The Irish standard., 1888-01-07


1885.
Ime, that even in sleep it dominated my
thoughts.
II had lain down one day at our sleep
ing time, after bathing and bandaging
Oberfeldt's ankle. The last that re-
member was his Good sleep to you, as
/ composed myself to,slumber. was
awakened suddenly by a cracking crash
as loud as artillery; and opening my
eyes, amazement oyerpowered me.
Before me stretched Water-dotted
here and there by immense foes and
huge,bergs-but green sea-water that
washed the base OF a low, glacial for
nation on which | found myself stand
ing. Part of it had evidently just
broken off and fallen into the waves be-
meath, which were still foaming and
his4ing. AS my eye swept over the
glistening expanse in almost incredu-
lous wonder, my heart stood still. The
air was like ciystal; my sight had never
been at fault, but could trust it now?
| With trembling hands drew from my
pocket a small tield-glass that through
all onr straits and sufferings | had pre-
served. My sight had not deceived me-;
far of, but distinctly visible, was ship.
The moment before, [ had been
giddy with surprise and bewildered me;
now my brain was clear and my nerves
steady. Deliveranee was at hand. 1
looked bout me and discovered that l
was among the crags Of d low chain OF
bergs that lay some distance away from
the boat, which glancing across the ice
belt, could just discern, covered as it
was BY an awning made of brown skins.
[ did not pause to consider how l had
been transported from under that avn
ing to where I was; my sole thought
! was TO get back to it and tell the good
news to my disabled comrade, and
then return TO this place and signal the
vessel as she passed. a. hasty compu-
tation Of the length Of time it would
take her to beat up from her present
position, through the foes and bergs
around her, satisfied me that could do
So fortunately the ledge on the side
next the boat was more sloping and
rugged than Oh the water side. Scramb
ling, sliding, clinGing-wi the danger
| very instant of losing my hold and fall
ing, to be impaled on the spearlike
points that lined my torturous way---I
at last gaiued the level of the ice e-belt,
only, however, to find that the ice Was
rotten. It was breaking up rapidly, aud
/ had great difficulty to avoid che tide
holes, into one OF which at length fell.
After dragging myself out, wet to the
skin, lay on the ice painting and ex-
hausted ready to despair Of savih; my
friends life or ny own. And then
the thought came to me that / would
abandon the hopeless attempt to reach
the boat. The only difference this
could make, ! said to myself, would be
| in leaving q erfeldt a few hours longer
in suspense. The ice around the boat
was safe, being very near The shore. 1t
1 went back to the berg had just left,
and succeeded in making myself seen
on board the vessel, a rescue party
| would be dispatched for him immedi-
ately.
| Il went back---and 7 have nothing
| with which to rhproach myself up TO
that time. 1t would have been throw
ing away my own life without saving
his, had / persisted in attempting to
cross the ice But when stood again
at the root OF the berg, I saw another
! way by which I could get to the boat.
This was by working my way along the
| foo of the ledge tc the shore, and then
following the shore around to where
Oberfeidt lay. / had started to do this
had gone some distance On the way,
when an irresistible impulse impelled
me to retrace my steps and climb the
berg in order to ascertain If the vessel
-WttS Gtlll I'LL o1S Nv aliu 1O tlOto iGl posi-
tion. She was nearer than l expected
to see her; in two or three hous she
would be within hailing distance,
was confident. I glanced back at the
long way should have to pass over if
skirted the shore to the boat. I could
not possibly make the distance and
back in less than six hours. Should
go and risk the chance-I might say
| the certainty--that the ship would not
see us? persuaded myself that it was
best to wait there
You judged rightly the priest re-
marked.
'No-I Judged selfshly. cravenly
But when man has suffered much and
long, he grows weak and cowardly-
unless his nature is an exceptional one.
Well, l have paid the penalty OF nv
weakness and cowardice in the life long
regret which has pursued me from that