in as he dare, was sailing to and fro waiting for the tide to sweep us out.
" I'm going, Seyton, I cannot stand it any longer- Oh ! my poor mother and sister-God forgive me my sins," faintly said little Harry.
"Hold on a minute for Heaven's sake !" I cried, for I was already within a yard or two of the sinking boy.
"Hold on," thundered the lieutenant from the boat, "we'll be there if we die for it-give way lads, for a life, hurrah !"
But the poor little fellow had held on till nature was completely worn out, and casting a wild look on all around, he faintly ejaculated, " my mother, sister-oh, my God !" and then with a convulsive jerk of his arms sank like lead into the waters. The next moment I would have been by his side. "Give way, give way, give way," roared the lieutenant wildly as he waved on his men. " Come on, for God's sake, come on," I shouted as I dived. But alas ! my search was unsuccessful, and when I rose to the surface, I was far away from the spot where Broughton had disappeared, and nearing with frightful rapidity the monster on the edge of the surf, who was already poising his huge body to turn upon his prey. The boat was struggling in the surf a few fathoms off, but it was yet too distant to promise any effective aid. I looked hurriedly and with agony around, but no other help was nigh. Never shall I forget the emotions of that instant. A cold, dead, sickening sensation came across my heart, my brain reeled, my joints grew weak, and my arms seemed to refuse their duty , as I felt that the most gigantic exertions did not increase the rapidly lessening space between me and the ferocious monster. I could see his vast fins appearing and disappearing just ahead of me, and almost feel the lashing of his huge tail as it beat impatiently against the waters. He was now nearly at my side. I made one last, desperate, but vain effort to buffet the current, and giving up my hopes of this world and all I loved, I breathed a silent prayer for mercy to God, and shut my eyes upon the terrible enemy before me. A moment that seemed years ensued, a moment of torture more horrid than I ever had conceived, when a loud, sharp cry rung out just behind me, and at the same instant a coil of rope fell beside me as a voice called out in broken English, "Hold on !" and clutching the cord mechanically, I felt myself drawn rapidly in among the breakers, while the enormous monster perceiving he was about to be disappointed of his prey, struck the waves wildly with his tail, and dashed like lightning after me. " In with him, hand over hand," shouted a voice in the boat which had so opportunely arrived, and whirled along with inconceivable rapidity, I felt myself jerked into one of the flat-bottomed boats common on the coast
almost as soon as I had grasped the rope. At the same instant a thundering cheer rung from the crew outside the surf-but forgetful of every thing but my wonderful preservation, I fell down on my knees and thanked God that I was alive. When again I looked around, I saw we were riding in upon the surf, and, that the huge monster disappointed of his prey, had suddenly sheered out to sea as we entered the foam of the breakers. We were soon landed safe upon the coast, and I had then time to learn the manner of my deliverance. We had happily been seen, and a boat had put off to rescue us, which had already taken up several of our crew, when they discovered me struggling against the current, and had come at once to my aid, and had I not been so much engaged in endeavoring to save poor Harry, I would have noticed their approach sooner. As it was, only four of our crew were lost. Poor Harry, thank God! was washed on shore that same afternoon, and there was not a dry eye in the ship when they heard of his untimely end. Few of us that would not, at that moment, have died to bring him back to life. Even the old quarter-master wept over his little grave ; and the good chaplain, as he read the service with a faltering voice, watered the grave with his tears. Poor little fellow, they laid him there in his narrow home, far from his land and those he loved, and he too so young that he was fitter to be by his mother's side than buffeting the fearful surf.
WORDS FOR MUSIC . BY WILLIAM WALLACE. OH ! sing to me ! sing to me, love, as of old ; Oh! thus sing the dear song of those years, When the form that we cherished so warmly, was cold In the grave which we wet with our tears. Let the music be sad, like the anthems that sweep From the wind through the funeral leaves As they tremulous hung o'er her beautiful sleep In the light of the lone autumn eves. Dost remember how often her blue-beaming eyes Would so tenderly gaze upon you, And the blue-girded orbs of the glorious skies Were all rival-like looking down, too ? While her low pleasant love-words were heard in the night, Like the whispers of summer-time rillsNow shining afar, and now hid from our sight 'Mid the shade of their wood-covered hills. Like a lute-uttered tone, ah ! too sweet for this earth ; Like a rainbow that sparkles on day But to fade in the moment that ushered its birthOh! thus has she faded away. Then sing to me ! sing to me, love, as of old ; Yes! keep singing the song of those years When the form which we cherished so warmly was cold In the grave that we wet with our tears.
