Year: 1876

tbe hen.coop, and summoning up all his
strength he struck out for the shore. But
this time the wind and sea were against him,


bearing him past the polnt and the waves
dashed over him more quickly and fiji
rjously than before. He was swept past
the point before he had made half dozen
strokes; he was borne on still struggling
and now on his left lay the rollers which
he had seen. In spite Of all his efforts he
was farther way from the island than when
he had left the hen-coop. Yet all hope
and all life depended upon the issue ofthis
hast effort. The fifteen or twenty minutes
of rest and of bresthing-space which he had
gained had been of immense advantage,
and he struggled with all the force which
could be inspired by the nearness Of safety. !
Yet after ali, human efforts can not with
stand the fury of the elements, and here
against the strong sea the strongest swim
mer could not hopet to contend successfully.


"Never ween was swimmer


In such an evil case" l


He swan toward the shore, but the wind
striking him from one side, and urging on
the sea, drove him sideways. Some pro-
gress was made, but the force of the waters
was fearful, and for every foot tha the
moved forward he was carried six feet to
leeward. He himself saw this, and calcu-


lating his chances he perceived with des,
pair that he has already beyond the first
point, and that at the present rate there
was no possibility Of gaining the farther


Already the waves leaped exultingly
about him, dashing over him now more
wildly. since he was exposed more than
before to their full sweep. Already the
rollers lay close beside him on his left.
Then it seemed as though he would be en-
eulfed. Turning his head backward with


last faint thought Of trying to regain


the hen-coop, so as to prolong life seme-
what, he saw it far out Of his reach. Then
all hope left him.


He was now at the outermost line OF roll
lers. At the moment that he turned his
head a huge wave raised him up and bore
him forward. He struggled still, even IN
that time of despair, and fought with his
enemies. They bore him onward, however,
none the less helplessly, and descending
carried him with them. .,,


But now at last, as he descended with
that wave, hope came back, and all his
despair vanished.


For as the wave flung him downward
his feet touched bottom, and he stood for
moment erect, on solid, hard sand, in Wa
ter that scarcely reached above his knees.
1t was for moment only that ne STOOD,
however. for the sweep of the water bore
him down. and he fell forward. Before he
could regain himself another wave came
and hurled him farther forward.
Bya violent effort he staggered to MS
feet. In an instant he comprehended MS
positioo. At the western end OF the island
it descended gently.into the water, and the
shoal which It formed extended for miles
away. 1t was this shoal that caused the
long rollers that came over them 70 vehe-
mentlv. and in such marked contrast with
the more abrupt waves ofthe sea behind.


In an instant he had comprehended thls'
and had taken his course Of action.


Now he had foothold. Now the ground
beneath lent its aid to his endeavor; ne was
no longer altogether at the mercy OF the
water. He bounded forward toward the
shore in such a direction that ne could ap'
proach it without opposing himself en-.
tirely to the waves. The point tha'
was ont Was now within his reach. The waves
rolled past it, but by moving in an obllque
direction he could gain it;


Again and again the high rollers came E
forward, hurling him up IS they caugn'
him in their embrace, and then casting
him down again. As he was caught up
from the bottom he sustained himself on
the moving mass, and supported himself
on the crest of the wave, but as soon az
his feet touched bottom again ne sprane
forward toward the point which now oe'
cam. every minute more accessible. wave
after wave came, each more furious, each
more ravenous than the preceding, a.
though bounding one another on TO lhaks s
sure Of their prey. But now that the nope
of life was strong, and safety had grown
almost assured, the deathlike weakness
which but shortly before had assalled MIN


gave awav to newborn strength ana uh'
conquerable resolve. .,s
At length he reached place where the
rollers were of less dimensions, lis pro-
gress became more rapid, until at Length
the water became exceedingly snalloT, r ". ",
ing not more than foot In dePsn. iaes' aso
the first point, where the mound W. Sr pro ,ro.
tected it frops the wind and sea. Inns In WA
the cove which he had noticed; inc wa
ter was all white with foam, out on1rec
scarcely any resistance to him. ne na'
but to wade onward to the shore. II,


That shore was at last attalneu. s
staggered up a few PAGES upon samsteS me saney
declivity. and then fell down e1na"S'e0