Year: 1873

these advancing battalions of serried waves for now the bitterness of death was past it's terrors had vanished; I felt 8 profound sadness-that was all.

 How far could climb up these slimy, slippery posts and buttresses, that seemed to mock me with their lying proffers of safety? A couple of cross beams or ties which bound together the lower ends of the piers, afforded at their intersection sort of angular resting place, where could, for time perhaps, find refuge from the waves. This was far below high-water mark, so that to reach 1t would only give me short re- spite from my final agony; but, for all that, I determined to attempt it. As soon as the water covered the little island on which stood, I would try to climb this slippery beam, that rose from the sand, in which it was partly buried, at an an- gle of about forty-fve degrees. P

 With the tide rose the wind; with the wind came rain and fog. The moon, blurred and indistinct, shone faintly for awhile, and then vanished altogether, although her diffused light still made everything darkly visible Soon the waves were dashing at my feet, the sand pulp, beneath them. Now was the time to make my last effort for q little more life. But found that had over rated my own powers. I crawled few feet up the slippery timber; then I fell back. Again tried, and again; but it was of no use. Strength does not come of eager desire to be strong. All that could do was to clasp my arms round the beam, and stand upright, awaiting the coming of the waters.

 The water rose, not gradually, but in pulses. Smaller waves came and went, and left no change of level; but every now and then some heavier, fercer bill low would come in with a devouring sweep, covering me with it's foam and spray, receding again, but at each re- cession leaving a greater depth of sway ing, ,|life-like water. These attacks, like buffets from the hand of some skilled boxer, left me weaker and weaker at every blow. And it is so treacherous, too, the water. It would draw away for a time, leaving me free almost to my knees; and then, as if driven by some sudden impulse, it would gather itself up, and return in great seething swathe of water that would swallow me up from head to foot.

 The end was fast coming now. I had ceased to feel anything. Only dogged determination to stick to life to the last, kept me clinging to my beam.

 But, what was that sound? A long and piercing scream, Q roar, and rum ble, and @ rattle-it was an engine?

 An engine coming along the complet- ed part of the bridge, shrieking and screaming, and dashing out great waits of white steam into the stormy air. The sound gave me fresh life and vigor. Human creatures were within reach, at all events. If could make them hear me, might yet be saved. . ..

 The engine came slowly along, and I heard the voices of men shouting to one another. Why, then, should they not hear me? I tried, too, to shout. but my voice stuck in my throat I couldn', make a sound louder than whisper, nor not with all the goodwill had to shout like an archangel.

 The engine came so near at last that I could see the glow of her fires through the interstices of the flooring of the bridge. And now there were men stand ing with lanterns at the ve:y extremity of the bridge and .still | could not make them hear.

 For an instant the glad thought had struck me that I had been missed, and that these men bad come to look for me; but the next moment I saw the folly of the idea. Days might e1apse before my fate was known. I was not even yet beyond the time I had fixed for reaching home. No ; the men were railway. workmen, perhaps going to @ shift on the bridge; and I couldn't make them hear.

 Suddenly heard sharp quick bark, and then growl as of anger or inquiry, and I was conscious that there was Q dog with the men above. The dog's faculties were keener than the mems j; perhaps it was possible that might make him hear; so I parked, shrill snapping bark, with which I had often deceived my own terrier, Jack. The dog acknowledged the challenge, and replied furiously. Then T heard the voice of man shouting to the dog to be quiet but the dog parked still more furiously, standing at Ehe very verge of the platform, as though it would throw itself over. Then some men came to the edge of the platform too, and peer ed over, and then in my extremity gave cry-a wild, despairing cry. Then huge hoarse wave dashed over me.

 If it had not been for the conscious. ness that help was near, I could not have held on against that furious rush of waters but did hold on, at least I think so and when the wave receded, Q bright dazzling light shone into my eyes, a light from the bridge, where some one was holding what seemed to be portable sun, but that was actually a piece of burning magnesium wire. Then everything appeared in the black est darkness. ..'.' ..' .'.

 "Did you see anything ?" cried voice.

 "I'm not sure; I thought I saw some thing move." ......

 A couple of lamps from the engine were now brought, and placed at the edge of the platform; they lit up the beams and rafters of the bridge, but the light seemed to be lost in the dark waters. An they would never discover me!

 Once more I had strength to cry.

 "Ah it's man down there," heard somebody shout.

 A long plank was run over the gap in the bridge, then another; along the two, portable windlass was quickly taken; bucket descended, in 1t man with a lantern. ,.....

 Hollo, mate P he cried as he caught sight of my white face in the focus of his lamp, "what are you doing down here ?" a' -.t- ~"

 In another moment I was standing i1 safety on the further side of the bridge. I owed my rescue to the unexpected vist of the chief-engineer of the line, who had come down to see with his own eyes the manner in which the bridge behaved in q heavy gale, and had driven with the engine to the farthest access ible point of the platform.

 What a comforting glass of hot brandy-and- that was of which