Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17

III.
whence the Inflated steamer had but an hour
before started on her disastrous voyage. The
knots OF men VINO hathered about this oracle;of
t1e rapid tntuitively followed them. In front
Of one of the numerous small ship stores that
stood on the street facing the levee was a little
old woman, watching, with q dozen eompan-
ions, the threatened vessel.
"Missy," said John to her. .FcouId Won let ne
have ABOUT th0usan yards of ships cord? The
Ferry company will pay for it,;
"An' shure, wild pleasure, Mr.. Marsden. Is
somebody going to take ir to them foiks?"
eyes, missy. And will you let me have pen
ink, and note paper in your little back room for
few minutes? Excuse me, Tom, but mast
John Marsden came ont of the little back
room in about ten minutes, and, taking the
long line of ships cord upon his shoulder, con-
unued his way without word TO the little
ferry-whsTf followed by the now silent crowd.
He spoke q few words to the ferry-keeper who
pointed, at the co 3clusion of their conversation,
to q stout, iron bound skif that hoated inside
the narrow slip. The cars lay Idly in ii, and a
short hawser held it 70 the pier.
That will DO said John; "untie it."
john" said Meredith, huskily, what are
you going TO dO?'
''1'm going to get = line to hertz
"1 Ourself JOhD-are you going yourself?'
YES, am going myself, if heaven IA gOrs
1t was not for the men who f4c,d him with
psllld ips, as he made this declar alton, and
saw tue WohdrouS gteSm OF glorious purpose
a. u a. al, rested on his handsome face to inter
aI3rd 90 disSU sda him. chsy sal! no word
Some looked on in silent awe as uron a m an
who walks to his death, but In the faces OF most
% IelD' dni 1T Tie most rugged Of those faces,
there was visible something of the same euthu-
sissm that possessed him But what could
they have said? Had not the newly bOr6, hone
OF Bessie been struggling against bis grand re-
roive ever since he had first seen the danger Of
the Cheryble? Was tn ere any uss in strong
mems protests when even Bessie's pleading Wis
ion failed"
John gave a few words OF instruction 70 Tom
Mere lith aud two OF three picked men Of The
crowd in regard TO the rigging OF a rope bridge
or cable which he hoped to draw over with his
smaller line when he should reach the boa+,
and also relative to the careful handling OF the
line As he paid is out, so that it should not be
caught in the jagged foes of ice. Then ne d. ew
Tom Meredith to one side aud said.
al wish you'd tell mother, Tom TO- night how
ever my venture ends. She NAV be uneasy
abOut me unless she knows where L am. She's
strong and can bear it, but. if never reach the
boat, break 1t TO her as gently as you cam
Meredith silently bowed his head.
"And Iom," continued Marsden, in lower
tone, and more slowly, "what tell you no is
eyes"
"Gve this letter to its address vhen-wben
am gOne"-and be handed Tom Meredith the
note which he had written in missy's hack
room. Tom could not help seeing the snpsr-
Scription. "Miss Bessie Alden. Bentley Place -
Tossing the line into the bottom OF the boat
and giving an end to Meredith, John Marsden
leaps q in, and with q few strokes of his oars was
swiftly on his way to the darkly- do wing ice
current outside. The little group cheeTed him
as he bent to his task, and the greater Gro xd
stretched itself along the river bank to catch "A
better view of him As their cheers and move
meDts conveyed the news to the imprisoued
Chery pie, the little speckS of passengers gath
cred at her sides To watch and hope. With his
long stslwart strokes, few moments sufi red
70 bring John directly III the midst OF the turhu-
lent ice-curreDt, and he soon knew himself 10
be drifting sluggishly along with the stately
procession OF fairy palaces and rugged crags of
ice toward the terrible eddies. Once he shud-
dered as he saw the dark waves s1Fging under
MIN and thought ofwhat q dismal death he had
dared but be choked down such thoughts on the
instant. ono faint heart now, John Marsdenl1
he cried, and, as If to defy such Thoughts, he
$1,000 upright IN his boat. and waved his hand
shore. va
Success required only quick eve and a ready
hand, and John had both. His troubles arose
IN coItendiHg with the thicker ice that hung
sluggishly on the outer edges of the channel
Here he would at times find bis little craft
humping yainly against heavy foe, while a
huge crag TOPPED over the rear, and then il re-
quired both skill and strength to relieve him
self from his dangers. Again, he would he conn
peiltd TO debark upon some long cake which
was heId stationary by gorge, AMI drag his
boat across II; and once he had even to surmOunt
line OF Jutung crags, which had formed an
ices en- bank meDt across his path, and pull his
boat across and launch it again, while it was
Clhcult even to maintain his footing on the
ueacherOus ice. To the fatigue of these ex-
pIoits were added also bruises and wounds and
wettiDgs, which befell him at al most every turn
his arms were paihIng him, and he fO aud "A drop
T two OF blood even flowing from his forehead
nom what cause he did not know But with
all TIT &c draw backs, he continued to make pro-
gress toward thu disabled sfaar,ar Once on
elanclng toward her to measure his distance
he distinguished the dresses OF women among
be passS myers. His heart took new courage
bis blood warmed with the thought that re was
battling fer wOInen-WOmen who knew Bessie
doubtless, a. d would tell her-som. of them
how he had WoTkt 20 save them. Then hr -e-
Dembei ed. end was almost startled as he did so
u at there was grand bali to be given thai
very nightat grand C0untrg house beyond he
sGburb OPpOsit-, snO nearly everybody l.
hsd been invited, and doubtless Bessie arnony
the m; and she might actually ne on board the
Cterybie now. As lie neaTed the boat he caugbt
occasional gIaDces, IN the midst of his arduOus
duties, OF group who stood on the main deck
with ropes and willing hands TO help him, and
OF a row OF anxious passengers at the railing OF
the deck above. The trembling ice-cakes and
the roaring eddes lifted his skiff with one Il naI
effort, far on to the icy guard surrounding the
hands had lifted him to the deck and !. dozen
more were waving hats in the air.
1.-The lineY" said John.
eve have IL here safe"
Msrsden's voice SOUNDED dim and distant to
his own ears as he spoke, and he became con.
scioOs OF dult pain in his arm and head as he
moved across the deck. He heard, amid the
eager thanks OF strong men about him, the low
muimur OF the group on the deck above, and
with vague indefinite hope struggling for ex-
preston even with his feeting consciousness
lac turned bis face TO lCOk at them. In the In
distinct array OF anxious faces bent down upon
him he saw but one face distinctly, and that one
only for an instant. She was kneeling with her
hands tightly elssped across her lap, aud her
fearful, wondering eyes were gazing gracefully
At him through the railing. Yes, Bessie was on
board!
Then John shook off his WEAKNESS, and de-
clsTed he must go outside. A little flutter of
opposition rose from the kindly voices about
him, but he said he had 70 see about the line
ana consult with the captain about the safety of
ali OF them, aud they let him CO.
Tie sturdy old captain OF the Cheryble
greeted him near the doorway.
God bless you for coming, Mr. MarsdenI" he
said 81 give the old Cherry ble over to YOU"
Have you pilot Oh bOard!" asked John,
Nobody that knows the rapiis?''
Not vel enough to pilot the Cheryble
John studies mCment.
81 know every rock and chute" he said
sand will try 1t
But few IdeTs were necessary. There were
about Thirty passt gers on board, most OF them
going, as John had OWNED. to that grand ball
oeyoD1 the suburb opposite. There were no
provisions whatever fer them, and there was
only coal enough for three trips. The gorge OF
ice against which the Cheryble rested was solid,
sId could hardly give way under less than
ii q h. H.