch. When he had finished, he
reached over to the table and, picking
up the candle, lighted the tobacco with
few vigorous puffs.
"Going out, Jim," said Amos, look
ing up from his book, which he was
then reading to himself.
"Only little while; I'll be back
soon," Jim replied, putting on his hat
and opening the door.
He did not go very far; only to a
bench just outside the door. Throwing
himself lazily upon it, he smoked away
quietly.
1t was beautiful, starlight night.
He could see the flashing signal in the
lighthouse, glittering and cleaning
like some eye of fire set in the heavens.
The air was full of music-that wild,
sad melody that the breakers make as
they fall Increasingly on the beaten
shore. James thought of that night,
several years ago; that particular night
when the unknown ship went to pieces
Just over there, where the yeasty waves
cleaned out in the darkness on the
Spit. Not soul was saved-the only
living thing that came ashore was a
Newfoundland dog, which was even now
sleeping in the kennel just few yards
! from him.
He remembered how the next NOR
ming Amos and he walked down the
beach and found, lying upon the sands,
the dead bodies of two young girls
clasped in each others embrace. They
could not part them without using
force, SO they made one grave and buried
them together, within sight and sound
of the ocean in which they persisted.
He supposed they were friends who
loved each other; he and Amos decided
that they were not sisters and when
the fatal moment came they passed into
the world beyond, locked breast to
breast. But the good book said, "to
lay down his life for his friend" Yes,
that was true friendship I; the friend
ship enioined by Christ if time came
when one or two close friends might be
called upon to stand up and say, 81,
instead of him."
The smoke from the burning tobacco
had wrapped thickly around him, and
it might be that in it's feecy clouds he
saw, as by some subtle instinct, vision
of day not far distant, when his love
for his friend should be tested accord
ing to the standard set up nearly two
thousand years ago. His mind that
night was curiously solemn Amos and
his wife did not know WI at had come to
him.
One bright November morning, ere
the sun had risen, and the nightly dew
lay thick upon the grass, Amos and
James started for a run down to
Squann. Many were the reports that
had come up to Barnegat of the quaint.
ty and the quality of the catch of fish
at the former place of the immense
shoals of snapping-mackerel; of the
fine king of the table fish. So to Squanr
the two men were going on that late
autumn morning Stepping into the
smack and hoisting the sail, they glided
swiftly over the water, until Denny
standing at the door of the house, lost
sight of them in the hazy distance.
Amos had the tiller, and James sat OF
one of the thwarts, quiet and absorbed
in thought. He had never been noisy
but latterly sad and gentle MOOD
seemed to have fallen on him. A goot
run and when the sun was well up IL
the heavens, Squann was reached. AT
ter a thorough trial, they found that th'
reported good fishing was like man.
other much-circulated stories, untrue
1t might have been excellent once, bu
it was very poor now.
"Let's go out to the banks" sai(
James, who had long before given III
trying.
"We shall have to hurry, then, to ge
home by dark, replied Amos, looking
wistfully out to where the white sails o
the boat looked like gulls in the otfing
The anchor was lifted, the sail agail
set, and straight as the crow flies, full
fifteen miles out on the open sea, wen
the light craft; both the men vexed a
returning empty.
"How's fishing to-day?" asked Amo
of a man in a pleasure yacht, VIII
seemed to be very busy at the work.
First rate" was the answer. "Ge
your hooks in"
So they dropped anchor and set t
work. and in couple OF hours caugh
enough for their wants. 1t WAS no.
nearly four o'clock in the afternoon
They had long sail before them, an
the day was short.
"Anything but southerly wind!
exclaimed James, throwing the kedg
into the boat; and his tone sounded lik
prayer.
Amos looked up. Sure enough, tn
} wind had shifted, and was now BLOWN
J from the south. They knew what thos
pleasant breezes from that quartz
meant-white squalls, that had SCI
many a stout fellow to the bottom {
J the sea.
: "Straight for home, Jim, as fast 6
we can go!'' said Amos, in response
J the question of his companion as
) whether they should stop at Squan
r village on their return.
| But they did not go straight hom'
On the contrary, in about an hour, {
l they were steering for it, squall can
up, which in few moments converte
g.; the quiet ocean into a scene of terrt
D and confusion. The men knew thel
was 40 danger, for one of these lit
t boats can outride tempest that wi
e shatter and dismantle large merchan
t man; but they were being driven wit
: alarming rapidity far out to sea.
S Thus they were driven when nigl
4 came on, and the thick darkness close
k around them; still driving on to IL
y open water, and further and furth
J; away from home, and wife, and childre
and Denny.