The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-02-22
THROWING OIL on THE WATERS

The following incident occurred in Shet-
land good number of years ago. IL was
beautiful evening in midsummel No.
thing indicated a storm or any change in
the settled weather which had prevailed for
some time. All The fishing boats had gone
To the far haaf. Suddenly, 4 little after
midnight, fierce gale sprung up and ragged
with unwonted fury, increasing as the
morning advanced, while the sea rose To a
height most unusual at that season of the
year. All the boats bore up for the land as
soon as the storm broke on them: and
during the early part of the day a II reached
the shore IN safety. save one. She was
known 10 b. good sea boat, and was man
ned by crew of the very best fishermen
IN the island: but as the hours crept on,
and there was no appearance of her return,
burning anxiety aud suspense of wives,
mothers, daughters, and neIghbors were
fast passing INTO the most dismal iu.ebui-
ings. went out 10 a high promontory
which ovrrlooks wide expause of sea,
aud sentinels. AZ il were the entrance to
the landlocked bay where nestled the hum
bic cottages Of the fishermen. \ crowd OF
distracted women, and of men scarcely less
agItated, who had just themselves but uar-
rowly escaped watery grave-frIends or
n-IGhbors OF the missing ones-were gath
cred on the GILL, straIning their eyes across
the raging sei. 1t was a pi,lful, borrowing
sight. Who can describe the agony ex-
pressed in the ii mly clasped hands, the
liked and fearless eye of oue, the bowed
form, cnnvulsIveiy rocking little one in
her lap. OF another, the moan of breaking
hearts, tho wall OF despair Of others .Oh,
my man. my guide, kind man, I'll never see
hI;n more cried one. " faether, faether!
will you never. never come back again ~
exclaimed 4 blooming girl, whose cheek
WAS blanChed enough now. My boy, my
W lille, oh, the cruel, cruel sea- moaued a
POO! WHO" whose OF son WAS enc of the
boats crew. And indeed II seemed TO all
81 us bu, tu1 probable that our worst fears
would be realized. The storm continued
undated. The great waves were dashed
against the rocks III angry fairy, sending
the spray right over US. Most Of the men
were lad aEd silent. Some of them were
doing their best to keep alive the hope they
too plainly did not themselves cherish.
one suggested. They have probably run
long way to seward, and set their lines,
aud have stayed perhaps rather too long in
their endeavots To recover them before
bearing up for the land; but no need as yet
I" fear The worst. Another said: :. Per-
haps they haze run Ia some other island
which they found easier of access -
Another suggested: - They are very posi-.
bly, waiting outside TIL tue slack of the
tide before attempting to cross the string
turned Ia tine stalwari young fisher
man who had often accompanied me on
fishing and seal hunting expeditions, and
whose courage and SIeadinsss and iudg-
ment ! have ma, seldom proved in circum-
stances Of difficulty and danger
"Whar do you think ~ whispered, as
kept sweeping the horizon with nv field
glass.
4" don't know what TO think, he an.
swered. - She was a good boat, aud they
were brave men aud good seamen that
manned her; but that is an awful sea TO
fight against. God DC 18th them,
Was" were The words sent
chill To my heart. lie was already speak
ing in the past tense of those for whom we
looked and prayed. Suddenly he seized
my arm as with wise, while ms keen gray
eye, almost wild with intense but SUD
pressed excitement, shot a glance across
the waste nf waters.
There he SAID. al thought | saw
something tchie like sail, not the sea
foam. Don't speak yet, or IT will kill these
poor souls. Give me your glass. Yes. YES:
again sae IT. Look he shouted aloud
now see her, sure enough. They are
coming right on, and going to cut the
string, zoo. do believe; a bold venture,
but awfully risky, for the tide is stall
strong.
lew minutes mole and We could all
sac the gallant little boat driving along
before the gale, now lifted high the
crest Of huge wave, now completely out
of sight in the trough If the sea- On, on
she came toward the string, which, though
II had run on It's greatest strength. looked
ugly enough 10 make the stoutrst heart
quail. Little more than five minutes would
b- sufficient tu carry her across: but every
one knew perfectly well that tue greatest
danger OF al WAS Just there IN the middle
III that tidesay. Ii was the crisis OF her
/ fate. Five minutes more and she would
be III safety, or never reach the shore On,
gu she came, now plainly III view of every
one, and splendidly handled as we could
see; on. on. aud buried her bows In the
raging tide as warehouse might charge an
opposing rampant. We held our breath
hard No one moved; not a word was
spoken. not a sound was heard but the
rush and snar Of wind aud waves or the
Wild scream Of sea NEW overhead. A
minute of intense suspense and still she
brave!y batilrd on.
- Tia :. cried the young fisherman at NV
side, what is that they are doing? | know,
| know; they are casting out the livers; |
eau see the loom on her track Wisely
thought of and well done. 1t Is their only
chance in yon ii iesay."
Aud 81 indeed II was. We could dis
tinctly see the men with eager hands throw
+ ing oat the crushed lyers asteru. To rIght-
Ia left, all around, a. though off.rIny a
pTopItiatory sacrifice to the sea god aud
the waves did not break on them then
few minutes more, and then, amid tears of
thsnkfulness aud JOY, safe, safe. thank
God. burst out on ever; side: and soon
they reached the shore-those hardy fish
ermen and were welcomed in a manner
much easier To conceive than describe,
The skipper had never left his post at
the helm ior nine long hours, during which
he had fought out his hrave battle for life
with rare skill aud nerve aud endurance
And now, when he stepped on the beach
and took up his little boy in his arms and
kissed him, did not think there wa, auy
thing unmanly IN the big tears which
coursed down his brown cheeks. \ little
CONTINUED Oh FOURTH rAaal