The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-01-22

but look here. There's seven children
down stairs, and l leaveemy wife a wild
ow; with the few pounds I've been able
to save, what's to become of them
Can't you pull me through 2"
"My dear fellow" he says, honestly,
81 have done everything can for your
case"
&. That's what you think, doctor; but
look here. I've been at sea thirty
wears and in seven wrecks It's been
like lodging death with me a score of
times. Why, I've pulled my wife there
regularly out of the hands of death,
and am not going to give up now. I've
been---
"Stop, stop" he says, gently. You're
exciting yourself
Not Bit" l says, though my voice
was quite whisper. Owe had this
over all night, and I've come to think l
must be up and doing my duty
but, my good man"
"Iisten to me, DOCTOR" [ says. "a
score of times | might have given up
and been drowned, but | mace q fight
for it and was saved. Now, | mean to
make fight for it right here, for the
sake Of the wife and BARNS. don't
mean to die, doctor, without a struggle.
I believe tits, that life is given to Us all
as treasure 10 keep. We might throw
it away by our own folly at any time,
but there's hundreds Of times when we
might preserve it, and VIC never know
when we can save il till we try. Gives
drink of that water"
He held the glass to my lips and |
took big draughr, and wenc on, he
seeming all the time stopping to humor
me in my madness.
That's BETTER doctor, | says. "Now,
look here sir, speaking as one who has
sailed the seas, it's terribly stormy
time with me. There's a lee shore close
at hand the fires ale drowned out, and
unless we can get up a bit of sail there
no chance for me. Now then, doctor,
can you get up bit of sail 2
81 will 90 and send you something
that will quiet YOU" he said, rising.
'Thankee, doctor, | says, smiling to
myself. "And now, look here. Fmnot
going to give up till the last, and when
the last comes, and the ships going
down. | shall have try to swim to safe
ty. If that fails, and | can really fee
that it is to be, why, hope that | shall
90 down into the great deep calmly
like hopefu! man, praying that Some
body above will forgive all that | have
done amiss and stretch out His fatherly
1-e-.,' ~ '''y N,tle ones"
lie want away ana i dropped to sleep
worn out with my exertion.
When / awoke Polly was standing by
the bedside watching me, with bottle
and glass on the table.
AS soon as She saw my eyes open, she
shook up the stuff and poured it into {
wine glass.
is that what the doctor sentl'
says.
Yes, dear; You were to take it di
rectly."
Then I shan't take it, l says; 'ke',
give me up, and the stuf's only to kecl
me quiet. Polly, you 90 and make me
some beef tea and make it strong
She looked Mortified, poor girl, and
was about to beg me to take hold Of the
rotten life belt he'd sent me, when |
held out my shaking hand for it, took
the glass and let it tilt oyer-thcre was
only about a couple Of teaspoonfuls in it
and the staff fell on the carpet
saw the tears come into her eyes,
but she said nothing-only put down
the glass, and ran out to make the beef
tea.
The doctor didn't come till late next
day, and | was lying very still and
drowsy, half asleep like, but l was
awake enough to hear him whisper to
Polly, Sinking fast y and l heard her
give such heart broken sob that, as
the next great wave came on the sea
where | was floating, | struck out with
all my might, rose over it, and foated
gently down the other side
For the next four days-putting it as
a drowning man striving for his life
like true hearted feIlow--it was like
great, foaming waves coming to wash
over me, but the shore still in sight, and
me trying hard to reach it.
And it was grim, hard fight dozen
times | conld have given up, folded my
arms, and said good bye to the dear old
watphrnr face safe IN sbora Lut a looL