The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-03-14

tuht ho suOulu ~ ONSA hhu SPSAN Wv
evening with me, and that night after
moonrise we should skate back together
1t was already dusk, and the stars
shone but dimly through the haze, that
seemed to be gathering like veil be-
tween heaven and earth. When we
reached the river side, therefore, l light
ed small bull's-eye lantern which had
taken the precaulion to bring along
with me, and by its friendly CLEAN we
clamped on our silver-plated skates.
A moment spent in rummaging through
our pockets for another match with
which to light our cigars and--we were
of!
Clip! clipl clip! with long, easy
strokes with that delicious swaying
motion which gives wings to the pace
with light hearts aud occasionally u mer-
ry whistle. piercing tho stiffness of the
evening air, We bent to tho work
We had left the Washington monu.
ment--a towering spectre, family out
lined in the darkness far to shoreward !;
had shot like An arrow under the dingy
trackway of the Long Bridge, and had
Just sighted the reflection Of the arsenal
lights, streaming full upon our course,
when crack boom! "a succession OF un-
earthly sounds the meaning of which we
both well knew, fell upon ears and
startled US from our fancicd security.
Look out" shouted to Tom.
"Oh,it's nothing he replied cheerily.
But the very next moment the ice
sroaned again, bent, cracked and sank
under us-ws were in the water!
As the icy flood closed over my head.
shiver ran through me. 1t was indeed
the River of DEATH! But, INSTANTLY. there
came a revulsiou of feeling, with that
swiftness of thought which is character
islic of the mind in times of supreme
danger. 1 reflected that was strong
swimmer. that the edge Of the ice could
not be far of. and that even if did no
succeed in reaching it, Tom WOULD
doubtless come TO my rescue, so that by
the time had risen again to the surface
l had formed definite resolution. Strik
ing out boldly, soon reached the Lei
field, and, exerting my whole strength
eudeavored to mount upon il. But th'
treacherous cakes broke off again anC
again in my frantic grasp and then saul
seemed sufficiently strong to bear m.
weight, but by this time my hands bat
become beucmbed aud bruised by tn
rough edges of the for, and fel; m.
strength leaving me. BY a supreme el
fort, however, / succeeded in drawing
myself partly out of the water, so tina
my breast rested upon the extremity o
the cake, and using the leverage thus af
forded, 1 gradually got my body over en-
tirely. now felt secure, but was power
less 10 move or cry for help.
When my strength had sufficiently re
vived, l cautiously rose to my feet an
shouted at the top of my voice Tor Tom
Breathlessly waited for an answer! ]
came presently in hoarse cry, far ava
down the stream.
I'm all right; how are your"
1 replied to this welcome hail by di
recting Tom to work bis way along care
, fully until be reached the place where
then stood It was slow and painfu
/ process, but at at last he was withi
hani.reRoh.
"lf you can hold on bit longer,
, can give you leg" said l, as grope
about in the dark for convenient crac
into which could thrust my fingers an
, secure tight grip. Having found on'
: l lay down fat on my stomach. with m
5 legs banging over edge of the ice, aud q
Tom caught hold of those useful preher
siles, drew him nut of his predicamen
For an instant We hlttersd ourselves thi
, we were safe. but hardly had the FRI
8 words Of conGratulatiou passed our liz
ere down again-down into that dark an
A chilly stream-we sank together.
3 How long we foundsred about thsl
u l cannot tell. We called anxiously
each otheri We shouted, We yelled lii
# mAniacs, but no help came. On the a
/. sepal point we could see lights movir
II but they came no nearer Across Il
IS river the windows of the Iustitutiu
k seemed to rs to be fairly blazing wi
, light. Over there, knew, were frien
g ly hands and strong arms in plenty-b
n none We're reached out to US.
N Good God were we then to be left
g perish in the midst of that grinding ic
d in the awful solitude OF tue s,arlt
a. night? Were We to feel our erasps relu
oi ing-our fingers slipping-the water r
A. ing, rising to our shoulders. our necks
closing, closing alas, over our heads
m while there so near, oh, so distressing
e near! our dear ones might be pressl
en- their pale faces against those very VI
w dow panes, perhaps. and peerinR {
~ wonderiugy into the dark, uncan
to night.
'ts Thank God. 1t was not to be!
oil We had almost given MP in desp
Of whsu tbs Shilling tide brought do
OF upon Us q fisli OF thick, solid ice.
OF bad just slreagth enough left 10 elu
ns iIas iip S.sd. and saeh nsnGvsrinG