Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-25
NO. 3O5.
BLACK ROCK.

And sometimes in The pattern shows most sweet,
- - -[Jean Ingelow.
"Marthy there's squall comm; an
look at that yacht, will you? If there's q
one aboard Of her as has mite O. common
sense he'll run her in here afore the storm
comes"
"Well, there amt then," said Martha
sharply, for they're turnin' her head
straight out to sea, look if they amt
And Abram, shading his eyes with his
hand. shook his head slowly. $50 they
be. Marthy, SO they be. Just fetch me
my coat. I'll 60 down to the shore.
Therell be boat waitin' soon, I'm
afeared' M
A slant of sunshine from under the edge
of the ragged cloud silvered the sails of
the yacht and lit up the anxious face OF
the watcher. There it is now;' and he
looked up quickly. as a shiyering blast
rustled the leaves over his head. cit does
seem if the Lord made some folks just to
act foolish" and hurrying down the Cliff
he got out his boat, threw in an extra coil
of rope. and then stood by her watching
the little vessel as now. feeling the fresh
ing breeze and seeing the white caps on
the breakers, they changed her course and
she came beating up against the wind. her
sails tluttering, her slender masts creak-
ing and str,lining. se.s o.s. ss.Fs
Land sakes! Better ha' stayed where
she was ef they don't know the coast pref
ty well. Why on airth don't they reef that
sail !" And Abram, in kind of despara-
ton, watched the feeble efforts to get the
yacht ready for the squall which even to
the most unpractised eye. was close upon
them. H.
"What now, Abram! Watchin that lit
tie craft out yonderp Likely to get a
duckin' eff they run her in here now, amt
they? Could ha' done it ten minutes ago.
And the stalwart fisherman puffed away
at his pipe. lounging on the side of the
strange vessel. ,.
There she goes" as the blast veered
suddenly and drove her straight against
the low rocks. mo, she's of-there it's
changed again--push of, Abram, I'll take
an oar" And with their heads well bent
to the driving rain, the two fishermen
pulled steadily toward the dangerous rocks
where they could still discern the dim out
lines of mast and spars. hts
| But the fog came down thicker and
thicker, and the wind changed from point
to point, now in their faces, now behind
them, till-knowing the coast as they did
they were at loss as to their whereas
bouts. rsssvaI 81 ggi
LAY to, Ben, till the fog lifts. We're
fighting in the dark nOw.n And with
anxious eyes peering through the gloom.
and ears strained to catch the faintest
sound above the whistling of the wind,
and the dash of the waves, they rested on
their oars. -
Suddenly Abram tightened his grasp.
STEADY now, Ben, pull to the wind
ard" -
They rowed in silence for some minutes
the oars sounding muffied in, the thick
darkness that encompassed them.
II thought we was right on her that
time. heered thud an shiver like.
an thought she'd struck" a8.
Ben Lawson was listening intently-
Lay off, Abram there's the waves on
Black Rock"
''Well the Lord help 'em."
Ben put his hand to his ear; hail came
from somewhere on their right.
"Ay, ay, mates" ffg
"Abram where's the yacht ?"
"The Lord knows"
The fog thinned little and another boat
came up alongside. .w v
She's round the point by now now.
| L
''But them as was aboard of her Pnsaid
Abram, anxiously. d8fN
There's an undertow to day, mates"
spoke up an old fisherman in one of the
boats, ''as 'ud draw the yatch herself, ef
the only struck the bottom"
A murmur came from the mems faces
blanched. Abram broke the awed silence.
MATES, spOse you round the point, an
Ben an me wen keep this side O. Black
Rock. The wind Is changed point or
to, an the fog II lift soon; and mebbe
we'll find some on 'em." tsslg .is .s.
cay, ay, Abram. Pull away, lads, -
and the men bent to their oars, and the
boats shot forward under the firm, steady
strokes. vanishing like septres in the terri
bic white gloom. sas
"Now, Ben, you an mes got the worst,
but keep clear of the rock an we II wealth
er it yet. Pull to wind'srd, my lad, and
we'll come to somethin' sure.n n
The cloud lifted little rs they came
nearer, showing the Jagged line over
which the rising tide broke snllenly.
'.There's no use looking for 'em here,"-
and Ben Lawson pointed to the line of
foam circling the treacherous Black Rock
What with the tide an the undertow,
they're lost sure" Abram shook his head
gravely, but presently his cheeks flushed
Pull in Ben, pull in close. there's
somethin' on the rocks" and leaping out
ON one not yet covered by the water he
stopped over bundle. Ben, it's childr
he cried excitedly, and carefully lcosening
the shawl. he lifted the little one in his
arms. she's tainted, poor dear, least
ways she's cold and limp like-but her
heart beats yet Wen save her any how.
Now pull, Ben," he added as he took his
place in the stern, 'pull just as hard as
ever you did, and Marhy II have her all
right in no time"
| But il did take time to bring the child
back to consciousness, for her soul had
wandered so near the confines of another
world that it seemed sorely 10th to return
to this. Tut Martha nursing was at last
rewarded by the little one opening her
eyes; and looking from one to another,
and then around the room, she said quiet
ly-" like this place."
"Yon do. dearPn said Abrsm, his face
shining with his great delight. ''Wen I'm
mighty glad O. that now" s