The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-12
A RESCUE.


distinctly, but I really believe there's a
child floating out to sea IN this freezing
night on that cake of ice.'
We were on deck before either spoke an
other word. The mate pointed out, with
no little difficulty, the cake of ice, floating
of to the Ieeward, and its white, glitter
ing surfao was broken by black spot.
More could not make out.
''Get me the glass, Mr.. Larkin; the
moon will be cut of that cloud in q mo-
ment, and then we can see distinctly
kept my eye on the receding mass of
ice, while the moon was slowly working
her way through a heavy bank of clouds.
The mate stood by with glass. When
the full light fell at last upon the water
with a brilliancy only known in our
northern ATTITUDES, put the glass to my
eye. One glance was enough.
Forward there!'' 1 shouted at the top
of my voice, and with one bound reached
the main hatch and began to clear away
the little cutter which was slowed away in
the ships yawl.
Mr. Larkin had received the glass from
my hand to take a look for himself. MY
God'' he said in a whisper, as he set to
work to aid me in getting out the boat
'Nly God, there are two children on that
cake of icel''
lazily aft. In an incredibly short space Of
time we launched the cutter, into which
Mr.. Larkin and myself jumped, followed
by two men, who took the oars. 1 rugged
the tiller, and the mate sat beside me in
the stern sheets.
'Do you see that cake of ice with some
thing black upon it, lads?'' I cried. ''Pun
me alongside of that and I'll give you a
bottle of rum each tonight and months
extra wages when you are paid off. ="
The men bent to their oars, but their
strokes were uneven and feeble. They
were used up by the hard duty of the pre-
ceding fortnight, and though they did
their best the boat made little more way
than the tide This was a long chase, and
Mr.. Larkin, who was suffering as he saw
how little we gained, cried out: Pull,
lads. I'll double the captains prize. Two
bottles of rum and two months pay. Pull,
lads, for the love of God, pullP'
A convulsive effort at the oars told how
willing the men were to obey, but the
strength of the strong men was gone. One
of the poor fellows washed us twice in re-
covering his oar and then gave out. The
other was nearly as far gone Mr.. Larkin
sprang forward and seized the oar.
''Lie down in the bottom of the boat, -
said he to the man, land, captain, take
the other oar We must row for our
selves. -
I took the second mans place. Larkin
had stripped to his guernsey shirt, and as
he pulled the bow waited for the signal
stroke. 1t came gently, but firmly, and the
next moment we were pulling a long,
steady stroke, gradually increasing in ra
pidfty until the wood seemed to smoke in
the OarIocks. We kept time each by the
long, deep breathing of the other. Such
pull! We bent forward until our faces al
most touched our knees, and then, throw
ing all our strength into the backward
movement, drew on the oar until every
inch of the space covered by the sweep had
been gained. At every stroke the boat shot
ahead like an arrow discharged from
bow. Thus we worked at the oars for Ia
minutes. 1t seemed to me as many hours.
''Are we almost up to it, Mr.. Larkin?'' ]
gasped out.
almost, captain. Don't give up. For
the love of our dear little ones at home
don't give up, captainP'
The oars flashed as the blades turned up
to the moonlight The men who piled
them were fathers and had fathers hearts;
the strength which nerved them at that
moment was more than human.
Suddenly Mr.. Larkin stopped pulling.
and my heart for a moment ceased its
beating, for the terrible thought that he
had given out crossed my mind. But I
was quickly treasured by his voice, 'Gen-
tly, captain, gently-a stroke or two more
there, that will dol" And the next mo-
ment the boats side came in contact with
something, and Larkin sprang from the
boat with his heavy feet upon the ice. !
started up and, calling upon the men to
make fast the boat to the ice, followed.
We ran to the dark spot in the center 81
the mass and found two little boys, the
head of the smaller resting in the bosom
of the larger. Both were fast asleep. The
lethargy which would have been fatal but
for the timely rescue had overcome them.
Mr.. Larkin grasped one of the lads, cut OF
his shoes, tore off his jacket and then,
loosening his own garments to the skin,
he placed the cold child in contact with
his own warm body, carefully wrapping
over him his great coat, which he procured
from the boat. I did the same with the
other child, and we then returned to the
boat, and the men, partially recovered,
pulled slowly back.
The children, as we learned when we
subsequently had the delight of restoring
them to their parents, were playing on the
ice and had venturcd on the cake, which
had damned into the bend of the river ten
miles above New York. a movement of
the tide set the ice in motion, and the lii
tie fellows were borne away on that cold
night and would inevitably have persisted
but for Mr.. 1arkin s espying them as the
ice was sweeping out to sea.
How do you feel?'' said to the mate
the morning after this adventure
"A little stiff in the arms, captain, - the
noble fellow replied, while the big tears
of grateful happiness gushed from his
eyes-''a little stiff in the arms, captain,
but very easy hero, - and he laid his hand
on his manly heart. My quaint, brave
down easterl He who lashes the sea into
fury and lets loose the tempest will care
for theel The storm may rage without
but in thy bosom peace and sunshine abide
Rlways.-Exchange
A Sa5r.4;ve VVae5