The Coming Wave

aptain 'Siah had always used him well; the rough mate had been kind to him; and the seamen, most of whom, like himself, were farmers' sons, had been friendly du

her by the bolt from the clouds or in the mad waters. It was barely possible that the mate or passen

ile so many stronger men had been suddenly swept away. He dared not believe that any one else had been saved, and he could not but regard himself as a monument of the mercy, as well as of the mys

ouses, but what points of land they marked he did not know. He was on the solid land, and that was the sum total of his information. He was well nigh worn out by the exertions and the excitement of the evening, but, turning his back to the treacherous ocean which had swallowed up all his friends, he walked as rapidly as his strength would admit, in order to warm himself by the e

d begun to blow, and it chilled the wanderer to his very bones. He quickened his steps down the declivity, and soon reached a rude, one-story dwelling, at the door of which he

ere?" ask

shivering with cold, so that h

and I can't let no strangers in at

and I'm really suffering," drawle

of the man who was over at the v

me that those treacherous ledges off High Rock, as the cliff was called, had shattered a good vessel. The woman hastened to the door, and threw it wide open

comfortable room in the house, he required no seco

ting wet don't agree with me," replie

arth was a large cooking-stove, in which the woman immediately lighted a fire. She piled on the dr

self to rock the cradle; "you are wet through to your s

him the climax of earthly joy. The woman laid them on the bed in an adjoining chamber, and then begged him to put them on. He needed no urging, and soon his trembling limbs were encased in the warm, dry clothes

"It will help to warm you up; and I wi

A short time before the stove restored the warmth

he, with a sickly smile.

the woman, as she rocked the cradle till it was a heav

ell you all about

eached the coast of Maine when the woman's husband arrived. Of course he was astonished to find a stranger so comfortably inst

said the woman, as the man of the

wrecked. "I was cook and steward of the b

arter. "Why, I made a voyage to Savannah

broke into two pieces, which rolled ove

o! Was Captain B

p'n 'Siah, as we

erposed John Car

nice a man as ever t

he w

now," sig

he

stiff by the lightning, w

brig struck

sand pieces. When the steering-gear gave out, we couldn't do anything

" It was midnight when he had finished, and the details were discussed for an hour afterwards. Mrs. Carter had brought on more hot tea, with pie and cheese, and other eatables, which the steward had consumed in large quantities, for o

nd he was now anxious to know whether it had escaped serious injury in the storm. He unfolded the oil-cloth before John Carter and his wife. To his g

count of the voyage were gone forever. But there was fifty-two dollars between the leaves of the diary. He had come from home with a good stock of clothing, and had saved nearly all he had earned, includi

t I've had," drawled Harvey, as he opened

oney from a brother sailor who has been wrecked! I don't know where you got such a bad opinion of me

had, and I shall be very much obl

feel right to have you offer it, even

be able to do so. I'm very thankful to you and Mrs. Carter for what you've

done; and we only wish it had

enough to get back there. That's all I want now. If you will tell me how I can get to New York, I'll be moving on no

will be over to-day or to-morrow. I will row you over if you say so;

; but I think I had bett

d from the high lands farther inland. The village was called Rockhaven, and was a place of considerable importance. It had two thousand tons of fishing vessels; but the granite quarries in the vicinity wer

rocks were very attractive to people from the city. The harbor had deep water at any time of tide. For a summer residence, the only disadvantage was the want of suitable hotels or boardi

Cliff House, near the headlong steeps which bounded the village on the west.

r you," said M

posed Harvey Barth, who had a sufficiency of hon

the next day, and return in the afternoon. The steward made himself comfortable, and ate a hearty dinner when it was ready. In the afternoon he borrowed a pen and ink, and began to write out a full account of the wreck of the Waldo. He wrote a large, round han

ent for the doctor, but the patient was not able to leave in the steamer, which went in the afternoon. The landlord's wife nursed him carefully and kindly, and in a week he began to i

r thus occupied, to introduce the m

e hot suns of the West Indies. He had just come down the river from the principal wharf, at the head of which was the fish market-a very important institution, where the product of the sea formed a considerable portion of the food of the people. The boat in which he sailed was an old, black, dingy affair, which

the dingy boat a basket which was heavy enough to give a considerable curve to his spine as he carried it, he climbed up the rocks to the street which extended along

you to-day?" asked Mr. Benni

the young man, as his bronzed

get?" asked

cke

e host, his face in turn

f them,

ear yet. I never knew them to be so sc

tinkers," added Leopold, as he removed the wet rock-weed with which he had c

some extra," said the landlord, as he raised t

e young fisherman, his face glowing with satisfaction. "I brought u

as those are. Two dozen would have been enough; we don'

of the Ledges. I don't know but the sugar and molasses from the brig drew the mac

boats near you?" asked

I didn't expect to find any, but I happened to have my jigs in the boat; and for

t the fish market w

undred and twenty-four at ten cents apiece, and wouldn't take any less. They are scarce, and I saw them selling the

h, his Diar

don't spend it for candy and nonsense. Now go up and see the sick man.

arth's chamber. The sick man did not want anything. He was sitting up in the bed, with his diar

ness, "I have just finished writing up this date; and it contains the whole story

you writing, Mr. Barth

lank leaf in the beginning, and

ry," Leopold read. "I

hat book, poor as I am," added Harvey, as he c

away for you?"

myself," he replied as he proceeded t

room, placing it on some projecting shelf or jamb which he had discovered there. He was very careful of the book, and seemed to be afraid some one might open it while he w