Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-08-26

IcnanSe, ana MS motions be-
came jerky and irregular. At
times | thought he was excited.
and attributed his changed
ways to the sudden chill.
While we were sitting i'm one
of the clefts, out of reach of the
water, a dainty boat rounded
point and glided past us. Brown
quickly jumped to his feet and
said How would YOU like To
take boat ride: This little
bay is beautiful.
Is there a boathouse about
here - | inquired, looking
about me.
'Oh. yes, he returned eagerly,
Right ON the pier
That would be pleasant
way of watching the sun set
from the water, said.
We clambered up the rocks
and went to the boathouse,
where we got n boat and rowed
out into the pretty bay. The
sun was setting, and the sha-
ding of the sky was exquisite,
shading from a bright lemon
through reds and puppies to a
misty gray. Presently the big
globe dipped lingeringly be-
hind the distant hills and
gradually sank down. leaving
a ruddy glow behind which
skinned the ripples and shot
streaks of gold through some
black. rolling clouds which
were poking their ominous tops
above the horizon
| was rowing, and Brown sat
in the bow. He said he pre-
ferred the bow, if | did not
mind the added difficulty of
rowing. Sitting that way we
could both see the sunset. For
a long time we said nothing. |
rowed on half lazily. When
the sun had disappeared, |
turned to Brown with a smile.
Are YOU enjoying yourself :
| asked.
It's dreamy, he returned and
looked out to sea. Then he
added quickly: Pull way out.
Let's row far out to sea and
come back by moonlight. The
moon rises early | was more
than pleased. for a moonlight
ride was more than | had hoped
for. SO in spite of the black
clouds which were gathering
fast l rowed on and on. Brown
offered to row once, but | told
him that | was perfectly salts
fled. Pretty soon a breeze
sprung up and ruffied the wa
ter. | looked back again at
Brown and found him eagerly
scanning the horizon. He
started slightly when he saw
me looking at him. Row on "
he said. Row on
His manner was peculiar. |
thought he was nervous. Do
you fear a storm = | asked
without turning my head. Just
then a pretty large wave thump-
ed against the bow. It's get
ting rough, | added. 1t al
ways does after the sun goes
down. he said. Row on
looked up at the sky, out of
which the light was fast fading.
Then | stopped rowing for a
moment. We were almost out
if sight of land. 1t only looked
like a black streak through the
Twilight. The waves had grown
considerably, and | knew that
they, together with the tide,
would soon carry us beyond
sight of land. Then if there
should be no room, and if a
storms hould come up-I found
myself getting anxious.
| I'VE must go back" l said decidedly
and was just going to pick up my oars
and turn about when l felt a heavy
weight plump down upon me and crush
me to the bottom of the boat. One oar
was lifted clear ont of the rowlock and
dropped into the water. In a moment
Browns hands were at my throat and
he was choking me and butting my
head against the boards. | could not
speak. and my senses We're fast leaving
me. l remember his face being close to
mine and his heavy breathing sounding
loud and labored Then the sharp
raised rib Of the boat seemed TO crunch
t,,,S. I
The first thing became aware of was
faint rumbling which came from the
distance, and as l gradually recovered
l saw flashes of lightning spread over
the sky. 4 storm was coming fast.
The boat was rocking violently. and
Brown was bending over me bathing
my face with water. l reached ont my
hand and grasped him.
Don't" he said simply and made me
let GO
tried to get up. but he pushed me
back. "I4ie still. The sea is rough.
The storm came on fa ster and faster
Flash after flash of lightning lighted up
the heaving ocean the thunder grum-
bled, rolled and crashed; the waves
rose to frightful heights and rushed
down upon the little boat with their
tops curling and falling. The boat
would rise on the crest of Il wave and
then take sickening dive down until
il seemed to me that we must surely
reach the bottom. Then the going up
was so sudden and the motion 50 differ
ent that | held my breath. We We're
wet To the skin. for the boat often
plunged right through the top of
wave. We both hung to the seat of the
half sinking boat and waited.
| The storm was short. The thunder
became fainter and fainter, and the
lightning ceased its Zigzag form and
gave out soft. broad glares far off ON
the horizon. The air changed. and it
became cold. do not know what time
of night il was, but il must have been
somewhere near morning when a big
wave dashed us against pile of rocks
and completely shattered the boat. We
were flung out and lodged in large
crevice between two towering rocks.
With what strength we had we climb
ed up the ragged surface of the rocks
till we We're out of reach of the pound
ing waves. and there. i'll cleft, we
shivered till morning.
Ii was not long before the sun put in
a sickly appearance through the riffs of
| the scudding clouds and revealed
long stretch of heaving, muddy billows,
some of which still frothed and foamed
There was stiff, cold wind blowing i'll
from the east. and il made US numb.
We waited till the light got strong, and
then we climbed the Jagged rocks and
found we We're on jutting point of the
mainland in little bay. Far away |
caught the CLEAN from the dome of Bos-
/ tons statehouse and | knew that the