Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-09-15
The air. which had been war


The air, which had been warm and
balmy, now seemed to grow sharp and
cold, and then the long twilight glow.
faded into the shades Of night. Dimly
in the distance Dane could discern the
snowy hood Of Mount Fairweather
looming to his right, while on his left
lay Skidmore island, encircled with
rows Of floating icerocks, which
CLEANED and sparkled in the moons
rays as she appeared above the hori-
zon.
It was beautiful scene, and this tho
boy dimly realized, even in the midst
of the horrible fate staring him in tbs
face. On and on the iceberg swiftly
sailed, until at length, tired and weary,
the boy must have fallen asleep; only
to awaken with sudden start, to real
ize that he was drifting on an iceberg
on the open sea, surrounded by float
ing masses Of ice that bumped and.
crashed about him with heavy thuds.
But through the long, weary night,
the iceberg drifted steadily on, and
Danes hope that he would be picked
up by some passing steamer began to
grow dim. If he could have steered
the berg into the channels through
which the steamer. had passed on her
way to the bay, he felt there might
have been a chance for life, but once
out on the Pacific ocean, and he knew
there would be no hope. >"E
Suddenly in the dim gray light OF
early dawn he jumped to his feet. A
light! Alight! e~s..s
With eyes almost starting out of his
head, he glared at the faint signal that
cleaned far away. Slowly, slowly the
dim light fickered, and then with
sob Dane saw it was growing larger.
It was ship and she was headed in
his direction. 90. as- .,s.,
Then the boy began to shout with all
his strength, until he was so exhausted
that only hoarse rasping sounds came
from his throat. Atlength, with cry,
he pulled off his coat, and, tearing it
in pieces, with mat oh he found in his
pocket, he set it on fire.
A second later a bright flame shot
up across the water. Will they see his
signal? ..... 49,:
Yes; thank God, for suddenly Dane
saw one of the lee boats sent adrift of
her gripes, and two sailors sprang into
her, lowered to the sea, and now, with
strong, sweeping strokes of the oar,
the little boat shot over the dark
waters toward the boy.
Breathlessly Dane watched the boat;
the ceaseless tapping of the waves
against the iceberg the only sound that
struck his ear And now the boy saw
rope flung far, over the heaving
waters. What was he to do? Swim,
yes; swim for his life. ,..=. z: ~
With a muttered prayer to God to
give him strength Dane sprung into the
sea and disappeared;s but a moment
later the sailors saw him heroically
struggling toward the rope. It was
hard work; dead pull against wind
and tide; for there was a strong sea
on, and the boys strength was weak
ened by his long fast. ..s .:,ls =. =.
But the rope seemed drifting farther
and farther away with the tide. "A
ringing shout Of encouragement from
the sailors reached his ear, and then
again the rope was flung across the
dark waves. -.f, t'~*-i. . .'5
One more struggle, a few more
strokes-and now with benumbed fin
gers and breath coming in choking
gasps, he seized the rope, felt the men
II aulin o. him to4 fha hOat
Two hours later, when he was able
to tell his story, he found he was on
a whaling ship, bound for Alaska; but
the kind captain soon turned the prov
of his vessel and headed for Sitka.
Three days later, Dane, with a cry
of joy, grasped the hand of the pro.
lessor, who, in his delight at seeing the
boy alive, fairly sobbed with joy.
And Harry-well, the lucky rascal
was in the other boat, which managed
to steer clear Of the floating iceberg.
But Dane, poor fellow! had met with
an experience which would last him a
lifetime, as many bright moonlight
night he would awaken, and for a mo-
ment think he was on an iceberg drift
ing on the open sea.
An Acquired Habit.
It is a matter of general knowledge
that the mountain parrot of New Zea-
land, the kea, has acquired the very
\. y L. {.