Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-12-06
A STORY OF THE TIDE.

vile, the rise and fall Of the tide are very
great, being about forty = four feet at
spring tides. 1t comes in very rapidly
and in particular places may be seen
making up in great waves two or three
feet high. In a book of Normandy the
following adventure is narrated Of two
English gentlemen. They had been out
on the sands watching the manner in
which sand-eels were caught, and exam
ining the structure Of the rocks, which
were like sponges, when Of sudden one
Of them, whose name was Gross, shouted
81 forgot the tide, and here it comes ~
His companion, whose rame was Hope,
turned toward the sea and saw a stream
of water running at a rapid rate, and re-
piled quickly, " l suppose We had better
be off,"
"If we can," replied Cross, "by cross
ing the rocks we may yet be in time"
They began to scramble up the rocks,
and walked as fast as they could toward
the nearest shore but it was some time
before they reached the highest point
Gaining it, they looked around, and saw
that the sand was not yet covered, though
lines OF blue water here and there showed
how last it was rising. They hastencd
on but had not gone far when they found
that the sand was in narrow strips, with
sheets of water between; but seeing n
girl before them who was familiar with
the beach, they cried:
I'VE shall do yet I" and ran forward.
The girl, however, instead Of going to-
ward the shore, was running to meet them
and almost out of breath she cried, "The
wave the wave! it is coming! Turn,
turn run, or we are lost"
They did turn, and saw out at sea a
large wave rolling toward the shore.
Out Of breath as they were, they yet in
creased their speed as they retraced their
steps toward the rocks they had just left.
The little girl passed them and led the
way. The two friends strained every
nerve to keep pace with her, for as they
neared the rocks the waves still rolled to-
ward them, the sand becoming gradually
covered. Their last few steps were knee
deep in water.
"Quick, quick !" said the girl "theIe
is the passage to cross, and if second
wave comes, we shall be tco late"
She ran out hundred yards till she
came to a crack in the the rocks six or
seven feet wide, along which the water
was rushing like mill sluice.
"We are lost ~ said the girl l can
not cross it will carry me away"
as it deep?" said Cross.
Not very" she said, "but it is too
strong"
Cross lifted the girl in lis arms, plung-
ed in the stream, and though the water
was up to his waist, he was soon across.
His companion followed, and all three
now stood on the rock.
" Come on, come on I" cried the girl ;
"we are nearly there ~ and she led the
way to the highest point Of rocks, and on
reaching it, cried, We are safe now :"
All were thoughtful for a moment, as
they saw the danger which God had de-
liyored them from locking around, the
sand was one sheet of water.
"We are quite safe here" sad the
girl but we shall have to stay three or
four hours before we can get to the shore"
What made you forget the tido?"
said Cross "you must have known the
tide WELL"
81 did not forget it., she replied; "but
/ feared, as you were strangers, you
would be drowned. and ran back to tell
you what to do"
And did you risk your life to save
ours?" said Hope, the tears starting to
his eyes.
81 thought, at any rate, l should get
here" she replied but was very nearly
too late"
Hope took the little girl in his arms and
kissed her, and said, 1--WE owe your our
lives, you brave little maid"
Meanwhile the water was rising rap
idly, till it almost touched their feet.
"There is no fear" said the girl "thc
points Of rock are always dry"
"Cold comfort" said Hope, looking at
them f." but what shall we do for our
young friend?" he said to Mr. Cross.
"If we put all the money in our pock-
cts into a handkerchief and tie it around
her neck, it will warm her, l warrant,
for she looks cold enough"
One Of them had twenty, and the other
seventeen francs, and binding these in q
knot Mr.. Hope passed it around her neck.
On receiving it she blushcd with delight,
kissed both their hands, and cried, GLOW
jealous my sister Angela will be, and
how Happy my mother !"
Just then wave rolled past, and the
water began to run along the little plat
form they were sitting upon they rose
and mounted on the rocky points, and
had scarcely reached them when the wa
ter was foot deep whore they had just
been seated. Another wave came-thc
wnter was within six inches Of their feet
at is terrible high tide" said the
girl, but if we hold together we shall
not be washed away"
On looking to the shore they saw f
great many people clustering together on
the nearest poin. faint sound Of cheer
was heard, and they could see hats and
handkerchief4 wave to them.
"The tide has turned" said the girl,
sand they are shouting to cheer u.s."
She was right; in five minutes the
place was dry.