Year: 1862

1
wounding him pretty severely. Not pau
sing TO look al the mischief, he seized the
unfortunate man, and with almost superhn-
man strength lifted him above the boat rail
ing. The other quickly guessing his mean
| ing, and winding his arms around the neck
of his companion, they fell together in the
boiling flood below. We lowered the life
boats as quickly as possible ropes were
thrown out, and every effort put forth to
save them, but in vain. They arose 10 the
surface of the waller sill locked in each
others arms and theE sank from our view
forever.


The boat now rushed rapidly on, coming
near the frighlfnl rapid, while terror struck
faces were around us, at the thought that no
master hand was near to guide US through
The dark passage below. The scene which
we had just been called TO witness, only
made our situation more terrific, while wild
and fearful eyes around us bespoke the ag-
oniziug apprehensiohs Of The passengers
and crew as We went plunging madly 10
| destruction, scarcely half mile from the
gulf, whose dashing waves we could dis
tincily hear The captain had frankly told
US Of his inability 10 guide US through lie
perilous p assage, while deck, gangway aud
cabin were filed with men, women and
children, some of whom were praying, some
weeping, others intensely crazy, with an
agony loo intense for utterance. Women
eagerly cuiched their children, and hus-
| bands pressed their wives to their bosoms
with only the hope OF dying together. The
/ captain stood al The wheel assisted by enc
OF The passengers, vainly endeavorlng 10
hold out to The last, and guide her until
strained eyes and looks of despair, they
gazed through the almost binding storm
upoo the craggy rocks, lifting high their
gray bare heads out of the waller, aud upon
which they expected every moment to be
dashed in pieces


Just as The frenzy had begun TO calm
down into sober, earnest preparation for
The doom which awaited them, there came
out of the staterooms fair young creature
over whose head scarce sixteen summers
&
and fair as a lilly Of the northern cline
She donned dress of plain, black stuff,
while the coat of one of The deceased pilots
was bnitoued tightly about her delicate
form. Her face was ashy pale as she
mounted the stairway, aud with her hair dis
heveled bv the wind she exclaimed in a
voice which run3 clear as the notes of a
bugte above the storm


81 know something OF this Tachine rapid,
and will use my best endeavors TO guide
you, although We have everything OF wind
and water against as. Let two OF you who
are The strongest and most self possessed,
stand by me al the wheel: while the rest in
woke His aid who ever stileth The tempest,
10 guard our iiie-ladened bark safely through
the troubled waters l'


As if in derision of her matchless cour-
age, the mad waves dashed higher, while
the thunder peaed loud defiance 10 heI
words. With palid face, and lips compress
ed she took her station al the wheel while
Two powerful men stood by TO aid her as
far as possible. With a firm hand sae
raised the glass and swept the scene before
her, then bidding them 10 have courage, the
boat entered upon lis fearfui cour-e, bound
ing onward as if conscious OF the hand iha,
guided It's destiny. Her orders were given
in clear, loud tones, as she stood proudly
erect. her eyes frightened into darker
blue, until one would have fancied her the
ruling spirit of the storm. The water dash
ed against The side of the boat, crowning
her fair head with the glitefing drops; yet
still she stood unheedng, while not an eye
in all that group, but gazed iE mingled awe
and confidence, upon that delicate iorm.-
Once again the spoke of the wheel slipped
from the grasp OF him who held it, but a
fair. jeweed hand arrested ls progress, and
stayed the destruction which Otherwise
would have followed its swerve ftom duly
Onward sped the noble bark, and when
darkness shut The last rock from our sigh
one deafening shout rose high above the
storm for her who had so bravely guided
us through The shadow Of death.


She would receive no thanks foi herself
but bidding US give thanks 10 Him whose
voice ever ruleih The STORM" she retired to
her state room, and was lost 10 view.


Around the cabin table that night about
an hour before we entered the harbor o
Montreal, we learned her history.


She was the daughter OF the rnerchan
who owned The line OF boats, cne OF which
she had just saved from ruin. Her mother
had died when she was a child, and her
father had yielded TO her wishes and allow
ed he- 10 accompany him in the boat o.
which he was captain By degrees she
+ became acquainted with every bend IN ite
beautiful river, while calm and storm alike
brought scenes of beauty 10 her eye. She
was row on her war to visit some friends
, in Quebec where Ler father purposed joining
her to spend the winter.


1aa,Ienan a,t,st ska.ehed Iikensss