The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-06-18

never had any friends, and we might kill
him, if we wanted TO-; he didn't care, he
said. Some of the boys only laughed at
that and told him he hadn't any pluck.
Afterwards he kept away from us all as
much AS he could, and studied his lessons
alone.
But the day came. at last, however,
when we found out what a brave heart
Little Tins had and then, of course, We
wonder that it had taken us SO long to
discover the fact. It was some time in
the sprlng-a dark, cold, rainy day, when
the sea had been made wild by the high
wind. The most of us had remained in
doors all the afternoon; and, when even
ing came, we gathered around the open
fire at the end Of our long dormitory and
took turns in telling the sea stories we
had read. Oh! To hear Billy Wilson
telling about his fathers cruise to Bonn
bay, while you were watching the great
heap OF fire cracking and darting up
bright flames, and listening to the storm
beating the windows and the surf thun-
derlng against the shore, was worth a
great deal, can tell YOU And what
noise the wind and waves did make that
night! 1t was as much as anyone could
40 to catch a wink of sleep; and recol-
lect how I lay awake ever so long, fancy
ing that could hear voices outdoor cry
ing and calling to us. suppose I must
have been dreaming an hour or two,
though, before I really did hear anything ;
because sprang up startled and con
fused when that loud boom and rumble
broke above the noise of the storm.
>"What was that, Ludgate?" whispered
little Tom Duffield, frightened; and then
in moment everybody in the dormitorv
was sitting up in bed, wanting to know
what had happened. George Jennings
crcpt out to the end window and pulled
up the curtain, just as another crash made
us jump, and we caught a glimpse of a
flash in the distance, bursting the dark
ness apart.
Its a ship on the reef, fellowsr' called
out three Or four at once
There was a general scramble for our
clothes, and then we crowded about the
window and waited for another flash.
But before it came the master opened the
door, lantern in hand.
''You hear those guns, boys? there's a
ship on the reef, and they are firing for
help. Put on your great coats and come
| right down to the cliff. We must dc
! everything in our power to aid them
He meant, OF course, the larger boys
Bob Nichols, John Sawyer and Ed Will
liams; but the others of us went witk
them. Before anybody could count d
hundred we were all running down the
road to the cliff, as fast as we could 90
1t was about three o'clock in the morning
| and as "dark as a.pocket.'' The wind had
lulled considerably, and the rain had
ceased altogether; yet there was strange
ness and wildness about the whole Of the
open country between the school and the
beach that impressed every one of us
with lonesome feeling and made us
take care to keep close together. Then
the old school building in the rear also
| looked weird, with its lighted window
! here and there; and the ocean, reaching
away off before us, sounded as though il
were tearing the land to atoms.
The Master and little Tins had reach
ed the cliff in advance, and were making
ready to light a pile of brush and drift
wood when we came up.
''We1l make bright fire, boys, even if
we can't do anything MORE" said he en-
Enthusiastically. 'They will see the light
| and know some one is near
Pieces Of old stumps, broken limbs
from dead trees and refuse wood were
heaped up by us in no time, and then
what scene, picturesque and fantastic as
Dore painting, lay all around US under
the freight! We were on the extreme
| point Of the cliff that jutted out several
feet over the sea, and below we could see
the huge rocks covered with thick foam,
which our tall, illuminated flames made
crimson. The scattering trees appeared
grim and gloomy, the darkness crowded
| back and seemed blackcr than ever,
while we each and all fastened to and
fro in the midst of one another's gro
tesque shadows.
No more signal guns were fired from the
distressed vessel, and we strained our
eyes in vain to catch glimpse of her
Nor could anything be heard across the
deafening breakers. We could only
wait for the daylight, which, fortunately
for our patience, did not delay long
Breaking over the ocean, it showed US
first a Tapping sail or two;a dark hulk,
half submerged and swaying back and
forth on the rocks within gun-shot of
the cliff; then a knot of men huddled
near the forecastle, who, as they saw us,
raised q faint shout of joy, that made the
blood Jingle in our veins.
SIS there nothing we can do for them,
sir?" asked John Sawyer, eagerly, Of the
master.
"Let us make raft out Of the trees, y
cried three OF four, excitedly
1T wouldn't hold together two minutes
in those breakers" returned the master,
rubbing his hands nervously and looking
perplexed. -r- !. ssas~G
"Hark! hark!' cried somebody. They
are signaling to u.s.
We saw one Of the men step into the
rigging, and then a word or two that he
shouted through a trumpet came to us