The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-06-27

me rightfiMhe teeth of the wind and
binding snow. 1t was impossible
to keep that direction for any con-
siderable time, for the wind was
stronger here than in the river and
colder as well.
To get along easier l resorted to an
occasional tack" This was a risky
device, but l had repeated it a good
many times before it occurred to me
that through this repeated altering
of my course / must soon lose my
bearings.
In fact, l had lost them already.
How near might be to the open wa
ter at the mouth of the harbor l had
no means of determining My lee
way, which l had not thought to
take account of, must have been con-
siderable, so that instead of being OPP
posite Pictou l had very probably al
lowed myself to be carried several
points south.
congratulated myself on having
discovered my error so soon. / was
not too late to rectify my course so
as to avoid the danger, and l had no
doubt could do that.
There was, though, one other
ground for apprehension. Up the
harbor for some distance a passage
had been opened by the winter boat
from Prince Edward Island. This,
however, judged to be on the oppo-
site side OF the harbor from where l
then was and might be avoided by
keeping well to the north.
1t was apparent, therefore, that l
must shift my course farther north.
The wind guided me in this. Pleased
to think that l had been careful to
note its direction before setting out,
l started off once more and took a
course couple of points north of the
wind.
soon realized that a good hours
work was cut out for me. The snow
was so deep as to make progress
matter of difficulty, while the wind
came in gusts that took my breath.
There was nothing else to do, though,
but to set my teeth and struggle on.
Tired out from the eXertion of the
afternoon, and still more by that of
the last hour and half, 1 felt a great
WEAKNESS stealing over me, and now
and then would stumble in the snow,
which had drifted in heaps over the
crevices of the ice.
could not tell how far had gone
on in this condition, when suddenly l
felt sensation as of the ice giving
way under my feet. 1t was not i'm
agination, but reality. In the same
instant / was struggling in the cold
water of the harbor, clutching with
my mittened hands a piece of float
ing ice which seemed to have been
broken away at the moment when l
went down.
Terror seized me. l knew that
much swimming in that freezing wa
ter was impossible. Besides where
should swim tol
Fortunately the block of ice to
which l chung was pretty firm. To
raise myself upon it was my immedi-
ate thought. My skates impeded
me. Those were moments of an
guish, but after a terrible struggle l
succeeded in dragging myself out of
the water upon the slab of ice.
There was no longer any doubt in
my mind as to where was. I had
allowed myself to be carried out of
my way into the open sea near the
mouth of the harbor. My situation
was horrible to think Of The frag
ment of ice upon which l found tenn
porary safety was being carried away
from the main body, and l was NOV
ing out with the tide into Northum-
berland strait-so l supposed.
To shout loudly for help could
not, benumbed as l was with cold.
1t would be useless anyway, for
there was no possible chance Of be-
ing heard My situation was utterly
desperate. was SO paralyzed with
cold that l could hardly move mus
Gle. My legs were numb, and the up
per part Of my body chilled to that
degree that fancied myself burning
hot. My senses, instead of being
quickened to action, were overpow.
cred. Still I was conscious that !
ought to try to move my limbs, and
by great effort / raised myself on
my knees and began slapping my
body and limbs in order to excite
some circulation.
Gradually l recovered the partial
use of my legs, and felt safe to stand
erect on the floating ice My skates,
which were of no further use, tore
from my feet and carelessly allowed
to tumble into the water.
How far l had f1oated I could not
tell. The tide was flowing out rap
idly, and no doubt / should soon be
outside the harbor Horrible fate
that threatened Even though I
should not be carried to sea, ! must
soon succumb to cold and exhaustion.
Already all my power of will was
strained to keep hold of conscious
ness.