The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-05-16
LOST IN A FOG.

When ] was eighteen years Of age
was a strong, handsome girl ardently
fond OF the water. My father was rich.
and during the summers we lived in
his cottage right on the sea-sbore. /
was a capital sailor and had tiny cat
boat OF my own in which ! cruised up
and down the river just back OF our
home the stream being separated by IA
narrow strip Of sand beach from the
ocean.
Careless q cunburn or freckles and
rugged In naity blue flannel sailor
costume I spent most of my spare time
sailing and rowing and fishing. and the
enjoyment and health | got from those
delightful sports did me much good.
But though | caught many fish In the
pretty river | wasn't satisfied. want
cd the bigger ones from the great blue
ocean and | watched, with longing eyes.
the sturdy native fishermen in their
little dories going ont over the high
rolling surf and Returning with their
boats filed with all kinds OF deep sea
monsters. OF course they wouldn't be
bothered with girl on their exciting
content myself on the safe river and
wish ! was a man.
But one day In September. after n
week of wonderfully quiet weather
the ocean became rs calm aud CLASSY
AZ mill pond. Along the beach
where the surf usually ragged and thun-
dered only the faintest. LATEST ripples
slowly Tapped the sand.
A child could almost launch boat
and float on the still. shiny sea where
a mile or less from shore the fishermen
were having royal sport as | saw
through my glass.
The longer | looked the easier IL
seemed for me AT last TO realize by
ever recurring dreams of fishing In
the ocean providing | could get my
small and light boat across the narrow
sand strip into IL as the men did. Soon
the temptation proved irresistible and
regardless OF consequences | deter
mined 10 az least make the effort
Rowing my boat up the river where
| couldn't be seen from the houses, and
getting dozen boys who were there
grabbing. 10 help push, we soon had
the Foam" out of the river. across
the sand and into the dear old ocean.
With Hurah. boys! Good-byeln
was of alone. and after an hours hot
work al The oars. found myself an
'chored and hauling in more big fish
than | had ever dreamed OF. IL was
afternoon and not breath OF air was
stirring
Enthused with the glorious pleasure
! was having. neither cared nor
thought Of anything else. ! saw not
The distant boats making for land,
never noticed the line Of gray sea-fog
creeping up from the eastern horizon
till was enveloped In H. Even then
| only got my waterproof cloak from
my locker put II on and kept fishing.
for the fog was warm and didn't chill
me.
Suddenly Il seemed 20 grow darker
and thicker, and then thought where
was and felt that the sooner | got
safely ashore the better IL would be.
raised the little anchor, got out the
oars and began 10 pull N quickly rs
my tired arms would let me for home
seemed | rowed before | felt alarmed
ut not striking the beach. / had no
compass 20 guide me. and the darkness
WAS rapidly increasing. The sea was
yet quiet, but | expected the turn of
the tide would roughen IT, BY and by
| laid on my oars 90 listen for n sound
from the shore. which was certain
must be near. All. but the fish flop
ping on the bottom OF my boat was as
still a. the tomb and nearly as dark.
gave halloo and another but my
straining ears caught no reply
shouted again aud louder. No response.
and | WAS becoming chilled. II by the
beach. where | knew they must b,
searching for me. | would have been
heard and answered. Then | became
frightened and realized my danger.
WAS on the ocean In tiny boat with.
out cabn--night coming on and lost
lost In the awful blnck sea fog
After a momentary panic grew
calm enough 90 think and take some
observations 20 try and make out Il
possible. my whereabouts. II Their,
had been a sea breeze might have told
the direction of the land but there
wasn't II had known the time oI
tide. Il coald have helped me; but
didn't.
Finally J concluded that In hosting
anchor had missed my bearings and
instead Of pulling toward the shore,
had rowcd out further 20 sea or else II
circles Ike Loot people always wander