TERRIBLE storm, raged on the Irish coast, and one of the oldest inhabitants of T., a small fishing village, could not remember one like it. In the imposing castle, that was built on the rocks, the inmates seemed to feel no inconvenience from the storm. A flood of light poured from the windows, and inside, it was pleasant and comfortable.
A hoy came running straight up the entrance of the castle. His cap was pulled down over his ears, and his hands were held deep in his pockets, and so the storm did not trouble him.
Just then the large dinner-bell ring and he hurried in to get ready. When he entered the dining-room, the whole family were seated at the table, and he excused himself for being late.
“That poor boy, Robert Garth, fell this afternoon and hurt himself badly,” he said, “and I took him home to his mother, as he was screaming with pain.”
“Poor boy,” answered his older brother, “that is too hard for him, especially as his father is expected home today from a long voyage. The “Storm-bird,” the boat in which he is, ought to arrive tonight.”
When the meal was over, William, as the young inmate of the castle was cancel, went once more to see how Robert was getting on, and took with him a picture book and some candy that he had promised him.
In spite of the heavy storm, he went no his way cheerfully, following the curve of the hay, that was unapproachable from the top, and could only be reached down below when the tide was out.
With some surprise he heard beneath him the murmur of voices. Who could be there in such rough weather as this?
While he was still wondering, he noticed the splashing of oars, and saw that a boat was pushed off from the shore and went off. Suddenly he perceived at a little distance that a red light was hoisted up on the mast of another boat; the first one returned soon and the men pulled it up on the strand and everything was quiet again.
“What does that red light mean?” thought William, as he continued on his way, “and what are those people doing so late in the day in this out-of-the-way bay?’
Finally, he reached the small house in which Robert and his mother lived. After hearing that Robert was sleeping calmly, he asked the woman if she knew what the red light was for.
“There yonder, you mean? Well, that is the lighthouse in the harbor. By that lighthouse many a boat is saved from certain destruction.”
“But we can’t see the harbor from here,” said William, “the light that I mean is just down here, under the cliffs.”
Jane Garth let her sewing, that she had in her hands, fall and with a look of terror, and a voice scarcely to be heard, said, “O, that is surely the work of those wicked strand-robbers. There is a band of them here in the neighborhood, and they have certainly heard that the “Storm-bird” is due in the harbor this evening. What shall we do?”
“What do you mean? What is their idea?” asked William in astonishment.
“Well, just outside the bay there is a reef of sunken rocks, and they have now hung out a false light to mislead the crew. The “Storm-bird has a rich cargo, that the wretches know well. My poor husband is un board, and, several others from this village. O, it is terrible! they must all be lost,” moaned the woman, as she walked around the room in despair, “Could we not get a boat and take away that wretched light?” cried out William.
He was bitterly disappointed when he heard that it would take two hours, at least, for a boat from the village to reach the place where the lantern was. And perhaps at that moment the “Storm-bird” was steering for that light.
Just for a few moments the boy stood lost in thought; then as if moved by a sudden inspiration, he left the house hurriedly, went quickly back to the spot where a little while before he stood looking down at the little bay. He saw directly the large lantern with its sinister red light. Then he thought of the many human lives, doomed to destruction, if the boat should be stranded on the rocks, while the wicked men whose voices reached his ear now and then, were greedily watching out for their rich booty. Then he made his decision.
June Garth, who had followed him, came just in time to see the boy descending, the steep and sharp wall of rock. With great grace, springing from one ledge to the other now holding on to some grass, then seeking support in the crevices of the rocks, he at last fell from a height of about ten feet and found himself now at the foot of the rocks, bloody, bruised and torso. While he stood a moment to get breath, he saw at the other end of the bay a group of men of very forbidding aspect, gathered round a large fire. One of them standing at a little distance held a telescope through which he looked, and then William, following with his eye in the same direction, saw to his horror a far distant light, that it seemed to him was making straight for the treacherous gleam of the lantern.
There was no time to be lost, and yet, what could William do? The boat of the strand-robbers lay quite close to their hiding place, even if he had it, it was too large for his strength. It was quite clear that swimming was the only means in his power that gave him any chance of success, and, filled with the thought of so many lives that he hoped to save, and thinking little of the one that he placed in the balance, the brave boy threw himself in the foaming surf, with the intention of reaching the misleading light. He put all his strength in the struggle against wind and waves, imploring God to help him.
When at last he reached the boat that lay at anchor, he was nearly exhausted. His repeated efforts to climb up the side of the vessel were rendered fruitless by the continual rolling of the waves, so that at last he was on the point of giving up. But just then he again caught sight of the light of the approaching boat, and with a fervent prayer for help, he put out all his strength and succeeded finally in getting on board. At first he was too exhausted to move, but the thought of the vessel always coming nearer, left him no time for rest. High above him hung the lantern on a rope that was fastened to the top of the mast. First, he tried to climb the mast, but soon found that impossible; it was too smooth and the boat danced so on the high waves, that it seemed all the time to be in a swinging motion. What was to be done? He shook the mast, but had not enough strength to loosen the heavy pole or to break it. Then he thought by rocking the boat from side to side that he could upset it and get the mast under water, but it was all of no avail. While he was busy in this way he perceived from the angry shouts of the men on the beach that he was discovered. In the red glow of the lantern they saw him, and threatened to shoot him on the spot if he dared to touch the light. William heard their threats and made another desperate effort to get hold of the rape that hung down from the lantern.
A light flickered suddenly, William felt a sharp pain in his side, and the next moment he was struggling for life in the waves. But.... he had succeeded in seizing the rope! Slowly he lost consciousness, but retained enough presence of mind to hold on to the rope with all his remaining strength. The lantern fell out of the mast, the light went out and the evil intention that placed it there was frustrated. But William’s hold became weaker and weaker; the noise of the waves, and the shouts of the strand-robbers seemed to recede farther and farther, yet in a few moments and it was all over.
The following morning there was joy, but also deep sorrow in the fishing village. Joy that a large vessel with many human lives on board had escaped great danger and reached the harbor in safety; deep sorrow, for when the sun cast its rays over the still boiling waves, there, on the hard rocks, they found the body of the brave boy. Many a stalwart fisherman passed his toil-hardened hand across his eyes on seeing that deathly pale face; many wives and mothers did not try to check their tears. They were not ashamed to show their deep emotion.
Just at the decisive moment the treacherous light was rendered harmless, and thereby many lives spared, but at the cost of the one that was freely offered up by the heroic boy, whose earnest desire was to be used for others, and in this way his wish was granted.
Young readers, this story gives us much food for thought. It reminds us of the Lord Jesus, who came into the world to save the souls of men. “Greater lave hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” said Jesus. But He gave Himself up to the shameful and cruel death of the cross for His enemies! One would think that only cruel men like these robbers would ever have hatred to one so loveable and kind as that dear boy, but when we look at the Lord Jesus and see that He surpassed that hoy in every way, and that He gave His life up willingly for us poor sinners, and we find that many turn away from Him and do not want Him. What are we to think of such?
ML-07/18/1920