Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-03
though" added the assisfani.

anyone could get through II could"
said Ray. Suppose try it,"
mo, no; the ice is packed-too tight.
~. L wouldn't hear to it," declared
his father, emphatically.
There goes tug into the hsrbor.
Look! she is making a channel" cried
Ray. Il can go ashore easy enough"
The keeper turned pale and sunk into
o chair. BE pressed his hand to his
head as if in pain.
Therei you have got to have that
medicine, and that's all there is about
it," exclaimed Ray.
II do feel as if it would save me from
mt of sickness" groaned the sufferer,
but"
"Ohi never mind the butts. lam GO
ing. Job, you mind the lamps till 1
| 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
much difficulty he forced his way
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 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 he had no doubt
that the return trip could be made
without any more difficulty than he
had experienced in coming ashore.
But in this he was mistaken, as he
soon discovered.
When Ray left the lighthouse the
| tide was at it's full and the ice near.
| " stationary. But now the tide hac
turned and was running out. The mo-
! ton of the water had started the
| great cakes, and the result was that
the channel was entirely obliterated.
The boy was not pulled 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 was
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. At must do better
than this, or 1 shall not get home
| tonight"
Ahead of him was a little space of
what appeared to be clear water. He
bent to the oars, and, with vigorous
tug, sent the boat spinning ahead. In
another minute he was sprawing in
the bottom. The bow had struck a
| piece of ice with terrible force, and n
sharp point had pierced hole through
which hewater 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 a loophole OF
escape. For the first time he realized
his position and sunk back in the boat
i in despair.
| Half a 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 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 SILVER
ing. Oh! how cold he was, Overhead
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
i1t the darkness for a tin dipper TO
bail. How icy every drop was! His
fingers felt as If they must turn into
icicies, 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 do? Still
it cheered him, for it showed that he
was not forgotten.
Harki There was steamer out
there in the sound. Ray gave little
cry of joy. Why had he not thought
OF it? She was bound into the har-
Dor. Yes, it was a steamer, for he
could hear the sound of her paddle
wheels. Presently they stopped. Was
her captain trying to make out the
1 signal from the HObfk.ausao Tf 90 ~