The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-30
A Night of Peril

fathers permission to so whaling with
Billy in Capt. Hands good ship, the Die
tatOr
As the fishing season was closing, just
before they turned their faces homewaTd,
the crew obtained permission to go ashore
and make a last hunt for seals
Once ashore, they separated into small
groups, Archie and Billy being in the
small company headed by bluff Bill o
Burnt Bay
Meanwhile a strong wind blew up, and
before they could escape their danger the
men on land found themselves cut off
by huge ice foes from the ship. Worse
than that, Bill and his company we're
on an ice foe, and a desperate time they
had trying to keep up fire all night
long and to warm their bodies over it.
Gradually the storm increased TO the
proportions of a fearful bliZzard-bad
enough for seasoned sailors. but. as it
turned out. almost the death Of poor
Archie, who presently began to feel that
drowsiness which. if yielded to. means
death from freezing.
Walk, walk, Archie, but keep out of
the wind" warned Bill from the fire. So
Archie YEARLY put his body in motion.
and tried 10 keep out of the wind.
But ne forgot at last. and what happen
ed next is told by Norman Duncan in his
book. The adventures Of Billy Top
sail
A mighty gust laid hold on him, car
ried him off his feet and swept him far
out into the darkness. II CHANGED that
Billy Topsan, who had kept an eye on
Archie, caught sight of him as he fell
Archie" he screamed.
Archie had even then been carried out
of sight Billy leaped to his feet and
followed. He gave himself to the same
gust of wind. and. with difficulty keeping
himself upright, was carried along with
K.
Bill grasped the situation in a flash. He
TOO, leaped up, and ran into the storm
Archie, by" he cried. Where is you?
On, where is you. lad?"
Guided BY the Wind.
Billy Topsail was carried swiftly along
by the wind. 1t was clear to him that,
should he diverge from the path of the
gust, not only would he be unable to find
the lost boy. but he himself would be in
a hopeless case.
The wind swept him close upon Archie's
track. but as its force wasted. ever more
slowly. He soon tripped over an obstruc-
ton, and plunged forward on his face.
lie recovered, and crawled back. There
he came upon Archie. lying in a heap,
half covered by a drift Of snow.
BY" Billy shouted, SIS you dead?''
1roNi. ,-reaDaG hi .,,-ce l,rrr rT,a-.s ms
TO light of intelligence in them. Billy
shook him. violently.
wake up he cried: wake up
He lifted Archie to his feet; the lad
was limp as a drunken man
Stand up, BY" he shouted in Arches
ear. Put your arm on my shoulder.
III help you along
Without wasting further words Billy
locked his arms about Arches middle,
lifted him and staggered forward against
the wind
The wind had fallen somewhat and he
made some progress But the burden
was heavy and twice he fell. Then he
heard BiH o Burnt Bays voice. and he
shouted a response, but the wind car
ried the words away. He could hear Bill,
who was to windward, but Bill could not
hear him. So when the call came again
he staggered in that direction.
Oh, Billy. Oh. Archer
The voice was nearer and to the left.
BILLY changed his course The next cry
came from the right again. Then came a
ringing cry near at hand.
"BiHr' screamed Billy.
Here, Where is yOu2"
Bits great body emerged from the
darkness He cried joyfuIly as he rush
ed forward took Archie from Billy's
arms and slung him over his shoulder
Praise God he muttered. tremulOus-
ly when he felt life stirring in the small
body.
But where was the sheltering hummock
and the FIRE?
" 'Tis there said Billy, pointing ahead
But Bill shook his head His homing in
stinct, to which he had trusted his life
in many d fog and night. told him other
wise lie waited until he was persuaded
that his face was turned in the right di-
rection. Then he started off unhesitat-
ingly-
Take hold o. me jacket. by" he said
to Billy. Mind you, stick close by me-
For some time they wandered without
seeing any sign of the hummock Bills
heart sank slower and lower, for he knew
that il they did not soon find shelter
Archie would die in his arms. At last
Bill caught sight of a light-a dull, glow
ing light
We're savedr' he cried
Once in the lee of the hummock they
reused Archie from his stUpor and warm
ed him over the fire. They built another
fire, and between the fires they huddleC
together, with Archie in the middle. Theil
bodies warmed the lad. and he slumbereC
snugly, quietly through the night.
The wind abated as the dawn advanced
light crept over the ice-field and grouJ
began TO signal TO group. They counted
their number; ifty-nine men were there
low who had stTGyed away and beer
lost
A burst of sunshine at last revealed tn,
Dictator, lying in the fee, listed far [,
port.
When it is said that old Capt. Hand
welcomed his crew with open arms ant
embraced Archie-the meanwhile search
ing through all his pockets for 4 hand
kerchief-there remains little to be told
We'll, by" was what he said to Archie
you're back. is vou2"
Safe and sound, cap'n," the boy re
piled YEARLY, and hungry"
Send the cook for'ard with the scot,
roared the captain
Hidden Battles.
The name of a famous battle is hiddel
in each of the following sentences. Sc
If you can find and name each one:
l. The water looks very inviting on
hot entry Iav