Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-05-06

was still as much speilDouhu aioit III NC.
frozen canvas and tackle as ever she Ind
been in the sepulcher in which I discover
ed her.
7 went below, and put the provisions we
needed for breakfast into the oven, and
entered Tassard's cabin. On bringing the
lantern to his face as he lay under half .
score of coats upon the deck, perceived
that he was awake, and my heart being
full cried out cheerily, Good news:
good news!-.he gunpowder did its work!
Tine ice is ruptured. and we are afioat, Mr..
Taesard-afioat and progressing north?
He looked at me vacautly, and giving
his head shake, exclaimed. "How can l
crawl from this mound? My strength Is
gone" -.
III was amazed that tee joyful intelli-
gence I had delivered produced no other
response than this querulous inquiry, 1
was far more sstonished by the sound OF
his voice. It was the most cracked and
venerable pipe that ever tickled the throat
of old age-s mingling of waiting falsettos
and of hollow, gasping growls, the whole
yery weak. threw the clothes of him.
and said. 'DJ You wish to rise? will
bring you your breakfast here if you
wisb?"
He looked at me, but made no answer
bawled again, and observed, by the dim
lantern light, that be watched my lips with
an air of attention; and while waited for
his reply he said, 81 don't hear you"
Anxious to ascertain to, what extent HE
hearing was impaired, kneeled on the
deck, and, putting my lips to his ear, said,
not very loud, "Wlll you come to the cook
house ?n which be 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 an
swered, Eyes"
took him by the hands and handled
him gently on 10 his feet, and had to con-
tinue holding him, or he must have fallen
Time was beginning with him when he
had gone to bed, and the remorseless old
soldier had completely finished his work
while his victim slept. l viewed the
Ffenchman while l grasped hi, hands, and
there stood before me shrunk, tottering,
deaf, bowed, feeble old man. What was
yesterday q polished head was now o
shriveled pate-as though the very skull
had shrunk and left the skin to ripple into
wrinkles. and sit loose and puckered. His
hands trembled excessively. But his lower
law 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 had con-
fronted me yesterday. was thunder
struck by the alterations, and stood over
whelmed with awe, confusion and alarm
Then, re-collectiDg 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 bimself-indeed, he
could hardly hold his chin off his breast.
He had gone tn bed man, as might take
it, of So, and during the night the angel OF
Time had visited him, and there he sat lob
years of age.
He looked it. Ha, thought /. was
dreadlng your treachery yesterday; there
is nothing more to fear. Besides that he
was nearly stone deaf, he could hardly sea;
aud was sure, if he should be able to
move at all, he could not stir leg with
ont the help Of sticks Twas wac going to
roar ont to him that we were adrift, but
he looked 80 imbecile that / thought-to
what purpose? II there be aught of mem
ory in him. let him sit and chew the cud
thereof. He cannot last long-the cold
must soon stop his heart. Aud with that
I went on eating my breakfast in silence,
hut greatly affected by this astonishing
mark of the hand of Providence. and un-
der very heavy and constant sense Of
awe, for the like of such TRANSFORMATION
I AIN sure had never before encountered
mortal eyes, and il was terrifying to be
alone with it.