OFF SHORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

OFF SHORE.

[M. QUAD, IN DETROIT FREE PRESS.] We have been lying at anchor in fifty feet of water for three long hours, fishing for bass. The land is only a blur low down on the horizon, and the raked eye can just catch the top of the lighthouse. The stretch of water between us and it is fifteen miles.

It is a hot, quiet day, with never a ripple on the water, but the ground swell keeps us moving — rolling—climbing —swashing about as if the cat-i»oab had planned to get rid of mast and booms.

There is something awesome in this mighty power they call the ground swell. It is the ocean's pulse—the heart beats of the mighty Atlantic. There is never a Heck of frothnever a spot of foam. It is a pulsation which raises a wave six feet high to creep along like a mighty serpent— (lark, silent, menacing. Its very stillness is its menace. It conies without foam— without noise, without a purling to catch the listening ear. As it sweeps under us the boat lifts, up—and up —and up—hangs for a moment a3 if poised for flight, and then she drops down into the hollow with a"s—w—ash!'' which rolls the mainboom end under, and throws spray ten feet high. The ocean may b* unruffled, its surface may be like that of a mill pond. But it is never quiet —never at rest. It is a wild beast which may sleep, bub in its slumber there is something which whispers a warning in your car. As I said, we had been fishing for hours, with a clear sky above and a smooth sea beneath, when a shadow fell upon the water. We looked up in amazement. What could it moan?

" lii lines, everybody !" It was the voice of the captain. Shorewards there was a curious look to the sky. There was a. dull, brassy look, soon overspread by a film, and as the sua struck through this it brought out an angry a« e J glare. " Squall coming !" said the captain, as he tugged ab the anchor rope. We could only wait for it. There wasn't a breath of air, and as the swell lifted us ifc seemed to have a more savage grasp and to let go more grudgingly. Six anxious faces looked into that sky and wondered what it would bring. " Now, everybody hold on !" There was a line of foam rushing at us out of the North, and the sky had darkened and dropped until it rested on the sea. There was a moaning, a complaining—a roaring—a rush, and then we got it. The cloud shut down until it seemed as if evening had come, and then it seemed to us as if the boat was lifted out of the water, whirled 'round and 'round three or four times, and then— !

I raised my head to look about me. The ocean was leaping, boiling, frothing, while the wind caught, up groat patches of foam and sent them flying like so many gulls. The captain sat in the stern sheets, the tiller held tightly with both hands, and we were driving before it—driving into the froth and foam with the speed of a, horse fleeing from hungry wolves. For the first half hour the danger seemed to mo to be ahead. After that, as the sea got up and the great white-topped waves came roaring after us, all knew that it lay behind us. At. a sign from tlio captain we reached out for the halyards ami gave her a bit of sail—only a bit, but enough to outrun the seas threatening to brqak aboard. We were driving thus—the wind shrieking like women in terror—the foam-patches flying—the spray dashing over all—when a human cry reached our ears. Standing on our feet and steadying ourselves as best we could, we peered into tho semi-darkness ahead, and just then, as we ran down the steep slope of a billow, wo passed within five feet of an overturned "sharpie" no longer than a common skiff. At the bows, with one arm thrown over the boat and twisted about her painter, and the othor clinging to a woman, whose long hair floated around him and draggled in tho water —was a young man. " Help ! For God's sake !" We heard the shout as we drove by. Wo got one fleeting look and then we were alone. Our captain had seen and hoard. Wo looked at him to see what he would do. He was paler than before and his teeth were hard shut, but he shook his head.

lb was six lives against two. To attempt to bring about in that sea meant death to us. We could only pity them and hope.

An hpur later, when the sky had cleared and the sun shone again, wo beat up against the fresh breeze in hopes to render aid, bat search as We might we found nothing, and by-aud-bye night came and we could do no more.

Lovers they were, who had sailed out of some of the buys and inlets to fish and to chat and eat luncheon together, and the outgoing tide had drifted them foot by foot and they had waited for a breeze to sail back. When the squall came they were doomed. Like a brave man he had made a fight for it, but it was not to be. For just one minute, as we went sweeping down that billow to almost touch him, hope must have welled up in his heart, and his pale lips must have muttered thanks to God as ho tightened his hold on the half-dead burden. ..Then, as we rushed, passed, and left him alone with his despair, ho gave up the fight and death dragged them down. .