Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1892-08-31
STRONG, MANLY HANDS DREW ME mt
THE EOATN

| The BOAT.
Il overheard my husband and our frient
| talking, though they did not intend me t,
hear; they were evidently afraid that w,
were being carried to the dreaded cora
reefs, whose white, sawlike crests coulc
be seen rising here and there above thu
food
"As we drifted near one of those reefs
| that rose higher than the others my hus
band suddenly seized me, and the next
thing knew the boat was abandoned anG
| he and our friend were swimming with me
| to the rocks. How we reached the reef
dc not remember, but do recall that after
! getting there we found flat rock about
four feet square, on which it was difficult
| for two and nearly impossible for three tc
stand. But the confidence that we had
solid earth under our feet made us feel as
if we were reprieved.
Il thought not of myself at this time
but of my little ones at home and of my
dear husband, who was wearing himself
out to save me.
"Clinging to that rock we eagerly peered
through the darkness in the hope of seeing
one of those fishing boats which in the day
time swarm in the waters about Annoy.
"The tide all this time was coming in
and the water every minute rose higher
on that little fiat rock, about which the
foam tipped waves roared like hungry
monsters.
II urged my husband and our friend to
abandon me, for if alone knew they
could swim with the tide to the mainland,
but like brave men they tried to cheer me-
tried though knew they were as hopeless
as myself.
1.-THE tide rose at first to our ankles;
then waves that it was hard to resist
swept over the rock and grew dizzy and
dumb, and there came to me the drowsy
feeling of one who forgets fear in COM
plete exhaustion.
Strong hands held me up, but seemed
to feel that the wind and the water were
stronger. Then, like one rudely aroused
from sleep, seemed to awake. My hus-
band and our friend were shouting. With
out knowing exactly why, lent my shrill
voice to their efforts. The sound of my
own voice calico me back, as it seemed, to
life. Looking out toward the phospho-
resent sea saw something rising and fall
ing on the waves, and to my eager ears
there came the Tapping of a sail.
II felt my husbands arm Tightening
about me and heard him calling: There's
boat to leewardl Shout all togetherl
Shout Tor your livesp
Inspired by a sudden hope we sent up a
loud, simultaneous call; but the boatman
to whom it was directed apparently did
not hear it, for we could not see that he
moved.
Another painful interval of silarce
ensued, with the water steadily rising,
when, in a lull In the storm, we heard the
quick dash OF oarsl It was not the dull
sound of the Chinese paddle, but the good,
strong, united dash of English oars.
1.-THE boat of an English man-of-war,
which had been out watching for snug
glers, was returning, This time our cry
for help was heard, and just as the water
had risen to my waist, strong, manly
hands drew me, fainting and exhausted,
into the boat
"Of our return home l know but little.
Insensibility followed on such q terrible
strain to my nerves. But, thanks to a
gracious Providence, that night held my
children to my heart againl'