Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-05-20

with the stars shining and playing In
tia beautiful and familiar sight. But
1t was not the glittering line Of light on
the sea, nor the shining OF the stars.
nor the creeping OF the waves against
my legs. and made me leap to my feet
with something in my throat that
might have been a scream, II 1t had
not frozen before 1t reached my lips.
Floating on the water. straight before
me. in the very center Of the flashing
diamond lights, was spar with body
lashed to 1t. l could not distinguish
whether 1t was man, woman or child
but saw clearly enough that the spar.
as 1t fioated slowly ashore. was being
sucked in the direction Of the sunken
rocks, against which, when 1t reached
them. 1t must surely be dashed to splin-
ters. did not wait to see more. l
ran like mad to the fire, where the two
men were on watch.
Where's the rope?" I cried.
where's the roper"
They stared at me, and thinking l
hs d gone crazed, laid hands on me.
"For the Lords sake, don't stop me-"
L cried. where's the rope? There's
spar in the water, with body lashed
to 1t, and 1t will be dashed to pieces
AGAINST the rocks IL we don't save it.
There isn't a moment to lose"
My earnestness drove the truth into
their souls, and they became as excited
as myself. Without more ado, they
aroused the men who were sleeping,
and we all raced wildly to the beach.
dragging after us the rope which, by
good luck, had been put into the boat
from The Rising Sun; and in less time
than it takes to tell it, was standing
with one end of the rope round my
body and the other end held by my
mates. The next moment l was in the
sea, swimming toward the spar AS
neared 1t, saw by the trailing of the
fair hair in the water that the body
was that of girl; and called out
insansly enough, l must confess, for a
moments reflection must have con-
yinced me that she could not be con-
scious:
Keep up your heart, my dear; keep
up your heart"
or course she did not answer me.
There she lay. motionless. with her
white face tc the moon. The chill of
the water was nothing to the chill that
that stole upon my heart, when, reach
irg the spar. recognized the face of
che child.
my God!' groaned. "'Tis my Bob's
friend, little Pearl!'
l slung the rope round the spar, and
throwing my arm over it. was drawn
ashore by my mates, at safe distance
from the treacherous rocks. Then,
kneeling on the beach, unlashed the
body, and heard my mates asking in
whispers whether she was dead.
Ay, she was dead, poor little darling.
there could be no doubt of it. The
sight OF the dear innocent child lying
on the sand, white and cold and still,
made babies of all, and the tears ran
down our boards.
Come" said one, more practical
than the others, what are we stand
ing like this for? There may still be
life in the little thing. At all events.
we are going to try If there isn't"
1t was like an angels voice speaking
to us. With Pearl in my arms. walked
swiftly to the fire.
Mates" said. as laid her with her
feet to the fire, "if you've never prayed
before, pray now. If VIC can save the
life Of this dear angel. it will surely be
a sign that the Lord will be merciful
to us in other ways. You. Starley,
and you, James Bowden, kneel down