The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-03-22

down were completely held back
against the steep sand-bank.
"Therel look therel' cried the old
man, suddenly seizing my arm.
"Catching at straws. There; don't
you see-now atop o. that breakerp"
1 caught sight of small boat crowd
ed with figures, and then there seemed
to be a tall wave curl over 1t and
saw it no more.
"Gonel" said the old man. III
knowed It'll Nothing could live in such
Storm"
"Let's go to the life-boat and see if
they are going off," said L; hut the old
man was intensely gazing out to sea.
''There, Just as L SAID" he shouted
coarsely, "just in time. She's struck"
And then, above the yelling of the
storm, we could hear crash and
wild shrek, that seems to ring through
me now upon stormy night, when far
inland listen to the bowling wind.
SITS now or neverl" said the old
man, as he ran down toward where the
life-boat stood upon its carriage, the
women hanging on to their husbands,
and apparently begging that they would
not dare the perils before them,
The sea had looked fearful enough
from where we stood before; but here,
as close as we dared go to the breakers,
it looked perfectly awful, while the
attempt to launch a boat seemed
absolute madness. 1t was evident that
the men thought 80, too, though, as we
came up, one sturdy fellow shouted,
"I'm ready, mates il you're going" a
/ remark that eiGjIed no response, for
every one stood st6hGy gazing out
toward the doomed vessel.
Just then, in the dull haze seaward, 8
blue light shone out over the water like
a dull star; but still no one moved
All at once the old man by my side
laid hold Of my arm and whispered
"Giye me lift, sir" and before knew
hardly what his object was, he had
climbed by my help into the boat
Now, then, you boys" he shouted
wildly; II can't stand this Stand
aside, and let some OF the old ones
come2''
The spell was broken. Women wer,
hastily thrust aside, and boats crew
was soon made up, amid the shrek
ing and wailing of sweet-heart;s ant
wives, who ran about the beach wiring
ing their hands.
"HuTray for old Marksl" shouted ;
voice at my elbow, and the crowd loud
| ly cheered the old man. Then oar
were shipped and all made ready, tn
old sailor seizing the steering.oar as h,
stood up in his place with life-belt oi
and his hat blown off, looking noble
than ever.
"Now, are you all ready2" he shout
ed.
mo, no." was the cry; and in tn
hush of expectation, two men rose il
the boat, dashed off their life-belts, an,
amid half-muttered groans, leaped ou
from their places, and ran up the sand
to the bank, where they disappeared.
"Two moreI" shouted old Marks
and for few moments, so dread wa
the peril, not a soul moved; then tw
stout lads came rushing toward tn
) boat, pursued by an elderly man
perfect giant.
"Stop theml" he roared. "Yer shan
60, lads"
lie came up to them by the boat
side as they were climbing in, and er
deavored to stop their progress; but /
I, his turn he was seized from behind b
a couple Of men, and the two new
. comers were in half minute equippe
= for the dire struggle before them an
I, in their places.
"Let me gol' shrieked the man; bu
the others clung to him, as the sign
I, was given, the carriage backed dow
into position, the time accuratel
q chosen, and with a wild "hurrahl
a heard above the storm, the life boat W;
9 launched.
My attention had been so taken U
that l had ceased to look upon the ma
who was struggling to regain h
liberty; but, just as the boat was lea
ing its carriage, bystander WI
= driven violently against me, and IL
:. moment after saw figure das
q across the intervening space and sei7
= the side of the boat; then came Il
roar of the storm and the rush
! spray, while for few minutes the lif
: boat was invisible. Then a sho
distance off she was seen rising upon
wave, and then disappearing again In
the dull haze, which, migled with Il
Il coming night, soon shut everythir
- rom our gaze but the foaming water
,s "Over seventy, sir" shouted vol,
II In reply to query. sold man-o'.war'
man. Been in many storm, but th
a here's awfulp'
At Awful it was; for so wild a nigl
10 had not fallen upon that part Of t
2 coast for many years; and as the fol
upon the shore gazed in the directi'
the boat had taken they shook the
er heads and shouted in each others eal
Ill There was long and awful paus
i'll only broken by the shrieking of t
,e wind, and then came loud shot
ID "Here she comesl'' and in anoth
he minute, obedlent to their steersma
l the rowers timed their strokes to
th second, so that the boat, heavily lade
rode in upon the summit of a gia
wave so far that twenty willing han
st were at her side, and she was run rig
e. up the sands, and fifteen shiverir
1t, half-drowned fellow-creatures lift
n out and hurried up the shore.