AN AGONIZING MOMENT AT SEA.

Captain Rounceville’s vessel was lost in mid-Atlantic, and likewise his wife and his two little children. Captain Rounceville and seven seamen escaped with life, but with little else. A small, rudely-constructed raft was to be their home for eight days. They had neither provisions nor water. They had scarcely any clothing; no one had a coat but the captain. The coat was changing hands all the , time, for the weather was very cold. Whenever a man became exhausted with cold, they put the coat on him and laid him down between two shipmates until the gar ment and their bodies had warmed life into him again. Among the sailors was a Portuguese who knew no English. He seemed to have no thought of his own calamity, but was concerned only about the captain’s bitter loss of his wife and children. By day he would look his dumb compassion in the cap tain’s face, and by night, in the dark ness and the driving spray and rain, he would seek out the captain and try to comfort him with caressing pats on the shoulder. One day, when hunger and thirst were making their sure in. roads upon the men’s strength and spirits, a floating barrel was seen at a distance. It seemed a great find, for doubtless it contained food of some sort. A brave fellow swam to it, and after long and exhausting exertion got it to the raft. It was eagerly opened. It was a barrel of magnesia 1 On the fifth day an onion was spied. A sailor swam off and got it. Although perish ing with hunger, he brought it in its integrity.and placed it into the captain’s hands. The history of the sea teaches that among starving ship-wrecked men selfishness is rare, and a wonder-com pelling magnanimity the rule. The onion was equally divided into eight parts, and eaten with deep thanks givings. On the eighth day a distant ship was sighted. Attempts were made to hoist an oar with Captain Rounce ville’s coat on it for a signal. There were many failures, for the men were but skeletons now, and strengthless. At last success was achieved, but the signal brought no help. The ship faded out of sight and left despair behind her. By-and-bye, another ship appeared, and passed so near that the castaways, every eye eloquent with gratitude, made ready to welcome the boat that would be sent to save them. But this ship also drove on and left these men staring.their un utterable surprise and dismay into each other’s ashen’s faces. Late in the day still another ship came up out of the distance, but the men noted with a pang that her course was one which would not bring her nearer. Their remnant of life was nearly spent; their lips and tongues were swollen, parched, cracked with eight days’ thirst; their bodies starved; here was their last chance gliding relentlessly from them; they would not be alive when the next sun arose. Since a day or two gone by, the men had lost their voices, but now Captain Rounceviile whispered “ Let us pray.” The Portuguese patted him on the shoulder in sign of deep ap proval. All knelt at the base of the oar that was waving the signal coat aloft, and bowed their heads. The sea was tossing; the sun rested, a red, ray less disc, on the sealine in the west. When the men presently raised their heads they would have roared a halle lujah if they had had a voice ; the ship’s sails lay wrinkled and flapping against her masts; she was going about! Here was rescue at last, and in the very last instant of time that was left for it. No,

not rescue yet, only the imminent pros

pect of it. The fed disc sank under the sea, and darkness blotted out the ship. By-and-bye came a pleasant sound—oars moving in a boat’s rol locks. Nearer it came, and nearer, within thirty steps, but nothing visible. Then a deep voice, “Hollo!” The castaways could not answer; their swolletv tongues refused voice. The boat skirted round and round the raft, started away the agony of it !—re turned, rested the oars close at hand, listening no doubt. The deep voice again,- “ Plollo ! where are shipmates?” Captain Rounceville whispered to hi's men, saying, “ Whisper your best, boys! now—all at once !” So they sent out an eight fold whisper in hoarse concert, “Here!” - There was life in it if it succeeded; death if it failed. After that supreme moment Captain Rounce ville was conscious of nothing until he came to himself on board the saving ship. Every word of this story is true. Belgravia.

Important Discovery in Hawke’s Bay. —The Napier correspondent of the Herald , gives an account of some limestone caves, which have been dis covered near Te Atu. They are de scribed as being of magnificent beauty, with stalactites hanging from the roofs and sides. One cave entered was very extensive, and had many lateral cham bers. There were columns strewn about J some whole and some broken, render ing progress difflcqlt. In one place there was a miniature lake surrounded with pale green shrubs. In another place the exploring party came upon a number of petrified bones, some very large, and also three human figures, a man, woman, and child. Near the group, on the opposite side of the cave, there were rude sketches of warfare. The countenances were apparently not of the present race of Maoris. The discovery has been placed in the hands of the Government.

A Higii-rented'Farm. —The Mar quis of Ormonde having determined to let the farm of Coolamore, near Callan, received proposals for its yearly tenancy, comprising 256 acres, at the old rent — viz., 355. 3d. per acre. The proposal of Mr. Timothy Vaughan, of Mullina hone, was accepted, at 500. A Model Woman. —A widow, known as Mrs. Sawir, occupies a tract of 360 acres of prairie land in Kansas. She has dependent upon her for support two sons, whom, she desires to educate so as to fit them for some sphere of usefulness. As a means of accomplish ing her 'purpose, she commenced last year, unaided,Ho clear a portion of her land. This spring she harvested ten acres of wheat of her own ploughing and sowing, and put down twenty acres more. When it is understood that she is not a strong-bodied woman, but on the contrary, rather weak and feeble, the heroic efforts of the woman is wor thy of all praise. When she began her ploughing she was so feeble that she placed an easy chair at the end of her furrow, and was obliged at every second row to stop and rest. The scriptural adage that “ God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb ” has been realized in her case. Her ’ health has gradually improved, the labour proves a benefi cial exercise, and now she offers her services to others, with the hope of im proving her finances. A sheep raiser in the neighbourhood has engaged her to plough ten acres of land, to be paid for in sheep. She is now engaged in the task, and will perform the work without injury to the interests of-her own little farm. How many of such women are there in this world.

- Difficulties have arisen with the Na tives up North, who have been stealing the cattle of the settlers. The latter have gone in lor reprisals, and refuse to restore the bullock team seized from the Maoris. Te Ngakau says that if it is not given up he will drive all the cattle from the run owned by the holder of the team—a settler named Walker. The settler remains firm, and until the matter is settled it is not likely Sir George Grey will meet the Kingites.

THE EVENING ECHO, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1878.



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