The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-01-02

II seemed to start from the ground, and
on the yellow and extended plain took
gigantic proportions. She lay upon one
side, split, broken. showing like the ribs
of an animal her broken bones, her bones
of tarred wood pierced with immense
nails. The sand had invaded her and
held and possessed her, and would never
let her 30. She appeared to have taken
root in the sand. The bow was deeply
imbedded in the soft and trcacherous
bottom, while the stern seemed to throw
against the sky, like u despairing cry for
help, the words Marie Joseph written in
white OH dark ground.
climbed on this corpse of ship on
the lowest side, and, once on deck, went
inside. The sun, entering through the
open portfolios and cracks in her side,
lighteucd sadly those long, dark caverns
filled with broken woodwork.
commenced taking notes upon the
condition of the vessel. l sat upon an
empty. broken barrel and wrote by the
light entering slit, through which
saw the limitlcss extension OF beach. A
shudder. BORN of the cold and solitude,
ran through me from time to tine, and
stopped writing occasionally to listen
to tf.s vague noises OF the wreck. the
noise of tho crabs scratching the coElage
with their crooked claws; of tho numer-
Gus tiny animals of tho sea already de-
vouring this dead body; to the soft and
regular sound of tho ship worm gnawing
the woodwork.
Suddenly / heard voices near me.
started up. thought for an instant !
was in the presence of some drowned
wretch who wanted to tell me of his
death. Iquickly climbed on deck and
saw tall gentleman with three Ladies'.
They were evon more startled than at
seeing me emerge upon the deck Of the
abandoned vessel. Tho youngest Of the
three rushed OF; the others caught their
fathers arm; as to him, he opened his
mouth. tho only Sign Of emotion he
showed. After II second he spoke
You must be the owner of this ship2"
Yes" "Can visit herr yes" He
murmured few words of thanks, and
:eeiny he was looking for place to
climb showed him the easiest, and as
sisted him up. Ho joined me and then
we helped the young girls.
They were charming, particularly the
eldest, blonde of eighteen, as fresh as
n rose; SO delicate, so dainty. Really
English women nre like sea fruits. That
one looked MS il she might have sprung
from the sand, and her hair had retained
its color. They remind one, with their
exquisite freshness, Of delicate pink
shells of mother of pearl, beautiful and
mysterious, born in the depths Of the
ocean.
She spoke French more fuently than
her father and acted as interpreter. ]
had to give the history OF the wreck;
many Of the details l invented as if
had assisted at the catastrophe. Then
the whole family went below. When
they reached the gloomy gallery they
took out their sketch books and began to
draw the scene.
The eldest daughter while working
spoke to me, and / learned that they had
come from Biariitz expressly to see the
wreck. They had none of the English
haughtiness. They We're simple enthu-
siasts; some of those eternal wanderers
with which England covers the globe.
The father. tall and wiry, his red face
framed in white whiskers, u living sane
wich, a slice of ham fashioned into
face between two pads of hair. The
daughters little growing stills, thin also,
except the eldest; pretty all three, par-
ticularly the eldest. She had such
quaint way Of speaking, Of laughing, of
understanding and not understanding,
of raising her eyes to question me, eyes
as blue rs deep water of interrupting
her drawing to gNess, of resuming her
work, of saying yes and no, that could
have staid there forever listening and
looking.
After awhile she exclaimed. II hear
a noise.' listened and distinguished
slight sound, unusual and continuous.
What was it? rose to look through
crack and gave loud cry. Tho sea was
upon rs. In no time we would be sur
rounded. We were ON deck in an in
stant. 1t was too late. The water en-
compassed us and was rushing toward
shore with great rapidity. The English
man wished to rush forward. I held
him back; flight was impossible on ac-
count Of the deep pools that we had to
avoid in coming, and into which we
would probably fall in attempting to re-
turn. 1t was q moment Of horrible ag-
ony. Then the young English girl ex-
claimed, 1--WE are the ones who are
wrecked" wanted to laugh, but was
strangled by fright; cowardly, awfnl
fright, low and treacherous. And this
tide. ! realized all the danger of our
position and wanted to cry for help. To
whom?
The youngest girls covered against
their father, who in CONSERVATION watch
ed the boundless sea around US.
And night was coming as rapidly as
the tide; a heavy, damp darkness. We
remained there half an hour, an hour,
hardly know how long, looking at the
yellow water which thickened and boiled
and played upon the reconquered beach.
One of the girls complained Of the
cold, and we thought we would go in