The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-05-14


g likes"
i IL should prefer being up with yo,
DObson," | said; 81 want to see d
l. sea, aud how things look in the dead ,
G night. 1t must be very weird and vei
grand here in Il Storm"
u AYE, aye, sir. You'll have storl
enough. Better sleep while We ca,
o and let the son take care of itself"
4 "But | came to sit up" remarked
"and unless you Object
"Me, Mister Emery? Not bit of i
I Come alolt il yc like; I'll keep yc con
pany."
We went up to the gallery again, and
stood leaning over, gazing stcadil,
half-dreamily, at the heaving watcl
The sea was evidently rising, and ye
the long, heavy, booming swell role
in without breaking till close upon th
rocks. Then the roar arose, the spra
dashed up in vain attempts to reac
the beacon, and fell back exhausted O
the whitened sea.
AS | continued to look across tn
moonlit waves, a strong sensation O
the unreality of it all came upon me
| could fancy it was all unreal; | knew
and felt that | was in the lighthouse
that all was right, that | was in goot
health and spirits, aud yet all the sur
roundings appeared as if | were in
dream. could see a shape in the wa
ter beneath, dark form, and lol sud
denly it was clad in white, fcinal,
shape, ascending to the gallery. knew
the face in the lantern light. IL was
Agnes. Strange illusionl
/ nll. ~. Il A
spray splashcd heavily down to the
water, and Dobson approached me
quickly and anxiously.
"Did yon call. Mister 'Encry"
ayes, | did" replied. "'ihe spray
very nearly came up into the gallery
IL startled me-"
"Thats nothing" replied Dobson
"you'll have il over the lantern alorc
tomorrow. Hold up your hand. Dye
feel the salt on it?"
put up my palm to the wind, and
then touched my tongue with it. 1t
was quite salt to the taste.
'Nou'll excuse Inc, sir, but you's
looking pale and wore out. Turn in,
and come up at daybreak. That's the
time to see the sea, and sunrise too"
| knew the well-inteusioned sailor
was quite right. was over-wronght !;
my nerves were highly strung;
wanted rest.
"Will you call me early, or if any
thing turns up?'
81 will, sir; you shall know. One
of my mates is goin' ashore at dawn !;
III call yc then for certain sure"
SO we babe each other good night, and
| descended to the slceping-room in
scini-darkncss. In ten minutes must
have been sound asleep; the noise of
the waves dashing outside, and rushing
sound OF the wind, far from keeping
me awake, were soothing to my trou-
bled spirit. l slept, nor did the restless
cuckoo i'll the clock that whirred and
chirpcd the hours through the stormy
night awake me from my dreaming.
| was half aroused by touch upon
the shoulder, and opened my eyes, but
the scmi-darkncss was still before them.
Then voice know said:
"Tom's just off, but the mornings
wet and stormy, sir. Be advised and
stay below yon--"
| had lain down again, and was
asleep once more before he had COM
pletcd the sentence.
i must have slept some time, when a
dull sound aroused me. | looked
about, and it was not till the clock-door
burst open and the bird came out that
rccollccted where | was.
"Cuckoow | counted six strokes.
Then the dull and distant sound came
down upon the wind, and | began to
wonder what it was.
Ashird time, louder now, and "nat-
ter" so TO speak, as if the wind had
caught the noise and borne il hard
against the stone-pillar wherein I Law.
[ could hear Dobson and his companion
hurrying to and fro, and in a few mo-
ments, as the former passed the door. I
called aAni he came in hastily.
"WhNs the matter, Dobson2v
"Vessel drifting in, disabled. She'll
strike, fear. THEY'RE signaling for
help-dol't We hear the guns?v
lie was gone. Guns! A vessel in
dstress Here was an adventure in
deed. l leaped ont of bed and hurried
through my toilet, from time TO time
looking out upon the angry. tumblino
sea, driven in before a sou'west gale. in
broken hills of water.
assembled to the gallery. and the
grandeur of tic scene beneath took INV
attention for moment from the reel
ing yacht that was drifting belplesslv
it seemed, fairly down upon the cruel
line of Jagged rocks that were now and
then visible to windward.
"Now, mate,n said Dobson. s.rou
and me must take this iob in hand
Well cross the rock before she strikes
wonder. and save tie moor fellows
Come
To their astonisbment volunteered
TO help. =
Excuse me. sir. but Won ain,t any
GOOD in This. You can hear hand ON
the lifeline. howsomdeyer. and If wf
shouid moi both turn mn to mnster
why ~ >
Without another word tbev shook
hands solemnly with mo and win cocl,
other. and then descended To ihc rock
| followed TO the door and made rasi
the lines they had secured aronnJ ,bci,
waists. The sea was now sween;no
over the rock. and the Lissino of tbe
foam was like escaping steam or the