The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-12-06
THE FISHER GIRL.

On the coast of Normandy, near Gran
VILE, the rise and fall of the tide are very
great, being about A feet at spring tides.
It comes in very rapidly and in particu-
lar places may be seen making up In q
great wave two or three feet high. In
book on Normandy the following adven
ture is narrated of two English gentlemen:
They had been out on the sands, watch
ing the manner in which the sand cells
were caught and examining the structure
of the rocks, which were like sponges,
when of q sudden one Of them, whose
name was Cross, shouted:
81 forgot the tide and here 1t comes"
His companion, whose name was Hope,
turned toward the sea and saw q stream
piled quickly:
81 suppose we had better be off,"
"If we can" replied Cross. "By cross-
ing the rocks we may yet be In time"
They began to scramble up the rocks
and walked as fast as they could toward
the nearest shore, but 1t was some time
before they reached the highest point. On
gaining 1t they looked round and saw
that the sand was not yet covered, though
lines Of blue water here and there showed
how fast it was rising They hastened on,
but had not gone far when they found
that the sand was now in narrow strips,
with sheets of water between, but, seeing
q girl before them who was familiar with
the beach, they cried:
"What shall we dor" and ran forward.
The girl, however, instead Of going TO-
ward the shore, was running to meet
them, and almost out Of breath, cried:
'eThe wave the wavel It is comingl
Turn f,,ru-ruu or vvo ara lost fp
They did turn and saw out at sea large
wave rolling toward the shore. Out of
breath, as they we're. they yet increased
their speed as they retraced their steps to-
ward the rocks they had just left. The
little girl passed them and led the way.
The two friends strained every nerve to
keep pace with her, for as they neared the
rock the wave still rolled toward them,
the sand becoming gradually covered.
Their last few steps were knee deep In
water.
"Quickl quicki" said the girl. "There
Is the passage to cross, and If the second
wave comes we shall be too late.''
She ran on for 100 yards till she came
to crack in the rock six or seven feet
wide, along which the water was rushing
like mill sluioe.
1--WE are lostl'' said the girl. II can
not cross. 1t will carry me away"
"Is it deepp" said Cross.
''Not very" she said, "but 1t Is too
| strong"
| Cross lifted the girl in his arms, plung-
| ed into the stream, and, though the water
was up to his waist, he was soon across.
His companion followed, and all tho
three now stood on the rock.
"Come on, come!' cried the girl. 1--WE
are nearly safeP' And she led the way to
the highest point of the rocks and on
reaching 1t cried, I'VE are safe nowP
All were thoughtful for a moment, a.
they saw the danger which God had deliv.
cred them from. Looking round, the sand
was one sheet Of water.
1--WE are quite safe here" said the girl,
"but we shall have to stay three or four
hours before we can go to the shore"
"What made you forget the tidef" said
Cross "You must know the coast we'll.
II did not forget it," she replied, "but
feared, as you were strangers, you would
be drowned, and l ran back to tell you
what to do"
"And did you risk your life to save
oursp' said Hope, the tears starting to his
eyes.
81 thought at any rate should get
here, she replied, ''but was very nearly
too late"
Hope took the little girl in his arms and
kissed her and said, "We owe you our
lives, you brave little maid"
Meanwhile the water was rising rapid
ly, till it almost touched their feet.
"There is no fear" said the girl. "The
points of the rocks are always dry"
"Cold comfort" said Hope, looking at
them, "but what shall we do for our
young friendr' he said to MIR. Cross.
eff we put all the money in our pockets
into q handkerchief and tie 1t round her
neck, it will warm her, warrant, for she
looks cold enough"
One of them had 30 and the other II
francs, and binding them in knot Mr.
!, Hope passed it round her neck.
On receiving 1t she blushed with de-
! light, kissed both their hands and cried:
"How jealous my sister Angela will bs
and how happy my motherP'
Just then q wave rolled past, and the
water began to run along the little plat
form they were sitting upon. They rose
and mounted on the rocky points and had
scarcely reached them when the water wai
, q foot deep where they had been seated.
u Another wave came - the water wa
' within six inches of their feet.
: ut is q terrible high tide, f" said the girl
"but If we hold together we shall not bt
washed away"
. On looking to the shore they saw Z
great many people clustering together or
the nearest point. A faint sound Of cheers
:; was heard, and they could see hats ant
handkerchiefs waved to them.
"The tide has turned" said the girl
y, "They are shouting to cheer u.s."
She was right. In five minutes tn
place was dry.
They had some hours to wait before the,
: = could venture on the sand, and it wa
quite dark before they reached the beach
!, but at length, guided by the lights OF
shore, they gained their own home II
. safety, not unmindful Of him who says II
the proud waves, Hitherto shalt thor
) come and no farther, and here shall tn,
proud waves be staid."
The friends handsomely rewarded tn
/, little fisher girl, whose name was Matilde