News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-08-31

self. " My God he said in whisper
as he set to work to aid me in getting
out the boat-"my God, tn ere are two
children on that cake of ice !''
The men answered my hail, and
walked lazily aft. In an incredibly short
space of time we launched the cutter,
into which Mr.. Larkin and myself
jumped, followed by the two men who
took the oars. rugged the tiIler, and
the mate sat beside me in the stern
sheets.
"Do you see that cake of ice with
something black upon it, lads ?" cried;
'pull me alongside of that, and I'll give
you bottle of rum each tonight, and
months extra wages when you are
paid off.
The men bent to their oars, but their
strokes were uneven and feeble. They
were used up by the hard duty of the
preceding fortnight, and though they
did their best, the boat made little more
way than the tide. This was long
chase, and Mr.. Larkin, who was suffer
ing as he saw how little we gained, cried
out: "Pull, lads; I'll double the cap
tain's prize; two bottles Of rum and two
months pay; pull, lads, for the love of
God, pull p
A convulsive effort at the oars told how
willing the men were to obey, but the
strength of the strong men was gone.
One of the poor fellows wahsed US twice
in recovering his oar, and then gave
out; the other was nearly as far gone.
Mr.. Larkin sprang forward and seized
the oar.
ellie down in the bottom of the
boat" said he to the man, "and, cap
tain, take the other oar we must row
for ourselves"
took the second mans place Lar
kin had stripped to his Guernsey shirt.
and rs he pulled the bow, waited for
the signal stroke, gradually increasing
in rapidity until the wood seemed to
smoke in the oar-locks. We kept time,
each by the long, deep breathing OF the
other. Such pull We bent forward
until our faces almost touched our knees,
and then, throwing all our strength into
the backward movement, drew on the
oar until every inch of the space covered
by the sweep had been gained. At
every stroke the boat shot ahead like an
arrow discharged from bow. Thus we
worked at the oars for fifteen minutes
it seemed to me as many hours.
care we almost Up to it, Mr.. Lar
kin ?" gasped out.
"Almost, captain-don't give mp; for
the love of our dear little ones at home,
don't give up, captain.
The oars flashed as the blades turned
ND to the moonlight. The men who
piled them were fathers, and had fathers,
hearts; tie strength which neryed them
at that moment was more than human.
Suddenly Mr.. Larkin stopped pulling,
and my heart for a moment ceased its
beating; for the terrible thought that
he had given out crossed my mind. But
I was quickly reassured by his voice.
Gently, captain, gently-a stroke or
two more-there, that will do ''-and
the next moment the boats side came
in contact with something, and Larkin
sprang from the boat with his heavy
feet upon the ice. I started up, and
calling upon the men to make fast the
boat to the ice, followed.
We ran to the dark spot in the center
of the mass, and found two little boys,
the head of the smaller resting in the
bosom of the larger-both were fast
asleepl The lethargy which would
have been fatal but for the timely
rescue, had overcome them. Mr.. Larkin
grasped one of the lads, cut off his
shoes, tore off his jacket, and then
loosing his own garments to the skin,
he placed the cold child in contact with
his own warm body, carefully wrapping
over him his great-coat, which he pro
cured from the boat. did the same
with the other child; and we then re-
turned to the boat, and the men, partially
recovered, pulled slowly back.
The children, as we learned when we
subsequently had the delight of restor-
ing them to their parents, were playing
on the ice, and had ventured on the
cake, which had jammed into the bend
of the river ten miles above New York.
A movement of the tide set the ice in
motion, and the little fellows were borne
away on that cold night, and would in
evitably have perished, but for Mr.,
Larkin's espying them as the ice was
sweeping out to sea.
"How do you feel ?" said 1 to the
mate, the morning after this adventure.
GA little stiff in the arms, captain,"
the noble fellow replied, while the big |
tears of grateful happiness gushsd |
from his eyes-"a little stiff in the
arms, captain, but very easy hear, and
he laid his hand on his manly heart. |
My quaint, brave down easter, He who
lashes tho sea into fury. and lets loose
the tempest, will care for thee ! The
storm may rage without, but in thy
bosom peace and sunshine abide ALWAYS, |