The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-03-04

down stairs, and l leave my 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 p
sMy dear fellow he says, honestly.
81 have done everything can for your
case"
N That's what you think. doctor; but
look here I've been at sen thirty
years and in seven wrecks Its 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. Iou're
exciting yourself.
Not a bit" l says, though my voice
was quite a whisper. I've had this
over all night, and I've come to think |
must be up and doing my duty"
But, my good man
"l.isten to me, doctor" says. a
score Of times might have given up
and been drowned, but | made 4 fight
for it and WAS saved. Now. l mean TO
make fight for it right here. for the
sake Of the wife and BARNS. don't
mean 10 die, doctor. without = struggle.
| believe this. that lie Is given 20 Us al
as treasure to keep. We might throw
it away by our own folly II any time,
but there's hundreds Of times when We
might preserve it, and We never know
when we can save il till We try. Gives
a drink of that water.
He held the glass to my lips and |
took a big draughr, and wens on, he
seeming all the time stopping to humor
me in my madness.
That's better Doctor I says. Now.
look here, sir, speaking as one who has
sailed the seas, its a terribly stormy
time with me. There's lee shore close
at hand the fires ale drowned out, and
unless we can get up bit of sail there's
no chance for me. Now then, doctor,
can Won get up bit Of sail 2
Il will 60 and send YOU something
that will quiet YOU" he said. rising
''Thankee, doctor, l says, smiling to
myself "And now, look here. Imnot
going to give up till the last, and when
the last comes, and the ships going
down, l shall have try TO swim TO safe
u. Ii that fails, and can really fee
that it is to be, why. hope that | shall
90 down into the great deep calmly
Ike hopeful man, praying that Some
body above will forri,e all that l have
done amiss, and stretch out His i4tberly
hand to my li,tle ones.
He went away and l dropped 10 sleep,
worn out with my exerJiou.
When | awohe Polly was standing by
the bedside watching lAe, with bottle
and glass on the table.
AS soon as she saw my eyes open, she
shook up tie stuff and poured i into 4
wine glass.
is that villa: the doctor sentr 1
says.
Yes, dear; you We're to take it di-
rectly"
Then I shan't take it, I say, "he's
give me up, and the stuff only TO keep
me quiet. Polly, YOU 60 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 melt he'd sent ne, when |
held out my shaking hand for it, took
the glass and let it tilt over-thore was
only about a couple Of teaspoonfuls in it
and the stuff 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 was
awake enough to hear him whisper to
Polly, Sinking fast y and | heard her
give such a 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 hoated
gently down the other side
For the next four days-putting it as
a drowning man striving for his life
like a true hearted fellow-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 a dozen
times conld have given up, folded my
arms, and said good bye to the dear old
watching face safe on shore but look
l bo+ al ,,-o &c Oh no .rI I Couch.