Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-04-21

ing to hold to, and one after another
feH into the seething caldron beneath
into full twenty fathoms of foaming
water, which dashed its spray inward
until it sprinkled the featherv nalms
along the bank hundred feet above
None can live in such a sea as
this muttered John to himself clinton
ing his spar the tighter.
On came another braker as the lion
leaps upon it's prey. The Scraps part
ed as it severed by knife. She Owed
down, and the next wave rolled over
her with Kissing surge of triumph
great sea-chest 1oated out; he grasp
ed II IN the nick of time and spun out
with 1t from the deadly embrasure
winch was the grave of the vessel.
How long John Maddox floated that
horrible night he could not remember,
The tide had set toward the shore
again, and he neared a small inlet.
where the current ran like a. millrace
Dead bodies were strewn along the
beach, and huge, lazy cormorants float
ed in the morning twilight above his
head, looking like specter vampires.
He had almost reached the shore
when voice hailed him:
is it you, Mr. Maddock?"
Yes" replied John, feebly, for he
was Worn out. who are your
Three Of us, sailors all, sir. We
managed to scramble on some rigging
Look out for sharks. They're having
fine time this morning." added the
man, with a groan.
They dragged him from the chest,
fainting with exposure and fatigue.
There stood, or rather knelt, the four
solitary survivors of the wreck of the
Serapis."
Men" said John, when he had re-
covered somewhat; "let us thank God
and commit our comrades to His mec-
cy."
And he repeated the words of resur-
rection faith, mingled with thanks for
their deliverance, with a fervor such
as only men of their experience can
appreciate.
The day had fully dawned. The cast
aways spent it in burying the dead
and building a fire to dry their sodden
garments.
keep sharp lookout for a vessel,
while I go and hoist a signal" said
Maddox.
Hard by the sand stretch where they
landed was small cave in shaly rock.
That night they slept there, barring
it's entrance with timbers. And here
we must leave the four companions
to go back to Devon once more.
The women left weeping on Ply
mouth shores were destined to weep
again. The Scraps never reported at
Calcutta and hope deferred made
many loving hearts sick with appre-
hension. Easter Of 1888 came, but
with it came no joy, rather the con-
firmation of the worst fears.
The captain Of homeward- bound
vessel had sighted some derelict wreck
age of the Scraps. He brought the
news to Plymouth, and the day after
ward, just as the church bells summon
ed the worshipers to the joyful adora-
ton of the Eastertide, all Bidefor1
knew that Esther Wooding had lost
her stalwart, noble sweetheart. Many
an eye was moist and many heart
hot as the thoughts of his kindness
were recalled with gratitude and tears.
Meanwhile, poor Esther, sad with un-
utterable sorrow, wandered down to
the bar and watched the smiling sea,
so treacherous and calm, as though
at any moment it may yield up her
dead.
ooh, John! My own John! Why
had not kept you here! l knew evil
would befall you'll"
So she moaned, while the man of the
wind answered her across the rustling
reeds of Bideford Pool.
Really, darter, beent y'u grivin' tn
much?' said her querulous and way
worn old father. John Maddox is
gone, sure enow, but don't maze your
sell with tr'uble, child"
Truth to tell, the old man had al
ready found Johns successor, did he
dare but name him.
81 want tn see y'u in some good
mans home before I die," he added,
peering up into her face.
Don't talk of dying, father, nor of
my having to leave you. hope both
are equally distant events" replied
Esther, with her sad eyes looking sur
prisedly upon him.
The old man shuffied before that
clear, melancholy gaze, and turned to
some other subject of discussion.
Her womanly instincts had told her
that Ralph Colwell loved her. Ralph
was rich, and though of middle age,
man of goodly presence and fortune.
He had watched Esther's winsome face
and trim figure glide past his Office
and over the bridge with a sigh of
lrecnnciIed disappointment To him the