Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-05-31

SONhNi' AhOA thO OAQ sSnOOl III
the rear also looked weired, with its light
ed window here aud there and the
ocean reaching away off before us, sound
ed as though it were tearing the land to
atoms.
The master and Little Tins had reach
ed the cliff in advance, and were making
ready to light pile Of old brush and
drift-wood when we came up.
"Well make bright fire, boys, even
if we cant do anything MORE" said he,
enthusiastically. "They will see the
light and know that some one is near"
Pieces of old stumps, broken limbs
from dead trees and refuse wood were
beaped 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 ex-
treme end of the cliff that jutted out sew
eral feet over the sea, and below we
could see the huge rocks covered with
thick foam, which our tall, illuminating
flames made crimson. The scattering
trees appeared grim and gloomy, the
darkness crowded back and seemed
blacker than ever, while we each and all
fastened to and fro in the midst of one
another's grotesque sh adows.
No more signal guns were fred from
the distressed vessel, and we strained our
eyes in vain to catcha glimpse of her,
Nor could anything be heard across the
deafenng 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 tapping sail or two; dark hulk,
halt submerged and swayng back and
forth on the rocks within a gun-shot of
the cliff; then knot of men huddled
near the forecastle, who, as they saw us.
raised a faint shout of joy, that made the
blood tingle IN our veins.
Is there nothing that we can do for
them, sir ?" asked John Sawyer, eager
ly, of the master.
Let us make raft out of the trees"
cried three or four, excitedly.
1t wouldn't hold together two min
utes in those breakers" returned the
master, rubbing his hands nervously and
looking perplcxed.
Hark ! bark !" cried somebody
They are signaling to u.s."
Wesaw one of the men step into the
rigging, and then word or two that he
shouted through trumpet came to us
family, and we guessed the rest We
shall sink when the tide rises" Then
again "Our boats are sunken."
Do you hear that, boys? Their boats
are gone, and they'll sink when the tide
rises. What shall we do for them l
say, what shall we do"
81 think we had better pray for them,
SIR" said Little Tins, looking plump up
at the masters surprised face.
" You are right, Tins" he answered,
quickly. I'VE will ask God to help us
all. Boys, take of your hats"
We obeyed him instantly; and drop
ping on his Knees, he prayed silently
moment or two. Then we were aroused
by one of the men calling quite distinct>
ly through the trumpet "Stand by
We're going to fire line ashore" And
before we could comprehend what he
meant the ships cannon belched forth its
flash and smoke, and a solid shot came
cleaving the air, bringing rope in it
fpoil Rnf hath fall into ha al oot
as soon as they left the mouth OF the can,
non, and we all sprung back to the edge
of the cliff, to hear what the man was
again shouting: We've got one more
ball. Stand by !"
1t was five, eight, or ten minutes while
they were reloading and we waited ner-
vously. They would be careful not to
make hunder this time. The achieve
ment of throwing a line ashore when it
was attached to connon-ball certainly
did not seem very difficult; for we had
not yet studied any mathematics that in.
cluded projectiles, and did not know
what a nice calculation it required to
land that ball on the top of our cliff. But
the master knew; and just as the ball
struck dead against the front rocks he
cried out, disappointeGly, what it was he
had expected.
They've lost their last chance God
help them %
"She is getting deeper in the water"
we cried, as the ship lunged under
heavy we'll.
Thieves " a woman clinging to the rig
ging ("
1t was Little Tim who shouted that
We remembered it afterward but Just
then we were all scattered along the mar
gin of the cliff, watching the rope, that
had broken away from the ball and was
buffeting the waves. 1--we could only
get possession of it, the safety of all on
the ship would be secured. IL was but
moment, and then L saw some dark OBJ.
ject going down, down, down. The
master shouted GOOD heavens !
What has the boy done ?" And we
were all in desperate confusion.
lts hltllo lllhs I<lttle Inns - rs
we saw his pale, frightened face rise
above the enraged water and look up at
us an instant.
OF what happened next all / can recall
is that somehow we followed the master
down the jagged side Of the cliff, and in
six or seven minutes seized Little Tins
from the swell that dashed him ashore,
gripping the rope with both hands and
looking dead. Then we hurried with
him up to the FIRE, and ran about franti-
cally for wood to feed the blaze and warm !