The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-02-16

well, L don't Know, said Ray,
thoughtfully. He walked over to a win
dow and looked out. On all sides was a
field of ice.
"Job wanted to. try to reach shore,
but l wouldn't let him." remarked the
keeper.
81 was willing to make the attempt,
though" added the assistant.
'Yes, I know you were, but it is too
late now. It's almost night"
Il don't believe that ice is solid, and if
anyone could get through it could"
said Ray. Suppose try it,"
mo, no; the ice is packed.too tight
ly. ] wouldn't hear to it," declared
his father, emphatically.
There goes a tug into the harbor.
Look! she is making channel" cried
Ray. 81 can go ashore easy enough"
The keeper turned pale and sunk into
chair. He pressed his hand to his
head as if in pain.
There! you have got to have that
medicine, and that's all there is about
it," exclaimed Ray.
81 do feel as if it would save me from
fit of Sickness" groaned the sufferer,
''but-"
"Oh! never mind the butts. l am go
ing. Job, you mind the lamps till
get back. Come and help me get the
boat into the water"
The keeper protested feebly, but Ray
was SO confident that he could reach
shore in safety that he gave in at last.
The boat hung from davits out of the
reach of the waves, but it was easily
lowered into the water and Ray, de-
scending the iron ladder cautiously, let
himself into the light craft. Without
through the cakes of ice until the chan
mel was reached, and then, following in
the wake of the tug, succeeded in reach
ing the wharf.
1t was a hard pull and the boy was
tired. when he made the boat fast, but
he WOULD have time TO rest while get
ting The medicine. and ne had no doubt
that the return trip could be made
without any more difficulty than he
lad experienced in coming ashore.
But in this he was mistaken, as he
soon discovered.
When Ray left the lighthouse the
tide was at its full and the ice near
ly stationary. But now the tide hac
turned and was running out. The mo.
tion of the water had started the
great cakes, and the result was that
the channel was entirely obliterated.
The boy was not pulled a quarter of
q mile before the ice began to settle
in all about him, requiring all his
strength to move it. This work was
fatiguing, and he was wet with per-
spiration, in spite of the cold air, be-
fore he realized it.
To add to the difficulties night wa.
coming on rapidly, and suddenly the
great star of light flashed forth from
the granite tower, warning all vessels
of the dangerous reef. He stopped to
lcok at it for a minute, then picked
up the oars again.
"Come, this won't do at ALL" he
said to himself. 81 must do better
than this, or shall not get home
tonight"
Ahead of him was little space of
what appeared to be clear water. He
bent to the oars, and, with q vigorous
tug, sent the boat spinning ahead. In
another minute he was sprawling in
the bottom. The bow had struck a
piece of ice with terrible force, and a
sharp point had pierced hole through
which thewater was beginning to bub-
BILE. With his handkerchief he par
TALLY stopped the leak, but not en-
tirely, and then tried to row on again.
But this time the boat utterly refused
to move. 1t was fast in the ice All
about him were the ice cakes, driven
together by the action of the tide,
and there was nowhere loophole of
escape. For the first time he realized
his position and sunk back in the boat
in despair.
Half mile away, as near as he
could judge, stood the lighthouse. He
lifted his voice and shouted until he
was hoarse. Then the utter useless
ness of it was apparent, for even if his
father should hear him he could do
nothing. There was no other boat,
and a rescue from that quarter was
out of the question.
'What shall 1 do?" The words that
his thoughts had formed escaped in
voluntarily from his lips, and they al
most startled him, so lonesome did
they seem away out there, amid the
floating ice. He was gradually drift
ing out to sea, and before long would
be on the broad sound. But there
was no help for him, and he found
himself wondering what the end
would be.
Up in the great tower he knew that
his father was at that moment fret
ting about him. He gazed at the
light in silence, and tried to picture
the loved ones and what they were do
ing. Then he found himself shiver-
ing. Obi how cold he was. Qverheat-
ed by his exercise, the freezing wealth
er chilled him to the bones. The wa
ter, too, was washing about the bot
tom of the boat, and he felt around
in the darkness for q tin dipper to
bail. How icy every drop was! His
fingers felt as if they must turn into
icicles, so numb were they.
Suddenly the fog bell in the tower
pealed out. What could it mean? Was
it for him? He smiled grimly, for
what good could it possibly doq Still
it cheered him, for it showed that he
was not forgotten.
Harkl There was a steamer out
there in the sound. Ray gave a little
cry of joy. Why had he not thought