The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-11-22


shire coast. A furious gale from
the northeast was sending the
spray dashing over the cliffs
which grid the shore. Round the har-
Dor of the small fishing town of Port
soy the entire population stood hud-
died together Anxious faces, tear
streaked faces and a few grim, stern
set faces might be seen amid the
throng Sometimes the crowd was
hushed and still; sometimes the silence
gave place to an excited babble of
voices, or was broken by the hysteri-
cal wall of an oyerstrung woman.
Above all sounded the wild shrieking
of the wind and the laundering roar Of
the pillows rs they dashed upon the
outer harbor wall or upon the rocks
around.
The fishing fleet was returning
home. On such a night 1t was impos-
sible for the smacks to live at sea;
there We're but two alternatiyes-to
be wrecked upon the rocks, or to run
the harbor," that is to say, to let the
boat run freely before the storm and
steer straight in through the harbor
mouth. A cool head and steady
hand, with perhaps little luck, meant
safety, a trifing error of judgment,
the miscalculation o. n few feet,
meant almost certain death. 1t was
little wonder that on such a night
mothers, wives, sisters and brothers
strained their anxious eyes to pierce
the twilight which was closing in upon
the tossing sea.
On the top of the outer wall, close
by the harbor mouth, n girl was
crouching. 1t was & wild spot for
any one to choose. Often the spray
dashed over her; the hands with which
she slung to the outer edge of the
wall were blue and numb with cold.
The wind had shaken free her hair,
and it streamed wildly behind her. Yet
the look in her eyes showed that she
felt neither the cold, nor the wet, nor
the wind; her whole soul went forth
eagerly, anxiOusly into the darkness.
Two boats had already arrived in
safety, and now q third sail hove in
sight. For a few moments the girls
heart beat madly, but soon she recog-
nized that it was not the one she
looked for. Still she watched it with
a curious interest as, borne on the
crest of q gigantic wave, it came
rushing swiftly on. Ere long she
could distinguish the aged fisherman
Robert BramOnd, standing calm and
collected at the wheel. His knee eye
was fixed on the harbor mouth, and
his hands held the spokes with a griI
of iron. On rushed the boat will
breathless speed. The crowds on the
shore quiyered with excitement as
mouth. Then a cheer rang through tn,
air as the wheel was whirled rounC
and the boat swung safely into tn,
haven. Ropes were quickly flung on
and made fast, and ere one coult
realize 1t the danger was over.
A strange little scene followed. Ok
Bramond, as he left the wheel, pauset
for moment, dOffed his great SOU
wester, and raising his eyes to heaven
muttered a few words of thanks t
God. The watching crowd was awe
into an impressive silence, which, how
ever, soon gave place to shouts Of we
come and congratulation.
There were two persons by whoI
Inn
one was the girl on the outer wal
who was already staring out agai
over the water; the other was youn
fisherman from the boat which ha
just arrived. AS soon as the boat WI
safely moored he had lept ashor
and, having avoided his relatives an
friends, was already making his wa
round the outer harbor. In a fe
minutes he had clambered up besiC
the girl.
JEAN" he shouted in her ear. "Jea
what are you doing here"
The girl started and looked aroun
"Oh, it's you, Andrew" she So
carelessly.
Eyes" he replied, its me. B
what on earth are you doing out he
on such a night? Why, you might
swept off at any minute"
'Oh, I'm all right" she answere
''I've been here for an hour alread
and I mean to stay until the Darede,
comes home"
tits Madness" he shouted bac
''you're dom no good to any one a
dOin' lot Of harm to yourself. WI
you must be drenched to the SIX
0oT- howa Toe, u4-----a =