Adrift in the Wilds | Page 6

indeed
have extended a far greater distance.
For an hour the conflagration raged with apparently unabated violence,
the wreck drifting quite rapidly; but the fire soon tired of its work, large
pieces of burning timber could be seen floating in the water, and finally
the charred hull made a plunge downward into the sea, and our friends
were left alone upon their frail support.
"Now, it's time to decide what we are going to do," said Howard.
"You are right, and what shall it be? Shall we drift about here until
morning, when some vessel will pick us up? I have no doubt this fire
has drawn a half-dozen toward it."
"No; let's make for shore."
"That is the best plan," said Tim.
"But it is a good way off," remarked Howard; "and I have little hope of
reaching it."
"Never mind; it, will keep us busy, and that will make the time pass
faster than if we do nothing but float."
"We may need our strength; but it is the best plan."
"But do we know the direction?"

"I can tell you that," said Elwood; "for the moon was directly over the
shore; so all we've got to do is to aim for the moon."
"Begorrah! we can walk and talk, as the owld lady said when her
husband stopped on the way to the gallows to bid her good-by. So
paddle away!"
It being a warm summer night, the water was quite pleasant, although
our friends were sure to get enough of it long before they could hope to
place their feet upon the earth. Having now an object, they began
working with a will, the boys swimming as lustily as possible straight
for the shore, while Tim assisted materially in pushing forward the
craft.
The intelligent Newfoundland appeared to comprehend what was
wanted, and contributed not a little to the momentum.
"Do you think we are making any progress----"
"O, save me! save me! I'm drowning!"
The voice sounded close by them, and caused an involuntary start from
all three.
"Where is he?" asked Howard, in a terrified whisper.
"There!"
At that moment they caught sight of a man fiercely buffeting the waves,
as he rose on an immense swell, and then sunk down again in the
trough of the sea.
"Can we do anything for him?" asked Elwood. "It's too bad to see the
poor fellow sink when we may save him."
"I'm afeared the owld bench won't bear another hand on it."
But Terror had heard that cry and anticipated the wishes of his friends.
Leaving them with their raft, he struck powerfully out toward the

drowning man, and they both went down in the vast sea chasm together.
When they came in view again upon the crest of the swell, the
Newfoundland had the hair of the man's head in his teeth and had
begun his return. A moment later the gasping man threw out his hands
and caught the settee with such eagerness that it instantly sunk.
"Be careful!" admonished Howard, "or you'll drown us all. One of us
can't swim!"
"Won't your raft bear us?"
"Yes, if you keep only your head above water and bear very lightly
upon it. Don't attempt to rise up."
"All right!"
The buoyant raft came to the surface, and was instantly grasped firmly
but carefully by all. Poor Tim O'Rooney had come very near drowning.
A man when suddenly cast into the water for the first time has been
known to swim long and well; and the Irishman, by the most furious
effort, had saved himself from strangling and sinking, although he had
swallowed a good deal of the nauseating sea-water, and was now
ejecting it.
"Worrah! I took an overdose that time, and it wouldn't sthay on my
stomach!" he said. "I'm thinking there'll be no necessity of me
swallowing any salts for some time to coom, be the towken that I've
enough to last me me life-time."
"We are all right now!" said the stranger. "I can swim, but I was just
about used up when your dog took me in tow. May I inquire who my
friends are?"
Howard gave their names and destination, and he instantly said:
"My name is Manuel Yard, and my place of business is next door to
that of your fathers."

"You know them then."
"I have known them both very well for years, and now that you have
given me your names I remember you both."
After a few more words, our friends recognized him as a tall,
pale-looking man, with whom they had exchanged greetings more than
once on their passage from Panama.
"I've been down to the Isthmus," he added, "and was on my way home
when the steamer took fire."
"Where were you when you heard the