Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-05-02
Vol. XVIII. Whole No. 9O2. No. l8.

were making. But the very gallantry
Of the struggle seemed to Mr.. Jones the
most cogent reason for bringing us to
punishment. He proclaimed his de-
termination as he mopped his brow with
his yellow silk handkerchief, and brush
ed what remained of mud and dust OIL
his pantaloons. not to give us up on any
account; and he kept his word; for, as
Jickling and | were pelting along the
towing-path at about half mile from
the station, Martingale, who was in
ecstasies ut cur escape, and counted
upon our being able to find punt or q
skill or something to take us across the
river further down, looked round, and
suddenly exclaimed, with real dismay
in his voice. By Joyc, he has stolen a
march on us, and HERE HE is!
There we We're, with the towing path
before Us, an open space of mead to our
right, and the river rushing in broad
swift stream 10 our left. Escape was
impossible. In this desparing moment
JiSkling turned abruptly round. Ikea
Young cub Mt bay looked at me with
fire III his eyes. and in voice OF frenzy
cfied, | say, can you sw i'm?
A thrill seemed to shoot through
Martingale. lie glanced at the river,
then At me.
Yes 1 gulped, with great sob; for,
indeed, could swim, having learned
that accomplishment .. ssi~9le.
Jickling stroked the perspiratioI that
was bathing his forehead. looked hum
griy at me again, and in that moment
his lshmael countenance was radiant.
But swim-in your-c-c-clothes? he
1.
your oath YOU caut
He had clutched me by the Jacket.
Ill take my oath can, pan ed, with
the amazing courage OF fear and hope
lessnc~s.
We'll. look lere,' said Jicklng, darting
a distracted glance behind him. Ill be-
licvc YOU, and wen swim for II. Only
h-hark. ii YOU drown, I'll drown myself
too ; ana if-I do that (there Is no depict
ing thc solemuity with which he pro-
nouuced the next words my father who
Is coming home from India next Christmas,
will write To The Times and say it was
your fault
think felt the terrible weight of this
threat; but Martingale, who apparently
saw nothing to laugh at, turned round and
made q sudden and violent use of his
handkerchief when he showed us his
face again, couli have sworn his eyes
were not clear
You ,ha'u't drown. III swear that" he
said. cncrgeticaly; not unless | 10 so
too
WE had scrambled down the bank by this
time and we're holdin. on by some tufts of
grass. The water was quite deep under
Us and turcid and rapid. Opposite Us lay
the kton p}avinw-helds. Jicklng shivered
but could see ii was not for him. but for
s,.,Il.-
master would not give up the pursuit
then seeing that Mr. Jones who, OF course
could have no idea of what we were going
tp do} wa. close upon US, he muttered
we can't let ourselves be taken and
rouudcred hcadlOug M. Even before had
risen to the surface after following Juk-
ling | could hear tAe tremendous unroar
or n<touiShmeut aud CONSERVATION, and
withll of administration, that arose when
Mr. Jones and his companions perceived
what VIZ had done. The thrOng OF old
Ftnui1nS rouIhs and strert-boys that had
escorted The master. crowded on the bank
strAiniu. their eyes with genuine anxiety
tp -rc what would become of us and
surely thinking that We were not going to
ri>c again But when II was seen that wc
not only rose but struck out for the opp9-
Size shore A. well aS our heavy water-hlled
[ clothes would allow us, loud cheers burst
/ forth and rose in peal upon peal to encour-
/ age Us. Mr.. Jones, who was not hars
I man, ana whose sense of humanity was
I now getting the better OF scholastic con
7 ,iderations ran In dismay up and down
7 the bank shouting to Us that II we would
f come back he would not report ps, But
W. either did not believe him. or did not
I near him, or thought that once in, it was
/ as well TO 70 the whole way. JiCklng was
Y swimming little In front of me, his tall
II black hat hobblng curiously above the va
I ter Ike q lOat. AS we reached mid stream
4 however, he sackened so as to let me come
/ M with him, and faltcred with sudden
\ expression shall never forget Mind
I Won swore you could swim, so II anv
J thing happens it wont be my fault, will
\ ii, en- R.vcrst' No | gasped, not i'm
/ medatcly understanding what he meant;
Z but then Il passed through me with AN In
stuntlnrou, flash that We had both of ~
oyerratrd our strcugtA-that worn cut as
we were, we were making no way o. ainst
the stream, and that Tickling had said this
I because he felt himself sinking. He turned
/ round again, as If wanting to say some'
/ thing. with terrible expression Of anguish
iu HI, eyes but h~ lips A. they opened
disappeared under water. | made sort
Of unconscious clutch NJ him and he rose /;
but with oil the strength left he shook
{ HlIDStil Tree. ilit k1Hptu u INC atttah
bore him ont of reach. No, you'll drown.
And then remember no more. for sunk
too.
II VA, rathcf more than month after
this that Jickling and | were seated III
my room together in my tutors house
looking rather cadavcrous, both of Us
with oar pale faces and c,use-cropped
heads. II had been within au ace OF
drowning. Lord Martingale and some
other Ola E.onian, had saved Us; hut q
br&in-icver had ~upcrycued and once
again. after escaping waterv grave, We
hud seen death face 10 face. However,
/ il Aa- an over now. We were on the
lair road to comvalescencc, aud lir.
ZONES was calling upon us every day to
learn how We We're, and to cheer us with
a few minutes talk, for he had a good
heart, this Mr.. Jones, and look a liking
To II, after the terrible adventure Of
which he was the unwilling cause.
1t will scarcely be believed that on re-
coyering Jickling showed himself what
he had always been-that is, much more
delight d at the exceptional character OF
his last scrape then thankful to Proyi-
, dence for the way in which he had come
J out of it. On the particular day when
+ we were seated in my room together, a.
have just said, he was charming ti.s
T lcisures Of convalescence by manufac.
turing a short paper tail like kites
. evidently with the intention of pinning
! it TO some comrades jacket as soon "a,
! he should be well enough to go into
| school again Ashetop entered as h'
, wa, writing on The tail the word.
4. Please kick me- saw the work, .hoot
: his head aud said, with a kind, hal
n pitying laugh, ALWAYS the same, Jick
. ling?
e Jickling did not like Ashetou. I'll
t put away his iail with grumble in hi
Il pocket as il he We're afraid it was goin,
;, to be taken from him, and muttsred, {
e don't see any harm In that
e Nor would there be any If it WASH
,f OF piece with SO many other tricks Q