The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-07

ward, tossing and piling up. only to dis
appear again instantly. carrying with
it new masses, broken from the field.
The work of disintegration and de-
struction was advancing with speed
that rivaled our own; and beneath our
runners we could feel the heaving,
swaying and throbbing of the impris-
oned waters.
AS the line of hummocks that marked
the reef prolongation of the Point came
in view. we discovered that the long,
narrow foe upon which we were-the
vanishing ice-sheet, washed on the one
hand by the breaking waves of vast
expanse of lake, and on the other by the
waters of the crerdsse that all along had
cut us off from shore-was continuous,
with ice immovably anchored among the
OUTLYING rocks of the shadows. Only
few rods more, and our safety was as
Sured.
The wind. which was blowing in
fierce and fitful gusts, now veered more
to the north, and. concentrating its en-
ergies, swept down in squall of unu-
sual violence. shrouding us in dash Of
rain that obscured all about, catching
the sleigh and whirling it round, there
bv nearly throwing the mare from her
feet and bringing her to full stop. At
the same instant a loud report rent the
air: the ice beneath shook and trembled;
a flock of gulls, appearing from some
unknown quarter, swept overhead in
noisy and discordant flight that seemed
ominous: and as the thick cleared away
it was seen that the foe had parted near
the head of the creUasse, and was already
several yards out in the lake.
Hearts that a little before had been
beating high with hope now sank utter
ly. The Commodore threw off his coat
as if to make a plunge and swim for it,
but the hopelessness and folly of such
procedure caused him to replace it. Our
fate seemed sealed except as aid could
be had from the Point. But just then
grinding sensation told that the foe had
met temporary check, and its direct
movement changed to a circular motion
as it pivoted upon its lower extremity,
caught pl obably by some great rock.
Another gust of the squall still
further reduced the area of our ice-raft,
leaving us upon portion scarce half an
acre in extent; but it also set in motion
vast quantities of loose cakes, sending
them dancing and swirling down the
creoasse Just opposite US, where the
lane was narrowest, they damned and
piled up, momentarily bridging the
chasm. Here offered chance-a bare
chance-that we might escape by
abandoning the pung, and risking our
lives on foot.
But before such thought could be
acted upon, JEANNE" darted forward
with such abrnptness that the pung was
nearly overturned, and the next instans
was in the midst of the heaving, sway
ing mass, over which we were dragged
with furious bangs and jolts. Not once
did she miss her footing; but with I'M
abated speed, leaping from one unstable
foundation to another, on she went, the
occupants of the pung clinging to its
sides with all the energy of fear. A
strip of water. several feet across, gaped
suddenly in her path, but she took it
with a bound that landed her in safety
on the opposite brink.
Not so fortunate was the pung, how
ever. Down it went with great splash,
filed, half turned over, then righted as
it rose to the ice again with terrible
crash, ard went to pieces after the man
ner of the Wonderful One Hoss Shay::n
"All at once and nothing first,
Just as bubbles do when they BURST
Little remains to be told The last
leap took US into the midst of rocks and
powders where the ice was in a meas
ure secure from the effects of the gale.
Three minutes walk brought us to the
line of hummocks that marked the
strand. over which we scrambled, none
the worse for the experience except for
good wetting, some bruises, shaky
knees and irregularly accelerated heart
beats.
We stOrmed the station to the I'M
bounded amazement of it's guardian,
who kindled rousing fire in the berth
room for our benefit, supplied us with
hot coffee and provided US with a
change of garments until our own
proper apparel could be dried. Jean
ME" in the meantime, found snug quar-
tiers in the boat-room below.
Three hours later we set out for home,
wading half-leg deep in slush and
melted snow. Though the hour was
close on to midnight when we arrived
the settlement was yet awake, and our
arrival was the cause of great rejoicing
and jubilation, for we were supposed to
be dead or dying somewhere in mid
lake.-Dr. G. Archie Stockwell in
Youths Companion.