Miles Wallingford | Page 2

one can use such an expression, in which my senses could catch

anything beyond the horrid scene in which I was so closely engaged, I
had heard shrill screams from the lungs of Chloe; but Lucy's voice had
not mingled in the outcry. Even now, as we were raised, or aided, to the
deck, the former stood, with her face glistening with tears, half
convulsed with terror and half expanding with delight, uncertain
whether to laugh or to weep, looking first at her master and then at her
own admirer, until her feelings found a vent in the old exclamation of
"der feller!"
It was fortunate for Andrew Drewett that a man of Post's experience
and steadiness was with us. No sooner was the seemingly lifeless body
on board, than Mr. Hardinge ordered the water-cask to be got out; and
he and Marble would have soon been rolling the poor fellow with all
their might, or holding him up by the heels, under the notion that the
water he had swallowed must be got out of him, before he could again
breathe; but the authority of one so high in the profession soon put a
stop to this. Drewett's wet clothes were immediately removed, blankets
were warmed at the galley, and the most judicious means were resorted
to, in order to restore the circulation. The physician soon detected signs
of life, and, ordering all but one or two assistants to leave the spot, in
ten minutes Drewett was placed in a warm bed, and might be
considered out of danger.
The terrific scene enacted so directly before his eyes, produced an
effect on the _Albon_-ny man, who consented to haul aft his
main-sheet, lower his studding-sail and top-sail, come by the wind,
stand across to the Wallingford, heave-to, and lower a boat. This
occurred just as Drewett was taken below; and, a minute later, old Mrs.
Drewett and her two daughters, Helen and Caroline, were brought
alongside of us. The fears of these tender relatives were allayed by my
report; for, by this time, I could both talk and walk; and Post raised no
objection to their being permitted to go below. I seized that opportunity
to jump down into the sloop's hold, where Neb brought me some dry
clothes; and I was soon in a warm, delightful glow, that contributed in
no small degree to my comfort. So desperate had been my struggles,
however, that it took a good night's rest completely to restore the tone
of my nerves and all my strength. My arrangements were barely

completed, when I was summoned to the cabin.
Grace met me with extended arms. She wept on my bosom for many
minutes. She was dreadfully agitated as it was; though happily she
knew nothing of the cause of Chloe's screams, and of the confusion on
deck, until I was known to be safe. Then Lucy communicated all the
facts to her in as considerate a manner as her own kind and gentle
nature could dictate. I was sent for, as just stated, and caressed like any
other precious thing that its owner had supposed itself about to lose.
We were still in an agitated state, when Mr. Hardinge appeared at the
door of the cabin, with a prayer-book in his hand. He demanded our
attention, all kneeling in both cabins, while the good, simple-minded
old man read some of the collects, the Lord's Prayer, and concluded
with the thanksgiving for "a safe return from sea"! He would have
given us the marriage ceremony itself, before he would have gone out
of the prayer-book for any united worship whatever.
It was impossible not to smile at this last act of pious simplicity, while
it was equally impossible not to be touched with such an evidence of
sincere devotion. The offering had a soothing influence on all our
feelings, and most especially on those of the excited females. As I came
out into the main-cabin, after this act of devotion, the excellent divine
took me in his arms, kissed me just as he had been used to do when a
boy, and blessed me aloud. I confess I was obliged to rush on deck to
conceal my emotion.
In a few minutes I became sufficiently composed to order sail made on
our course, when we followed the Orpheus up the river, soon passing
her, and taking care to give her a wide berth; a precaution I long
regretted not having used at first. As Mrs. Drewett and her two
daughters refused to quit Andrew, we had the whole family added to
our party, as it might be, per force. I confess to having been sufficiently
selfish to complain a little, to myself only, however, at always finding
these people in my way, during the brief intervals