The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-08-23
THE FISHERGIRL

~ N the coast of Normandy,
near Granville, the rise and
! great, being about forty four
feet at spring. tides.
lit comes in very rapidly and in par
ticulsr places may be seen making up
in great wave two or three feet high.
In a book on Normandy the following
adventure is narrated of two English
gentlemen:
They had been out on the sands,
watching the manner in which the
sand cells were caught and examining
the structure OF the rocks, which were
like sponges, when of sudden one OF
them, whose name was Cross, shouted:
Il forgot the tide, and here it comes"
His companion, whose name was
Hope, turned toward the sea and saw
q stream of water running at Il rapid
rate, and replied 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
=
ward the nearest shore, but it was
some time before they reached the
highest point On gaining it 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 fastened on.
but had not gone far when they found
in on1 w
strips, with sheets of water between,
but seeing a girl before them who was
familiar with the beach, they cried:
"What shall we do?" and ran for
ward,
The girl, however, instead of going
toward the shore, was running to
meet them, and almost out of breath,
cried:
1.-The wave. the wavei 1t is com
ing! Turn, turn!-run, or we are lost"
They did turn, and saw out at sea
large wave rolling toward the shore.
Out of breath as they were, they yet
increased their speed as they retraced
their steps toward the rocks they had
lust 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.
Quick quick" said the girl, there
is the passage to cross, and if the sec
ond wave comes we shall be too late"
She ran on for few hundred yards
till she came to a crack in the rock
six or seven feet wide, along which
the water was rushing like mill
sluice.
I'VE are lostw said the girl 81 can
not cross; it will carry me away"
SIS it deep?" said Cross.
Not very" she said-"but it Is too
strong"
Cross lifted the girl in his arms,
plunged into the stream, and though
the water was up to his waist he was
soon across.
His companion followed, and all the
three now stood on the rock.
Come on, come" cried the girl;
ave are nearly safe" and she led the
way to the highest point Of the rocks
and on reaching it cried: 1--WE are safe
now!"
All We're thoughtful for moment,
as they saw the danger which God
had delivered 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 tide|'
said Cross; you must know the coast
well"
Il did not forget it," she replied, but
I feared as You We're strangers, you
would be drowned, and l ran back to
tell you what to do"
"And did you risk your life to save
ours?" said Hope, the tears starting to
his eyes.
Il thought ct any rate I should get
here" she replied, but 1 was very
nearly too late"
Hope took the little girl IN his arms
and kissed her. and said, I'VE owe you
our lives, you brave little maid"
Meanwhile the water was rising rap
Idly. TIL it almost touched their feet.
'.rherc is no fear" said the girl