Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-03-22

seen sailor brought 10 by severe rubbing OF
his extremitcs after he had been carried
below supposed to he frozen to death. and
continued this exercise till | could rub 10
longer. Next opened his lips and finding
he wanted some of his front teeth | very
easily poured a dram of brandy into his
mouth Though / preserved my astonish-
ment all this while, | soon discovered myself
working with enthusiasm, with most pas
sionate longing indeed to recover the man,
not only because it pleased me to think of my
being an instrument under God of calling
a human being SO to speak, out of his grave
but because | yearned for a companion-some
ono to address, to tighten the hideous solitude
of my condition, and to assist me in planning
our deliverancc.
| built up a great fire, and with much
trouble, for he was very heavy. disposed him
in such n manner before it that the heat was
reflected all over the front of him from his
head to his feet. ! likewise continued to
chafe his extremities, RENTING this work
only to rest; and finding that the brandy had
stolen down his throat, l poured another
dram in, and then another, till think be had
swallowed pint. This went on for an hour,
during which time he never exhibited the
least signs of life; but on n sudden he sighed
deep; a tremor ran through him; he sighed
DIV
fell to the deck with a blow his lips twitched,
and small CONFUSION of his face compelled
the features into the similitude of n grin
that instantly faded: then he fetched a sue
cession of signs, and opened his eyes full upon
me.
l was warm enough with my work; but
when observed him looking at mo turned
of death like cold, and felt the dow of an
intolerable emotion wet in the palms Of my
hands. There was no speculation i'll his stare
at first-his eyes lay as coldly upon me as
those of a fish; but as life quickened in him
so his understanding awolle; he slightly knit
ted his brows, and very slowly rolled his gaze
Off me to the furnace, and SO over as much of
the cook room as was before him. He then
started as if to sit up, but fell back with
slight groan and looked ct me again.
''What is this!n said he, in French, in
very hollow, feeble voice.
1 knew enough of his language to enable
me to know he spoke French, but th;s was
oil. l could not speak a syllable of that
tongue.
you'll be feeling better presently; you
must not expect your strength to come i'll a
minute said |, taking my chance Of his I'M
derstanding me, and speaking that he might
not think me ghost, for | doubt not l was
talking to a figure tho l had got to consider
as sheerly dead as anybody in a grave yard
was alarming enough: and then, again, there
was the sound of my own voice, which had
not exerted in speech for ages, as it seemed
to me
He faisltly nodded his head, by which I
perceived he understood me, and said very
family in English, but with a true French
Dppppt 'Tbis is n hard he'd sir y
"lll speedily mend that" said l. and at
once fetched mattress from the cabin next
mine; this | placed beside him, and dragged
him on to it, he very weakly assisting !
then brought clothes and rugs to cover him
with, and made him high pillow; and as he
lay close to the furnace he could not have
been snugger had he had a wife to tuck him
up in his own bed.
| was very much excited; my former ter
rOrs had vanished, but my awe continued
great for | felt as if l had wrought mir
ncle, and | trembled as a man would who
surveys some prodigy of his own creation. 1t
was yet to be learned how long he had
been III this condition; but | was perfectly
sure he had formed one of the schooner's peo-
pie; and rs | had guessed her to have been
Acreu upward of fifty year the notion Of that
nan having lain torpid for half century
hid ne under Il perpetual spell of astonish-
nient but there was no more horror in me
nor fright He followed Inc about with his
eyes, but did not offer to speak; perhaps he
could not. put lump OF ice
inro the kettle, and VIXEN the water
boiled made him a pint of steaming
andy bunch which | held to his lips in a
Innikin, while supported his back with my
knee; he supped it slowly and painfully, but
with lIumist a !ya lln relish aul iptCbol ~ cipl