Newton Forster | Page 5

was changed. The roaring of the wind and the hoarse beating
of the waves upon the streaming rocks deafened the ears of Edward
Forster. The rain and spray were hurled in his face, as, with both hands,
he secured his hat upon his head; and the night was so intensely dark
that but occasionally he could distinguish the broad belt of foam with
which the coast was lined. Still Forster forced his way towards the
beach, which it is now requisite that we should more particularly
describe.
As we before observed, the cottage was built upon a high land, which
terminated in a precipitous cliff about two hundred yards distant, and
running in a direct line to the westward. To the northward the coast for
miles was one continued line of rocky cliffs, affording no chance of life
to those who might be dashed upon them; but to the southward of the
cliff which formed the promontory opposite to Forster's cottage, and
which terminated the range, there was a deep indent in the line of coast,
forming a sandy and nearly land-locked bay, small indeed, but so
sheltered that any vessel which could run in might remain there in
safety until the gale was spent. Its only occupant was a fisherman, who,

with his family, lived in a small cottage on the beach. He was an ally of
Forster, who had entrusted to his charge a skiff, in which, during the
summer months, he often whiled away his time. It was to this cottage
that Forster bent his way, and loudly knocked when he arrived.
"Robertson--I say, Robertson," called Forster, at the full compass of his
voice.
"He is not here, Mr Forster," answered Jane, the wife of the fisherman;
"he is out, looking for the vessel."
"Which way did he go?"
Before an answer could be returned, Robertson himself appeared. "I'm
here, Mr Forster," said he, taking off his fur cap, and squeezing out
with both hands the water with which it was loaded; "but I can't see the
vessel."
"Still, by the report of the gun, she must be close to the shore. Get some
fagots out from the shed, and light as large a fire as you can: don't spare
them, my good fellow; I will pay you."
"That I'll do, sir, and without pay; I only hope that they'll understand
the signal, and lay her on shore in the cove. There's another gun!"
This second report, so much louder than the former, indicated that the
vessel had rapidly neared the land; and the direction from which the
report came proved that she must be close to the promontory of rocks.
"Be smart, my dear fellow, be smart," cried Forster. "I will go up to the
cliff, and try if I can make her out;" and the parties separated upon their
mutual work of sympathy and good will.
It was not without danger, as well as difficulty, that Forster succeeded
in his attempt; and when he arrived at the summit, a violent gust of
wind would have thrown him off his legs, had he not sunk down upon
his knees and clung to the herbage, losing his hat, which was borne far
away to leeward. In this position, drenched with the rain and shivering

with the cold, he remained some minutes, attempting in vain, with
straining eyes, to pierce through the gloom of the night, when a flash of
lightning, which darted from the zenith, and continued its eccentric
career until it was lost behind the horizon, discovered to him the object
of his research. But a few moments did he behold it, and then, from the
sudden contrast, a film appeared to swim over his aching eyes, and all
was more intensely, more horribly dark than before; but to the eye of a
seafaring man this short view was sufficient. He perceived that it was a
large ship, within a quarter of a mile of the land, pressed gunnel under
with her reefed courses, chopping through the heavy seas--now
pointing her bowsprit to the heavens, as she rose over the impeding
swell; now plunging deep into the trough encircled by the foam raised
by her own exertions, like some huge monster of the deep, struggling in
her toils and lashing the seas around in her violent efforts to escape.
The fire burnt up fiercely in the cove, in defiance of the rain and wind,
which, after in vain attempting to destroy it in its birth, now seemed to
assist it with their violence.
"She may yet be saved," thought Forster, "if she will only carry on.
Two cables' length more, and she will be clear of the point."
Again and again was the vessel momentarily presented to his view, as
the forked lightning darted in every quarter of