The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-30

foothOld, while the ledge on which my
hands rested was so Shiny and wet
that could hardly keep my hand on
it, much less raise myself by it. Half
stupid with fright l could do nothing
but yell out for help for some time, but
the only answer was the mocking
screams of the sea-gulls as they whii'l-
ed over my head and roar of the waves
as they dashed against the rocks.
Seeing at length that 1 was only
wasting the little strength had left, /
stopped shouting and looked about to
see if there was no way OF escape. Ex-
cept about two feet of ledge to which
/ held on, now saw that on both sides
of me for several yards. the face of the
rock wasperfectly smooth and Shiny,
so that had not the slightest chance
of being able to work along, hand
over hand. to some spot where could
get up.
Oh! what would have given to be
able to swim then even half dozen
strokes, for that would have been suffi-
cient to bring me to place where L
could easily have assembled. But
II was all no use-there | was, and
there | should stay till help came.
l.
20 purpose.
What was my horror to see that an
occasional wave now washed i'm
through the inlet and came surging up
to'where l clungi / remembered it
was ebbing when we left Granton har-
Dor. and that the tide must now be on
the fowl
My terror gave me fresh strength,
O nd 4 fl,A
for help. 1t seemed fearful thing to
be drowned by inches-to watch every
wash of the waves go little and
little higher.
The sea was now dashing in angrily
through the inlet and found it hard
to keep my precarious hold on the
ledge.
Higher and higher came each wave
surging up to me, and l felt it was but
a matter of moments. l closed my
eyes and tried to pray, but | could
think of nothing but my dear, fond
mother, and her anguish when she
would hear that her only child was
gone.
Higher and more angry! 1 felt my
hands relax and | was just sinking
when suddenly l felt good, sound
vive me, and, looking over my should
er, what was my joy to see short,
stout plank washing up against me; it
had been driven through the opening
without my noticing it,
To clutch it was the work of an in
stant, and the moment l got a firm
hold of it / felt was safe. Pushing it
before me | strnck out, and managed
20, al fx, rA1o h.
where | easily got up. As soon as l
felt my feet on firm footing again fell
on my knees and cried like child. II
must have stayed there some time, for
the first thing that aroused ME was
dash of spray over my head, as if some
wave was making last, angry snatch
their lawful prey. This Weakened me
up to the knowledge that the sooner /
was out of that the better, and 1 pro-
ceeded to climb up the rocks, matter
of no small difficulty, as | was thor
oughly worn out and numbed.
When crawled back to the"camp,"
/ found the boys over a blazing fire,
cooking meat and the fish they had
caught.
They all gave cry of astonishment
as they looked up and saw my pale,
haggard face and dripping clothes, and
commenced volley of questions,
which vainly tried to answer. Ned,
however, took in the situation, and
clapping down a pannican of ale, with
about an ounce of black pepperin it,
on the fire, he quickly had a drink
ready which, am sure, ought to have
revived any one who had only been a
short time drowned, so potent was it.
Thanks to it, the fire, and good din
ner, added to q boys well-known recu-
perative powers, l was soon all right
and told my story.
I found that the boys did not intend
calling me till dinner was ready, as
they feared they might spoil my get
ting a shot. They had no suppOsition
of anything being wrong, only think
ing that l was intrenched in some
quiet spot waiting for ''pot shot, at
rabbit.
II 1 had had to wait for them / fear
they would have found it hard to find
me. After dinner we went to look at
the scene of my adventure. We found
it regular seething caldron, and |
shuddered as saw the waves dashing
about madly from side to side against
the rocks. and thought what would
have been my fate if had been a few
minutes more in the position was in.
There was no sign of the cause of the
adventure, SO / suppose it must either
have been washed out to sea or have
sunk to the bottom. Ned quantity re-
marked, when ] said: II wish knew
the fate of my seal. "''Well, one thing is
certain. he was near putting seal on
your fate"
We got home all right that evening.
and was none the worse for my dip,
but the very first thing l did was to go
to Prof. Brown for swimming lessons.
soon mastered the art under his able
tuition, and though shall never rival
poor Capt. Webb in any of his feats |
will never be caught in such "a hole"
as when | shot my first seal.-Cdpt.
Thomas S. BlacksoeH in Outing.