River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-04-04

we-if it gets too rough" she gasped
with dash of SPRAY ~ Ter face.
"Ay, ayI" cried the cap ain, and ht
took of his hat and swung it, h,
scarcely knew why.
OF all the women in Dell Haven
from the eldest to the youngest. Mrs
Swing most feared the sea. To liv,
beside 1t, TO watch its every mood de
lighted her. but TO venture on il fol
pleasure she was never known to do.
A moments peace she never knew
when Richard. her only son. was ex
posed TO the treachery OF the waters
but rather than mar his wild delight il
wind ard waves this unselfish mother
concealed as much as possible her anx.
iety for him.
Richard was not selfish, and had be
imagined what his mother was at that
moment suffering, would have put the
boat about and tied it forever at the
stake rather than cause her this agony
just as the boat got well into the
toll Of the waves the sun arose. shed
ding such brilliance on the waters thai
Mrs Swing, who sat facing it, was
dazzled and well nigh failed to see in
time a gill net into which the boat was
running.
See any boat ahead mother?" ques-
/ toned Richard. you must keep {
good lookout for me. I've got my
ranges right and can fetch the lobster
/ ground every time"
rs it far?" questioned his mother
shudderingly.
Not very; just outside Dull Head.
/ reckon wen fetch it," said the lad,
/ dipping his oars for full stroke and
/ then letting the boat slide up to the
summit of a rolling wave, a trick he
had caught from Captain Hezekiah
Danfroth, the masger boatman OF Dell
Haven.
The wind grew stronger and strong
er, and the waves every moment in
creased in size. Even Richard glanced
sideways more than once with ill-con-
cealed anxiety as the long pillows came
tumbling on, and just then getting a
glimpse of his mothers face beheld it
50 blanched with terror of the sea that
it seemed TO him his mother was no
longer in the boat with him.
Dick, she gasped, as his oar missed
stroke and sent the spray over the
boat, ''Dick. I'm afraid to go on"
Dick glanced backward. He had
pulled about a mile from shore aud
was midway between the two head
lands familiarity spoken of as the Horns.
Dull Head was surrounded by an even
accommodating mass of breakers, and
Bright Head caught the sea on its
PERCEPTIONS sides, sending it backward
in fountains of foam, and all the four
miles that lay between the two points
were rolling miles of pillows.
Sitting with his face landward Rich
ard had not fully felt the danger.
Now, the lad could not repress a
shudder as he said: Il don't believe /
could find the buOys in such a sea, and
nobody could haul in the pots. be-
lieve I'll put about"
"Oh. do o Richard, there comes
an awful one,' and Mrs. Swing Slipped
down from her seat into the bottom of
the boat and hid her face from the on
coming Tave.
Richard gave a mighty pull at the
oars to keep the boat head on, and it
rode that wave in safety only to meet
new ones, into whose depths the tiny
she'll rolled to BE completely hidden
from the sight of the two men who
who were standing out on the Dell
Haven pier.
One was E.zekiah Danforth, the
other was Captain Rose.
why didn't you dun a little COM
mon sense into the woman if she didn't
take it naturally" scolded Captain
DanfOrth, ''Or shut her and the boy up
sOmewheres.
Il told her, but | declare when l
was young could have brought down
them oars in half the time it take 5
Jim to fetch EN-. say, 'Kiah Dan
forth. amt that boat trying to put
abOut2'
1T acts like it. John, but it will get
swampcd just as sure as guns if-nO,
it's going on. There's nothing else to
do. never in all my life saw a time
when there wasn't a sail in sight.
The boats gone! No. There
it comes up again."
Suddenly "A cry for helping hand
was raised among the bystanders, and
willing hearts went forth from the
land.
Every second tells. It's race for
lifcr' called out Captain Danforth,
Jim. you better get in. You re
strong: if one of us fuckers out you
can take hold.
All ready lay the boat, dark green
surf boat, boat that could stand
heavy seas, and the two men and boy
who had nobly volunteered were not
long in starting of.
Success to you. Fetch 'em back
alivcr' called out Captain Rose.
All at once the pier at Dell Haven
seemed thronged with people. The
news had spread that Mrs. Swing and
Richard were out alone on the sea.
As they watched the dim, dark
speck. now rising upon the swelling
waters and as quickly vanishing from
sight. not one of the little thrOng but
knew the danger of the tiny boat.
With breathless eagerness they
watched the surf boat as its two row.
ers stood at the oar urging it onward.
Its down the harbor now. They'r
catching it. It's an awful wind for
june. Do you think they're gaining
on emp That mite of boat will
never live till they get there" were
some of the remarks heard as they
passed on.
As for Captain Rose he went painting
up the hill into the town, climbed into
the bclfry of Dell Haven church, as
far mp as he could go, and watched
through a spy-glass the progress of
the mere speck in the distance and the
toiling helpers so far behind.
After few minutes he realized that
Captain Danforth. although doing his
utmost, could not reach the periled
ones in time TO save them and he said
TO himself
The boy is doing well. but he can't
hold out. | must do it. Captain
Roses little daughter had followed
/ her father into the church and climbed