Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-21

on the shores OF one OF those lovely lOchS
that open northward from the Firth OF
Clyde. Warwick was once more my
companion; but, amid nv own struggles
and anxieties, had lost all save a rec
election of poor Revelle. A success,
long and ardently worked for, had given
me right to enjoy the first real holiday
had known for many a long day, and |
exercised that right in quietly luxuri-
GUS fashion. My friend and [ walked
and talked and smoked and fished and
cruised together, and were as supremely,
if less demonstratiyely, happy in each
others society as were the young mar
ried couple who lived in the cottage next
to the one occupied by us while on shore.
AS was natural enough, we gradually
formed slight acquaintance with this
pair-Hammond by name-who were
merely holiday visitors like ourselves.
The bride was q pretty little thing,
rather vain and weak-minded, to tell the
truth, while the husband was a gentle
manly, frank-mannered fellow, though
Warwick, the severe, never thoroughly
liked him. They were very devoted,
taking long walks together almost ev-
cry day, or cruising about the loch, in a
lug-sal boat, which, in spite of frequent
warnings, Hammond handled not only
clumsily but recklessly. The last of
these warnings was destined to come
from me.
1t was fine afternoon, but one on
which it required no great weather lore
to predict succession of those treacher-
GUS squalls so common and so fatal on
%t,<1H al, flx-
ntes lash the smiling waters into angry
pillows and threaten destruction to such
small craft as are not handled in a sea-
manlike manner. Seeing Hammond and
his wife embark, I signaled to them,
shook my head and pointed to the hills;
but the young husband responded with
laugh and wave of his hand, and
presently the boat fitted white winged
round a jutting promontory, while
the sun glinted on the girl wife's bright
hair.
As I resumed my walk with shrug
my thoughts soon reverted to my own
affairs. was not in the best of humors.
A slip on the hills the day before had
resulted in the sprainingof an ankle and
a wrist, and to- day Warwick had gone to
Glasgow, the nearest civilized center, to
replenish his fiybook. I soon limped
home, and took refuge in book and
pipe. Before long sudden darkness
caused me to look up. knew what was
coming. Without further warning down
the loch swept a tremendous squat, &C
companied presently by fierce torrents
of rain. AS the wind howled louder and
louder, and the rain dashed the window
panes, suddenly thought of the Ham
monds. Snatching up my hat, water
proof and crutch, hurried to their cot
tage. A hasty inquiry elected the ex-
pected answer. They had not returned.
With an anxious foreboding at my heart
limped quickly on to the little pier,
which I found already occupied. A re-
gatta at the opposite side of the loch had
literally emptied the village of its male
population, with the exception of few
tottering old men and babes but on the
pier stood group of women with shawls
over their heads, pointing seward, ges-
ticulating and jabbering in Gaelic and
English. AS drew near I could see
through the driving rain Hammond's
boat coming on for the shore with sail
full set. The sheet seemed to have been
made fast, for he was struggling wildly
with it. while his poor frightened wife
impeded his efforts by clinging to his
arm. He had evidently quite lost his
head.
"Cut the sheetI p I shouted, though
almost hopeless of his hearing me-
'Cut-cut p shrieked the women.
!" Your knife, MANI chimed in feeble
chorus of dotards.
All at once he heard either heard us
OF else hit on, the obvious expedient
himself, for he began fumbling in his
pockets. Too late Already the lee
gunwale was often under water, and
now, with a fiercer gust than before, the
waves rushed in and the boat went over.
Then rose q scream from the women,
while held my breath, watching for the
two heads to reappear. Thank God,
there they were Hammond chung des-
perately to the upturned keel of the
hoat, supporting his wife the while. He
could not swim, as knew, and screamed
for help. Whence was that help to
come A properly handled boat might
easily have lived; and I knew that, in
the absence Of the men, some of these
women-Sood, brave souls were we'll
able and willing to pull an oar or man.
age tiller and steer; but there were no
/ boats. They, too, were away to the re-
Get.a."
The sole hope lay in the arm of
strong swimmer, if only he could be
found. As for the old men, they were
out of the question, while, had 1 ventured
into the water IN my MANNED condition,
l should probably have been drowned,
aud should certainly have been Of no
Use. I never felt SO helpless in nsy life.
How longed for Warwick, with his cool
daring aud his powerful arm
But longing was idle. while the cries
for help grew fainter and more despair
ing. and the boat, capsized and helpless,
drifted slowls toward the mouth of the
loch. 1t was terrible to stand thus do
ing nothing, and / know not what rash
ness I was meditating, when q man sud-
denly pushed his way thr 9ugh the crowd
"A taftish man of distinguished air,
with pale face and heavy black mus
tache. Where had / seen him before
[ did not recollect at ffst, but as he
fnny off coat, waistcoat and shoes and