The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-11-14

There wero several pieces OF rope In
tho boat and he fastened them 20 his
body so that he could Gse them 70 bind
pieces Of the boat together in case it
should founder. and thus make rude
raft, which would assist him greatly 20
keep aGoat. lie was kept quite busy
bailing out the frail craft with al old
tin pail, which happened 70 be in the
boat
II was about threo o'clock in the aft
ernoon when lac commenced his peril
Gus voyage, and II was with no little
anxiety he saw the sun go down, and
wondered II he should ever see IL rise
again.
It seemed to him that the long weary
hours Of darllnoss would never PASS
but ~ last IL began to groT light in the
cast
lie had eagerly hoped that daylight
would show vessel near him, bot he
vainly scanned the horizon in search OF
one.
The wind veered suddenly after day
light and blew him and his little boat
westward mp the lake.
He was wet 70 tho skin with the fly
ing spray, and the heat Of the sun as IL
rose proved worry welcome TO him.
All day he drove before the wind with
out seeing any ship. and night found
his little ship apparently as sound as
when he embarked in IL.
The second night was one of weary
watching and laboring 70 keep the boat
from swamping.
Tho wind shifted again in the night
and blow from the west driving him
back toward tho east.
Daylight came at last, but found no
ship in sight
The wind began 20 blow hard and
soon had raised TO a perfect gale.
He was almost worn out with fatigue.
exposure and hunger, and he felt that
he would DO unable to hold out much
longer.
Suddenly the little boat, which had
weathcrCd the storm SO long, won't 20
pieces, and no found himself struggling
in the waves.
lio was an expert swimmer, and by
hard work he managed To keep afloat
and lash together two of tho largest
pieces OF tho wrecked craft with tho
ropes he had saved. Clambcring up on
this rude craft, he found 10 his relief
that il would sustain his weight, and
that IL was much easier to cling % IL
than he had supposed II would be.
Life seemed doubly dear to him, now
that its continuance appeared 50 IN
certain, and no determined 10 struggle
- the last with the elements for an ex-
istence.
The afternoon was half gone when his
eyes were gladdened by the sight Of
sail bearing directly toward him from
tho west.
How slowly IL seemed u him the ves-
sci approached, and his mind was flied
with tho fear that she might tack of in
some other direction before no was seen.
But she carne steadily on till within
about half mile, when they saw him.
The ship came as clo5o TO him As II
could, and then lay TO while boat was
lowered.
JOY and hope had taken tho place Of
despair in Harry's heart when he saw
that his rescue was certain
Tho mon soon had him in the boat
with them, ana then the reastlon came
aad he tainted.
Kind hands Efted him 70 the deck Of
the vessel and carried him below, here
he received every attention which the
men could give him. ,
The vessel was bound for Oswego.
only ltteen miles from where they
picked Harry up.
The next morning the ship dropped
anchor close TO the shore, and Harry,
otter bidding his kind sescuers good
bye, went ashore. :.
They had fitted him out with clothes
on the vessel, not so good or SO nice a
cit as those lac was accustomed to wear
ing, but still very acceptable.
He lost no time IN fastening TO tho
depot and taking the first train 10 the
village near where they were camped.
nearly sixty miles away. He reached
there that evening, after an absence Of
three days.
His father who had been telegr-phed
to and had come dos-n, had given his
son up for lost, and was about to return
TO the city TO break the news as gently
as possible to HIS wife.
When Harry came back alive and
well he was welcomed as one returned
from the dead.
He had thought he would treat Bes-
sic little cool for her language OF q
few days before, but when no learned
that she was sick in bed and half
crazed with grief over his supposed
loss, love oycrcame his anger
and he FASTENED at once 70 her side.
| His return did more than all the doctors
| in christendom could have done for her,
| and in a few days she was as we'll ss
over
A month from the day of Harry's
return grand wedding took place at
tho homo of Bessie's parents. In Rocn-
ester, and she became Mrs Harry lie
| Mar.
The lesson Bessie learned in those
few days Of agony was bitter one, but
her whole future life was better for H..
w L. French, in American Tribune.