Connecticut western news., 1892-08-11

1 "'l-I wish 1 could help - chat tered the blue lips of my companion made no reply, but set my teeth hard and urged the skiff more swiftly on its course.
 | "The wind seemed to rise each mo- ment. Great clouts of water splashed over my person and the hiss of the boil ing sea seemed like the mocking gl WI of hungry animal about to spring upon it's prey. I breathed hard. Twas tiring with the awful strain.
 II fain would have called on Dolph, only knew should I relinquish the oars for but one second it would end the struggle. 1 must sit where I was and | hold the nose of the skiff out of the trough of the sea till land was reached | else we were lost. Could I hold out? l This was the supreme question of that terrible moment.
 ''I was wet with precipitation, and my once stalwart frame trembled from my long and unwonted exertion. l soon ! realized with shudder that my strength | was departing. It seemed to me at that moment that there was no possibility of our reaching land again.
 II had on my heavy beaver coat, and a belt strapped about my waist, loaded with hatchet and cartridges. With | these I should stand no show in the | struggle for life in the water which at | that moment seemed inevitable Idared | not drop an oar to. tighten myself. At length looked at my chattering com | panion and bade him remove my belt. He did not move, but seemed frozen in his seat. "sIn heavens namer cried I, take of | this belt, Dolph. It's heavier than so much lead He moved then to obey me, | trembling with the wet and cold. After some difficulty he managed to reach me, and with no little effort succeeded in re- moving my belt, which he laid in the bottom of the boat.
 ''This seemed slight relief, yet, as my strength was fast leaving me, I re a very short time ere the struggle in the cold lake must begin. "'Can you swim, DolphY l asked breathlessly.
 "'Not stroke,' he replied, and then | I realized all the more the dangers of our position. In such a storm it would be impossible to cling long to the boat | when once 1t was overturned, as it must be the instant I should drop the oars. How long could hold out? My hands were blistered and swollen, while my arms trembled from weakness caused | by the terrible strain. @@s.. | ST conoht fho planca pf DOlnhfS aVpS | There was an appeal in them. combined with look of such terror, shall never | forget. He seemed to read my thoughts and tried to appear cheerful and uncon- | cerned. He even tried to strengthen me with words of hope. "'We're gaining all the time,' he said \ in an unsteady voice. Hold out little longer, Jack, and we are safe-just a | little longer.
 .'Just little longer. An! I cannot ! tell you, Jim, what my feelings were at | that moment, when it seemed that the last nerve in my body was strained 10 | its utmost, ready to snap at any instant, while precipitation poured from me in streams. Just little longer! Icould not do it. I felt strangely, horribly | to send new strength into my trembling Il arms. | "'I cannot stand this cried husk- fly. Make ready for the plunge, Dolphr | "'Hold on little longer, Jack. You must! We're almost out of the pillows. Hold fast, hold fast, Jackr almost screamed my frightened companion.
 "I said not word. I could not speak again if 1 would; was too weak for that, and so clung numbly to the ours, and worked them like one in dream. The waste of mad waters seemed like a dim, foggy, roaring Niagara, fast re- ceding in the distance.
 1.-The white face of Dolph grew less distinct each moment; then came a ter rible roar, like the crash of thousand pieces of artillery, and black pail GOV cred the scene. All was over!
 Something binding in its glare next filled my vision. 1t was several mo- ments before I was able to gaze about. I lifted an aching hand and felt beside me. It touched solid earth. I beheld several grim faces and the blaze of a fire. Overhead was tent covering.
 II was on dry land surely. At this moment the face of Dolph bent over me,
 and smile filled his eyes, now no longer
 strained with an awful fear.
 "'You're all right, old fellow he
 said, with hearty laugh. Just as our
 skiff struck the shore you fell over like
 log and I had some trouble getting
 you away from the water. These arc
 fishermen and friends. Yes, the guns
 and ammunition are safe, providing the
 water hasn't spoiled them. Please lie
 still while bring you cup of hot cof
 fec
 ''Ahl that was the happiest moment
 of my life. How soothing was the
 sound of the cracking fire and the smell
 of the hot coffee. Under the combined
 influence of these Irevived and was sooI
 out of danger, although it was a long
 time before recovered fully from thar
 fearful experience. 1 shall not forge
 that ride on Forest lake to my 6s ing
 day."-James Mckinney Merrill in an
 kee Blade.