The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-11-02
""" BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2. 1877

when consciousness returnedl found myself
lying under the shade of huge cocoa tree,
and to my delight saw Kate Holman bend
ing anxiously over me. Doubt of my own
sanity first arose, but glance towards the
still surging ocean, and certain stiffness in
my limbs convinced me that what saw was
real. | soon learned of Kate's escape. She had
clung to the vessel until it struck, and then
was washed on the beach, which was close
by. She had hastened up to a dry place, and
there, to her surprise, found me. Her poor
father was washed over at the same time |
was, and must have drowned Immediately.
The poor girls agony was uncomfortable on
ascertaining the certainty of his loss. Not
a trace of ship or crew was to be seen.
The necessity of action aroused both,
Some cocoa-nuts and plantains furnished
some sustenance, and believing the Orinoco
could not be far of, we determined to push
on towards the river, aud by embarking on
it reach some place of refuge. The deep
indentations along the coast prevented us
from following that line.
We set off Immediately, but our progress
was slow. The thick tangled underground
covared the surface of the ground, and we
were obliged to follow in tracks made by
the jaguar and other tropical animals
Chattering monkeyes, screaming parrots,
birds of glorious plumage were everywhere
around us but our desperate situation pre-
vented us from admirng this profusion of
animal life. Even had we been so disposed,
the growl of distant jaguar, or sight of
the Shiny folds of a boa-constrictor were suf-
ficient to strike terror to the stoutest heart.
Katn bore up nobly against the fatigue, but
finally could proceed no further, and remain
ing would only involve me in her fate.
"Go," she said. "you have strength suf.
ficient to reach the river should you es-
ca think kindly of Kate Holman"
told her of my resolve to stay with her
to the last, and bade her be of good cheer
as the river could not be far distant. Leav-
ing her for a short time proceeded onward
for some distance, and soon had the gratifca-
tiOn of seeing the CLEAN of the water through
the trees. Vasco de Nunez in discovering
the Pacific, or Columbus in first discovering
, land, could not have felt more joyful emo
tions than did at the sight of the turbG
food before me.
rushed to the margin, but on reaching
it my feet sank in the black mire. | tried
to extricate them but in vain ; each strug
gle onlo sank me the faster. At first wa,
angry,-then fear came over me, and
struggled more violently than before. Vail
strife ! | only hastened what would hav,
prevented. Slowly, yet Oh! how rapid!
the fetid slime gathered around melt hac
now reached my waist! Thoughts Of all m.
acts from infancy up rushed through m.
:. mind with lightning speed Friends, rela
tives, all passed in rapid review, and will
; a sckening feeling l thought of my pas
aspirations, and of my present position
But all of these thoughts sank into insigniii
cance when | thought of Kate,-alone il
} the wilderness, with no friend TO protect, no
hand.to guide,or save me. Again | struggled
but my body was now held as in a vice, ant
my head alone remained above the surface
Inch by inch l sank-all hope was gone
when to add to my misery, from distan
point of the forest rang out a shrek, whicl
[ knew to be Kate 's,-then all was silent a
the grave.