Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-04-01
CHAPTER VII.
lam STABILIZED BY \ DISCOVERY

M S1AhALED III y D4~SNON Eh1.
In this uneasy posture, despite the in
tense cold, 1 continued to sleep sOundly
during the greater part Of the night. l
was awakened by a horIid dream of some
giant shape stalking down the slope Of ice
to seize and Geyour me, and sat up tremb-
ling with horror that was Tot q little in-
creased by my inability to rec0llect myself.
and By ny therefore Conceiving the canvas
that covered me to be the cropping Of the
0gre's hand over my face.
Ipushed the sail away and stood up hut
had instantly 10 sit again, my legs being
terribly cIamped. A drink OF spirits helped
ne; my blood presently flowed with brisk
ness.
The moon was in the west; she hung
large, red and distorted, and sled no light
save her reflection, that waved in the sea
under her like several lengths OF undula-
ting, red hot wire.
| had no mind to lie down again The
cold indeed was cruelty sharp, and the
smoke sped from my mOuthat every breath,
rs though | held a tobacco pipe betwixt
my teeth. l got upon the ice and stepped
about il quickly, darling searching glances
into the gloom TO left and right OF the set
ting moon; but all lay bare, bleak and
black.
It seemed as if the night had only lust
descended, So taray was the dawn. Out
aide the slauiiug wall OF ice that made my
hayea, the swell swept past in a gurgliDg,
bubhling, drowning sound, dismal aud
CHASTITY, ~ though in truth some such Orge
~ the monster | had dreamed Of lay sui
locating there. I welcomed the cold color
ing ct the east as il IT had been n ship, and
watched the stars dying and the irczea
shore darkeniug to the dim and sitting
dawn behind it, against which the outline
Of the cliffs ran in q broken streak Of ink.
The rising of the sun gave me fresh life.
made mp my MUD to climb ss high as
| could, taking the oar with me TO serve as
q pole, that ] might view the ice and the
ocean round about, and form q Judgment
of the weather by the aspect OF the sky, of
which only the western part was visible
from my low strand. But first | must
b:esk my Test. l remember bitterly la
mentiUg the lack of means to make n fire,
that / might obtain a warm meal and a not
drink, anddry my gloves, coat and breeches.
To which the damp of the salt cluDg tena-
ciously. Had this ice been land, though
the most desolate, gloomy, repulsive spot
Ia the world, l had surely found some
thing that would burn.
I sat in the boat 10 eat my slender repast,
aad when il was ended | pulled the oar
out Of the c~rcyice, and found it would
make ME y good pole TO probe my way
.-stL - .,,,,rk v,y-1a1f nm Nla 0lnna
The boat was now held by the mast, which
l shook and found very firm. l put an
empty beer bottle in my pocket, meaning
70 see II | could I'll it, il the sno up above
vas sweet enough to be we'll tasted, and
then with 3 final look at the boat | started.
The slope was extremely craggy. Blocks
Office lay about, some on top OF the Others,
and | had sometimes to warily walk fifty
or sixty PAGES round these bl.cks to come
az q pax, of the slope that was smooth.
had come to q stand to fetch a breath,
aud was moving on afresh, when, having
taken not halfa dozen steps, | spied tie
figure of q man. He was in q sitting pos
ture, his back against a rock that had con-
cealed him. His head was bowed, and his
knees drawn up TO a level with his chin,
aud his naked hands were claSped upon
his legs. His attitude was that of a per
son lost in thought-Tery cay and calm.
l stopped as ifI had been shot through
the heart. Had it been a bear or u sea
lion, or any creature which my mind COald
instantly have associated with this white
and s~tirless de~solatiOn, 1 might have been
staztled indeed; but no such smaEsment
could have possessed me As / now felt. 1t
never entered into my hssd to doubt that
he wa alive, so natural was his attitude,
IS of one lost in q mood of tender melan-
choly.
stood staring ut him, myself motion
less, for some minutes, too greatly astOnish-
ed and thuGderStrack TO note more than
that he wss a man. Then l looked about
me TO see il he had companions or for some
ola h~a6itation, but the ice was every
naked / fixed my eyes on him
again. His hair was about q foot long,
black as ink, and the blaeker may be for
the contrast of the snow. His beard and
mustache, which were also Of this raven
hue, fell to his girdle. He woIe q great
Tapping hat, such as was in fashion
among the Spanisrds and buccaneers ofthe
South sea; but over his ears, for the
warmth OF protection, were squares Of fan
mel tied uuder his beard by \ very fine red
silk handkerchief; and this, with his hair
and pale cheeks and black Shaggy eye
brows, gave him a terrible and CHASTITY ap-
From his shoulders hunga rich
thick cloak, lined with red, and the legs