The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-31
and; Iii, hi up toward them, ike d h1ngry
monster licking fts lips ready TO derotir

them u.
Tue Elm d little oyerhnng the ledge where
they sat, and there was d sharp corner that
/ hid the opposite side 3of the bag: so they
could not see thspe opie on Tue etffs, though
they heard shouts now and then, and
Brian knew that Balls had been Joined by
losher men, but he could not make out What |
they said, and he got almost drowsy as ne
sat there with the sound Of the water at bis
feet. And Duke, too. settled into silence,
broken only by qutYering sob, as he chung i
ctoee to Brian In the twilight. Brian was
bruised and stiff and exhausted, and his
mind seemed us battered and worn out as |
his body. and it seemed as IL BE and Duke !
might have been sitting on that narrow ledge |
for a lifetime, cliDglng to the cold, clammy
rock, aud watching the stars come out one !.
by one over the sea. -:
4 Duke actually fell asleep at last
by excitement and fatigue. :, worn OUT
most feared he rnigh- aHd Brian al
20 OF bis grasp o =. do che same, md let
Duke into t. the rock, and fall on with
now Voc 80 -s GO, d, creeping tide, that even
Is" Wy. =, loun'a his feet and legs, chilling
Bus lus1F as he WAS roT1sing himself with
gieaLeh ort something appeared from the
oYsrnar .ging cliG above them; not sea-
gun & a cormorant, but something coming
s 81 lily down, swaying backward and Ior.
ard, suspended by rope, which, ,, as a ls
came nearer, ne recognized as the cradle OF
the rocket apparatus. Here were the means
of safety at last, instead OF that boat which
seemed so long in; coming .s f.;E3 -
But on that slippery, narrow ledge, now
could he ever catch the cradle or get DUKE
safely into its He had not much spirit left
| In him-poor Brian land I don't think ne
was capable of many more efforts, either for
Dukes life OF his owns + But there were
strong men and anxious hearts up above
Colonel Wilmott among tbem-and again
| and again, the cradle swung backward ana
forward, till at last it swung within Brlan,s
reach, and shout from above told that they
felt be had hold OF 1t.
| Now be mus wake Duke anu persuade
the terrified child 70 get into the cradle.
What had frightened Pat, when it was done
for a Joke in broad daylight, must be done
now by little Duke in the dark, with sea ana
! preciDice beneath him, He refused to leave
1 Brian at first, and chung to him with such
I strength that they nearly fell together into
the dark water, but at last Brian prevailed.
| "Your father is up there, Duke" be
4 said; ''and.he says you must go, Tor your
mother wants YOU" A.-es.s-a.
IT was only a guess on Brian's part, but
Il "
! it was true, nevertheless. s."
"Shut your eyes, Duke, and say your
prayers-the one you say at nlset-and
think OF your mether!"
| And then Brian pushed the cradle gently
! away, and it seyung into the air, asI began
lslowly-very saowly-to rise. And then
Brian, left on the ledge, prayed Is he had
never done before, listening all the time
with strained ears for the splash % scream
that might cad hope and little Duke to-
i eether. Instead Of this he heard glad
Shout from ,ahove, and then more shouting
to him, the purpose OF which tse missed: :
but he waited on for his turn, wondering
that the crasie did not return, and dread
ing the dreadful passage up to>ssfety. 800
He did ne. know that the edge OF the Gill
had fraye6 the rope in bringing up Duke,
so that they were afraid to try the expert
Emeut again, and they shouted to tell him
that the beat was close at haad. He onty
felt sickering sense that heShad been for
gotten and deserted now Duke was saved,
and that he was all alone inrthe darkness,
and that sShe water was all about hl1a-
lnearly upsto his waist, and tlras his strength
was ebbing fast, and that inarsother minute.
liz belp came, it would cosneeteo late.
i But at chat very moment bright llghte
flashed in his eyes and voices sounded IA
his ears; and the next, strsng arms bad
hold Of him and were pulling him into the
lboat: antlEhen-he did aotaHnow anything
further, for he fell into the bottom OF the
boat, 9ainting and unconscious.