The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-02-26

500 the tic began to recede. This
boat began to settle down in its bed of
lilies. 1t began to sink slowly, surely
out of sight. She leaned over, reached
far down and eastloose the anchor that
had always chained the boat to the con-
lines Of the well.
And whittier now with its precious
freight Where would the little bull
hide boat drift and drive to now, with its
speechless captain, it's single, silent pas
senger? She did not know. She did
not even dare to guess. She only knew
that he was going away going way
from her forever; and going away alone,
helpless, dying!
She clasped her hands in her despair
and pity. She leaned over, and looked
dow at the dim and fast fading white
object below. Oh, how she repented
that she had in that moment of sudden
impulse cast loose the anchorage. Now
he could never, never come back to her
any more. The boat would be borne far
away under the earth; to where ? She
did not even dream wherel
She sprang to her feet, pressed her two
hands an instant to her throbbing heart,
and then, like a panther, she sprahg
through the lilies, and clinging to the
rocky rim and walls of the well, descended
with a swiftness and precision that startled
and astonished even herself.
She overlook the descending boat as
it bumped and thumped with hollow
thuds against the jutting crags, and set
ting foot IN the PROV settled down to the
shoulders in the softest of skin cushions.
She adjusted the rudder, laying the rope
ready to hand, and then rested. And as
she rested her eyes fell upon the helpless
and pitiful face before her. There was
danger from the rocks. She put out her
long, strong arms, and drew the uncon-
scious form softly to herself. She felt
that his heart still beat. 1t beat very
family; but it was not so far from her
own now.
She reached her right hand over the
side of the boat, bathed the white face in
the cool, deep water and wiped it with
her hair. Then she drew the water-tight
seal skin and sea lion skins close up about
their shoulders, down there in the deepS
of the earth, and rested. She really
rested it seemed for the first time in her
hard, desperate life. How little indeed
had life been to herl How little had she
had of life, of love, if this, with death so
close at hand, was so delicious to herl
Bump and thumb! The light was bright
enough; the boat was strong and secure.
But, OIL how long and continual this per-
pendicular voyage! Where and when
the bottom? the end?
But even as she mentally spoke thus
there was a gasp, a great strong breath, as
if the boat had caught in its breath for a
desperate dash forward; and then, oni
on /! on! She felt that the world was be-
hind her now.
She caught the cord of the helm firmly
in hand, and then proceeded to tighten
the skins close about herself and her
helpless charge. This drew them closer
still together. Her strong and healthful
body warmed his helpless form. Her
sweet breath was in his face. Why
should the man die now2 It was surely
not the time to die now.
Suddenly there was a check in the for
ward flight of the boat. The waters
doomed together and recoiled back. The
boat whirled about and for a moment was
beyond control. Then she gave the keel
up to the eddy, and they spun about in a
circle under the lofty arches of an inn
mems cavern. But this cavern was filling,
fast filling up with the booming, eddying,
infowing waters of the ocean. She could
not see now, as they whirled about, the
place by which they had entered. In a
little time all would be over. True, the
water-tight covering could be closed; but
they could not live long thus. He would
surely die; and then she would not care
to live.
Around and aroundl and aroundi
And now the boat almost struck a low
place in the arch of the cavern. So close
indeed the boat came to the arch or roof
of the cavern that a great white and wide
winged sea bat was brushed off, and went
whirling madly round about, adding its
own dismay and CONSERVATION to that of
the terrified girl in the boat. And then
another white sea bat broke loose; and
then a black sea bat broke loose from the
beetling arch, till all was terror and con-
fusion, as if the waters of the deep had
been broken up.
eve are going to die" cried the girl,
"John Gray, we are going to die u
She drew him closer to her still in her
terror; she looked down into his face.
She had folded him to her heart in that
time of terror, and in that narrow place,
without even knowing it.
Boom and boom came the waters
thrash thrash boom and thunderl The
sea bats struck her face; and one had
fastened in her hair.
"John Grayr' She had bowed her
face ever to his to escape the hideous
creatures about her.
"John Gray, we are going to die and
-and-and | will kiss you as we die to-
gether."
Her lips lay tenderly to his uncon-
scious. lips; and then her great ardent and
impetuous soul came up from out its
hiding place in the corners of her heart;
even as the great sea came up to them
there, booming and laundering, from the
caverns of it's trembling bosom. And the
flower and the perfume of her holy wo-
manhood she laid, as if it were religion,
- ~ - - -