"Once every year we shut up house and paid a visit to a brother of my father's, who resided by the sea shore, on the eastern coast of our island. This visit was always a source of pleasure to Ned and myself. Living inland, the sight of Old Father Ocean, in calm or in storm, was like the face of a dear old friend which we hail with delight. We usually contrived to make the best of our six weeks' stay, and would crowd as much pleasure as it was possible into every day; no moment hung heavily on our hands, the time passed only too rapidly, so that at the end of each visit we appeared to have been there but three, instead of six weeks.
"Our Uncle was an uncle that would gladden any boy's heart; he delighted to have us staying in the house; he said it made the old place cheery and pleasant, for he had the misfortune to be a bachelor; and with the exception of his old housekeeper—whom we boys half worried to death—and his female servants, he saw no 'women folk,' all the year round, but our mother. He was one of the right sort, always planning pic-nics, fishing and rowing excursions; and kept his purse continually in his hand, ready to tip us handsomely, for he appeared to have an instinct that money burnt a hole in our pockets.
"But it was seldom we were in the house, except at meals and to sleep; the cliffs and beach proved too attractive, and we were soon 'hail well met!' with all the fishermen, and speedily became acquainted with the inside of each cottage, and the respective qualities of each boat, as we were with the humours and dispositions of their several owners. Many were the rows, and sails the fishermen gave us; morning, noon, and night, we were ever welcome.
"One of our chief pleasures was to go out fishing with them in the early mornings. Provided the weather was fine, we would be up, and out, and down on the beach long before any of our uncle's domestics were astir, and as soon as the boatmen appeared with whom we were going, it was in boat, out oars, and away we went, skimming joyously over the waters, which already sparkled with the beams of the rising sun.
"Ah, what happy mornings those were. How joyously we laughed, and joked, and shouted; how full of life and health we were; no sorrow as yet had chilled our hearts, wrinkled our brows, or made our spirits look sadly from out our eyes; no, everything was bright, and tipped with the golden light of the morning of life. All the world lay before us, and the unknown and untried future seemed to beckon us onward, and we were only too eager to follow and see what it had in store.
"It was during one of these visits paid to our uncle, and near to its close, that we lost 'our Ned.' The weather had been unusually fine for September, the sun had been hot and bright, and the sky cloudless. Week after week had glided by, and there had been no rain, or cloud; things inland began to look brown and scorched, while the ground showed great gaps and fissures, as though the earth were thirsty, and was opening its mouth for water. But for a visit to the sea coast the weather could not have been more suitable, at least so Ned and I thought. We had but a week longer to stay, when, one evening, the weather gave unmistakable signs of a change. 'There will be a storm to-night,' said the fishermen, as they hauled their boats up high and dry upon the beach beyond reach of the sea. The sea-gulls flew screaming hither and thither; the wind began a low moaning wail, as of pain, because of the fury gathering within its bosom, and the sea fell with a sullen kind of roar upon the sands, while the clouds gathered darker and blacker along the horizon, presently spreading in thick heavy masses over the face of the sky.
"About six the storm burst in all its fury. I had never witnessed such an one before, and trembled with apprehension as I heard the frantic howling of the wind, and the fearful roaring of the sea, which gathered itself up in mighty waves and dashed against the tall cliffs as if with the intention of washing the whole earth away, added to which the thunder pealed over head, and the livid lightning gleamed and flashed round the sky. 'What a night!' cried our mother. 'God have mercy on our poor men at sea!'
"Ned and myself could not rest in the house; we felt we must be out battling with the storm, and out we accordingly went. It was hard work to keep our feet, the force of the wind was such that, two or three times we were compelled to hold by each other to prevent ourselves from being blown down. As we made our way slowly to the beach, we became aware that something of interest was occurring, for we noticed a cluster of men making frantic gestures, and pointing eagerly seaward. Following with our eyes the direction their hands indicated, we were startled by seeing a large vessel driving rapidly on shore. She was in evident and imminent peril, the wind had torn what canvass she carried into ribbons, while the crew appeared to have lost all control over her movements, the vessel not answering to her helm. We could see some of them cutting away at one of the masts, and others employed in loading a gun, which was presently fired as a signal of distress. We took all this in at a glance, yet not very distinctly, as darkness was settling down over sea and land; but the vivid flashing of the lightning enabled us to obtain glimpses of the state of affairs on board the doomed ship.
"We soon joined the group of fishermen on the beach—among whom were several women with cheeks blanched to a deadly whiteness, and a kind of wild light glowing in their eyes—who were discussing the propriety of launching a boat to aid in rescuing those who, if no help speedily reached them, would in all certainty find a watery grave. The men were divided among themselves, some being for, and some against making the attempt; and words ran high, while gun after gun came booming across the water, each sounding nearer than its predecessor. At length one old boatman shouted: 'It shall never be said I stood by and saw my fellow-creatures drown before my eyes without making an effort to save them. Those who are for trying, follow me!' And away he ran, followed by some three or four others, who with much difficulty launched a boat on the troubled waters, into which they sprang; and seating themselves, each man seized his oar, while the old boatman took the helm, and with a shout from those on the beach, they commenced their dangerous task.
"In the excitement of the moment I had forgotten Ned, and was greatly terrified by seeing him jump into the boat after the men. I shouted to him to come back, but I doubt whether he heard my voice, so fearfully loud roared both wind and sea. Just at that moment my uncle came up and inquired for Ned. I could make no answer, but pointed to the fast receding boat, which at one moment could be discerned riding on the top of a huge wave, and the next hid from sight in its hollow.