Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-05-08
otis a ship on the reef, fellowsv

TITS a snip on the reel, tellOWS!"
cried out three or four at once.
There was a general scramble for
our clothes, and then we oil crowded
about the window and waited for an
other flash. But, before it came, the
master opened the door, lantern in
hand.
"You heard those guns, boys9
There's a ship on the reef, and they're
firing for help. Put on your great
coats and come right down to the cliff.
We must do everything in our power
to aid them"
He meant, of course, the larger boys
Bob Nichols, John Sawyer and Ed
Williams-but the others of us went
with him. Before anybody could have
counted a hundred we were all run
ming 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 a strange
ness and wildness about the whole of
that open country between the school
and the beach that impressed every
one of us with q lonesome feeling and
made ms take care to keep together.
Then the old school building in the
rear also looked weird with itslighted
windows here aud there; and the
ocean reaching way off before us
sounded as though it was tearing the
land to atoms.
The master and Little Tins had
reached the cliff in advance, and were
making ready to light q pile of old
brush driftwOOd when we came up.
Gwen make bright fire, boys,
even If we can't do any more," said
he, enthusiastically. "'rhey will see
the light and know that some one is
here"
Pieces of stumps, broken limbs from
dead trees and refuse wood
heaped up by us in no time; and then
what a scene.-picturesque and fan
tastic as q Dorc painting-lay all
around Us under a freight! We were
on the extreme point of the cliff that
iutted out several feet in the sea, and
below we could see the huge rocks
covered with thick foam which our
tall, illuminating flames made Grim
son. The scattering trees appeared
grim and gloomy, the darkness crowd
ed back and seemed blacker than ever,
while we each and all fastened to aud
fro in the midst of one anothcr's gro
tcsque shadows.
No more signal guns were fired from
the distressed vessel, and we strained
our eyes in vain to catch a glimpse Of
her; nor could anything be heard
across the deafening breakers. We
could only wait for tho daylight,
which, fortunately for our patience,
did not delay long. Breaking over
the ocean, it showed us first u flap
ping sail or two, u dark hulk half
submerged and swinging back and
fortl, on the rocks within gun-shot of
the cliff, then a ';not Of men huddled
near the forecastlc, 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
eagerly Of the master.
"Lct us make y raft out of trees, "
cried three or four cxcitedly.
cit wouldn't hold together two min
utes in those Breakers" returned the
master, rubbing hands neryously and
looking perplexed.
CLARK! harkw cried somebody.
"They are signaling to u.s."
We saw one of the men step into
the rigging, and then word or two
that he shouted THOUGH the trumpet
came to us family, and we guessed
the rest.
awe shall sink when the tide rises. :"
Then again:
"Our boats are all sunken !"
"You hear that boys7 Their boats
are gone, and they'll sink when the
tide rises. What shall we do for them.
| say, what shall we do"
II think we had better pray for
them, sir, said little Tins, looking
plump up at the masters surprised
face.
"You are right, Tins" he quickly
answered. owe will ask God to help
us. Boys, take off your hats"
We obeyed him instantly; and drop
ping on his knees he prayed silently a
moment or two. Then we were
aroused by one of the meQ calling
quite distinctly through the trumpet.
"stand by! we're going to fire a
line ashore"
And before we could comprehend
what he meant, the ships cannon
belclled forth it's flash and smoke, and
a solid shot came clcaving the air,
bringing a rope i'll its trail. But both
fell into the sea almost as soon as they
had left the mouth of the cannon, and
we all sprang back to the edge Of the
cliff to hear what the man was again
shouting.
awe have got one more ball. Stand
by "
1t was five, eight, ten minutes
while they were loading; and we wait
ed nervously. They would be careful
not to make u blunder this time. The
achievement of throwing a line ashore
when it was attached to a cannon ball
certainly did not seem very difficult
for we had not yet studied any math-
ematics that included projectiles, and
| L.. Lax