The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-01-25

udy anu the pOy was BS''ihS iSstiSss'
He longed to get ashore to stretch
his legs" as he termed it.
"What is the matter, father, are you
ill?" he asked, noticing at length that
The keepers face was paler than usual.
81 am afraid your father is going
to have another one of his bad spells"
said his mother, anxiously. "The doc
tor told him 10 take a dose OF that
medicine" she added, nodding towards
bottle that stood on mantle, IF
there were symptoms of another at
tack, but it is all gone and there is no
prospect of getting any more just at
present, fear"
"Well, / don't know" said Ray
thoughtfully. He walked over to Win
dow and looked out. On all sides was a
field of ice.
Job wanted to try to reach shore,
but wouldn't let him." remarked the
keeper.
IL 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"
II don't believe that ice is solid, and if
anyone could get through it l could"
said Ray. Suppose try it,"
No, no; the ice is packed-too tight
ly. l wouldn't hear to it, declared
his father, emphatically.
There goes tug into the harbor.
Look she is making channel" cried
Ray. II can go ashore easy enough
The keeper turned pale and sunk into
a 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
a fit of Sickness" groaned the sufferer,
but"
"Oh! never mind the butts. l am go
ing. Job, you mind the lamps till l
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 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 he had no doubt
that the retm n 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 its full and the ice near
ly stationary. But now the tide hac
turned and was run nSing out. The mo-
tion of the water had started the
great cakes, and the result was that
the channel was entirely oblterated.
The boy was not pulled a quarter of
a mile before the ice began to settle
strength to move it. This work was
fatiguing, and he was wet with per-
spiraton 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 n minute, then picked
up the oars again.
Come, this won't do at ALL" he
said to himself. ~ must do better
than this, or | 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 sprawEng in
the bottom. The bow had struck n
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
italy 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 il 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
cut 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 10 sea, and before long would