Page:The Lady's Book Vol. V.pdf/97

 THE DARK DAY. 93

deep water. I could see that all were engaged in rescuing either property or the bodies of human beings. I saw various articles, shooting by me, trunks, barrels, bales, and the numerous fixtures of a merchant ship; they were beyond my reach, and altogether unworthy a personal risk to rescue them. At length, an object which, until within a few yards of me, had been invisible, arrested my attention. It was a part of the upper works of the ship, with some human being clinging to it with a powerful grasp, but apparently totally insensible of any help being near. I had with me a small rope of considerable length, one end of which was made fast round my body, and to the other was attached a large hook; I coiled it instantly in my hand and threw it with a force and precision, worthy the objects at which I directed it. The rope fell over the wood at which I aimed, and in drawing it towards me, the hook caught as I desired. With every care I pulled gently but steadily, and was ready to lay my hand upon the body of the sufferer, when the strong current against which I had dragged both objects, swept the wretched being from the railing, and left my hook entangled in the wood. The current of the channel, as I mentioned, set directly in, towards the point of land I occupied, and it swept out with an equal force; so that I could gain nothing by pursuing the object along the shore.

“One only hope remained, that I could re coil my rope and throw it, before the tide had swept the being beyond its length. It was the work of a second; yet, in that second what crowds of thoughts rushed upon my mind; the heavy hook might not reach, or if it should, it might not take a hold, and no second effort could be made it might too, strike the head, when its blow would finish what the storms and waves had begun; there was, however, a hope, and I gathered up my strength for one great effort, and cast off the coil with such a force, that it almost drew me after it. 6 May God direct it, “said I, in the fervour of my zeal. I could discover, before the rope had uncoiled, the body sink in the trough of a sea it was a sight of despair— ' ' tis too late, “said I; but the wave as it caused the head to fall, flung up into the operation of the wind, the border of a outer garment, the hook caught it I will not attempt to describe what I felt as I drew towards me the object of my labours, and trembled lest every surge should break the hold of my hook; at last the body was within my grasp. I dragged it from the waters, and discovered, as I laid it upon the snow, that it was the delicate form of a female: insensible, indeed, but not, as I believed, entirely lifeless. To have staid to rescue others, would have been to insure the death of the being before me. My outer garment was completely wet, I threw off that, and taking the next, wrapped it around the female, then lifting her in my arms, I bore her towards the nearest habitation, then far distant.

“Before I had proceeded many rods, I discovered several of the inhabitants coming down the beach; they had taken the precaution to

drive a cart with them: I laid my charge in that, and we returned as rapidly as possible towards a house at the head of the beach. Notwithstanding the cold of the morning, the gentle motion of the cart, and the additional warmth imparted by the garments of the other persons, induced many symptoms of returning animation in the female, before we reached the house. When, however, she was laid in a warm bed, and suitable restoratives had been administered by the females of the family, a task to which they were by no means strangers, and upon the discharge of which they entered with an alacrity, that bespoke the native goodness of their heart; their new patient gave evidence of a sensibility to their kindness, and I returned with the men to the beach. Several bodies had been thrown on shore, and others were seen drifting up the channel. None had exhibited any signs of life, and as almost all of them were frozen, attempts at resuscitation were deemed unnecessary.

“While a party was detailed to collect such articles of the wreck and the scattered cargo as should be washed upon the beach, others gathered the dead bodies, laid them in the cart, and attended them to the Court House in Plymouth; they were afterwards buried. No stone, however, was placed over the remains of these unfortunate beings, as has been over those who have subsequently shared the same fate.

“Many days passed before the female, the only person saved from the vessel, recovered sufficient strength to inquire, or rather to be suffered to inquire into her own situation, and after the fate of those who were her companions in the shipwreck with all the delicacy that such a case required, she was informed of the fate of her companions; a feeling of agony was evident upon her countenance. She raised her head, and enquired whether an aged man with a beard, had been discovered; none such had been seen she dropped her head upon her breast, and repeated some words, unintelligible to the company.

“It was sometime after the conference to which I have referred, that I ventured to enter the room which the stranger occupied, although I had been a daily visitant at the house since the morning of the shipwreck. There was, I felt, an indelicacy in my visiting her; she had been informed of my agency in her rescue; it was possible that in her weak state, a call, on my part, might have induced an exercise of strength to express her gratitude, by no means friendly to health. After the delay of more than a week, I entered the chamber; it was darkened, and I could only distinguish the object of my visit, from the other females in the room, by her occupying an easy chair, and being wrapped in a loose dress. She had been informed of my name and my good fortune, in rendering her a service; she rose with difficulty, as I approached her, and walked very feebly towards me; as we met, she extended her hands and grasped mine with whatever strength she possessed. Tears were in her eyes I saw them glisten in the light of the fire, and I felt them drop warm on my hand; at