The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-08-17

Some of the bePgs however, ana more par
ticularl,' tho distant one, stole out OF the blue
atmos ,"c.a TO the sunshine with so complete
n resemblance to the lifting canvas OF ships
that would catch myself staring iixedly, my
heart heating fast. But there was no de-
lection ia these disappointment; the ecstasy
that Il q RE on beholding the terrible island
--t,o locus frozen prison, whose crystal
bars Lad again and again believed were
never t. Tao broken--now lying Mt n distance
wit is northern cape imperceptibly open
inG 10 oar subtle movement, was so violent
that could not have found my voice for the
tears in my heart.
This, then, was the result of my scheme; 1t
was 40 failure, us Tassard had said; as he
owed his life to me, SO now did he owe mo
his liberty. Nay, my transports were so
great that would not suffer myself to feel
an instants anxiety touching the condition
of the schooner mean whether she would
leak or prove sound when she floated--and
how we two men were 10 manage 10 navigate
so large u craft that was still rs much spell
bound aloft in her frozen canvas and tackle
as ever she had been in the sepulcher i'm which
j discovered her.
went below, and put the provisions we
needed for breakfast into the oven, and
entered TaSsards cabin. On bringing the
lantern to his face as he lay under half a
score of coats upon the deck, perceived that
he was awake, and my heart being full
cried out cheerly, Good news! good news!
tho gunpowder did its work. The ice is
ruptured, and we are afloat, Mr.. TasSard-
afioat, and progressing nOrth!"
He looked ut me vacantly, and giving his
head n shake, exclaimed, "How can | crawl
from this mound. My strength is gomez
If was amazed that the joyful intelligence
j had delivered produced no other response
than this querulous inquiry, | was far more
astonShcd by the sound of his voice. IL was
the most cracked and venerable pipe that
ever ticklci the throat of old age-a min
CLING of wailing falscttos and of hollow, gasp
ing growls, the whole very weak. | threw
the clothes OF him, and said, ''Do you wish
to rise: | will bring you your breakfast here
il You wish"
He looked ut me, but made no answer.
bawlef! again, and observed, by the dim Ian.
terra light, that he watched my lips with an
air of attention; and while | waited for 4
reply he said, II don't hear you"
Anxious to ascertain to what extent his
hearing was impaired, kneelcd on the deck
and, putting my lips to his ear, said, not very
loud, "Will you come To the cook house?
which he did not hear; and then louder
"Will you come to the cook house," which he
did not hear either. believed him stone deaf
till, ON roaring with all the power of my
lungs, he answered, "Yes."
| took him by the hands and hauled him
gently on to his feet, and had to continue
holding him, or he must have fallen Time
was beginning with him when he had gone tc
bed and the remorseless old soldier had com
pletely finished his work while his victim
slept. | viewed the Frenchman while
grasped his hands, and there stood before me
shrunk, lettering, deaf, bowed, feeble old
man. What was yesterday polished head
was now n shriveled pate-as though the
very skull had shrunk and left the skin to rip
pie into wrinkles, and sit loose and puckered
His hands trembled excessively. But his
lower jaw was held in its place by his teeth
and this perpetuated in the aged, dwindled
countenance something of the likeness of the
fierce and sinister visage that mad confronted
me yesterday. l was thunderstruck by the
alteration, and stood overwhelmed with awe
confusion and alarm. Then, re-collecting my
spirits, supported the miserable relic to the
fire, putting his bench to the dresser, that he
might have back to lean against.
He could scarce feed himSelf--indeed, he
could hardly hold his chin off his breast. He
had gone to bed man, as | might take it
of &C. and during the night the angel of Time
had visited him, and there he sat 1903 years OF
age!
He looked it. Ha, thought \, | was dread
ing your treachery yesterday; there is moth
ing more To fear. Besides that he was nearly
stone deaf, he could hardly sec; and l was
sure, if he should be able to move at all, he
could not STIR leg without the help of sticks
i was going to roar out to him that we were
adrift, but he looked SO imbecile that
thought-to what purpose! If there he aught
of memory in him, let him sit and chew the
cud thereof. He cannot last iong-the cold
must soon stop his heart. And with that
went on eating my breakfast in silence, but
greatly affected by this astonishing mark OF
the hand of Providence, and under a very
heavy and constant sense of awe; for the like
of such a transformation am sure had never
before encountered mortal eyes, and it was
terrifying to be alone with it.
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