Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-01-10

dropped the glass, satisfied that all was
well. Something, however, prompted
her TO take another look after Ned, and
while trying to make him out, she saw a
figure dash across the beach and into
the surf.
A moments reflection told her what
had occurred. She understood that Ned
had met with some sudden peril, and
rather than to risk the loss OF the dis
patch, he had plum ged through the surf
and was swimming out into the ocean.
"Now," she reasoned with herself,
che doesn't expect to swim across the
Atlantic, and he can't stay in the water
all day, hoping to be picked up by a
coaster. What he thinks of is that may
be I'll see him, and try to pick him up
with the surf-skiff and 80 will"
Calling her younger brother, the
brave girl ran down to the shore, and
with the child's help dragged the surf
skiff across the beach.
A Jersey surf-skiff is very light boat
of cedar, thin as a shell and easily han
died. To launch the little craft through
the breakers and Jump into it without
upsetting, requires a good deal of skill
and good deal of pluck beside. Katie
was not novice in such things, and in
few minutes she was pulling strong,
steady stroke up the beach, heading a
point or two off shore.
She could not see her brother in the
water, but after rowing, as it seemed to
her. a very long time, she saw the sol =.
diers on the sand, aud judged that Ned
| must be somewhere in line with them.
Pulling on until she came abreast of
them, she stood up and looked about
her. She found she was at least mile
off shore, and two miles up the beach
from home.
Ned was nowhere to be seen, and
after scanning the sea in every direction,
she sank back with sickening fear that
he had gone down.
At that moment she heard faint call,
and rising again, could plainly distin-
guish distant hail. She could not see
anything at first, but pulled rapidly in
the direction of the sound, with her
head over her shoulder, she was pres
emily gladdened by glimpse of some
thing yet long way off.
Rowing for dear life, she soon made
out her brothers arm occasionally ap-
pearing on rising wave. He was
floating almost under water, and very
nearly exhausted.
Katie had to give him the oars to rest
on, and to help support him as best she
could for some time before he was able
to scram BILE into the skiff.
Tho oirl bod dopo h ar l>aat I1,,l ~; II, Ill
her speed he had been an hour in the
water when she reached him. The loss
of few moments might have lost his
life.
With Ned lying in the bottom of the
skiff limp and faint, Katie pulled away
for home with glad heart, and if she
cried little, it was for Joy as much as
anything.
They found Hendrickson waiting for
Katie's return, thinking she might pos
sibly have the despatch, though he lit
tie expected to see Ned with her.
The Hessians had watched their es
Gaping prisoner until almost out of
sight, and then they saw him throw up
his arms and disappear. When Katie
came along in her boat, they supposed
her search would be useless, aud had
turne I into lane leading inland.
On reaching their rendezvous at Sandy
Hook, they reported that the boy had
been drowned and his body carried out
to sea.
Sanborne hastened to spread the
same report through the neighborhood,
and his friends thought they had lost
Master Ned, and great was the rejoic-
ing when he reappeared the next day
sound and well, and everybody said 4:
Isn't that just like Kate Koven.
hoven ?"-- Youths Companion.