The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-10-22
nv PASSENGER.
AY NATHAN D. URNrR

"Hi, there. young fellow for
heavens sake, take me across.n
/ was taking my regular afternoon
practice in a heavy working boat, on
the river Thames, preparatory to the
sculling races which were to come
off in less than fortnight, and for
which had been entered, with a
number of other crack oars from the
college to which l belonged, when
the words above quoted were called
out to me, in loud painting. excited
voice, from the wooded and lonely
shore that / had approached.
soon perceived the speaker max
ing his way to the very edge of the
water, where be stood with blood
streaming from his nose, his face like
a ghosts, bis dress disordered, his
hat pressed tightly over his tenn
pies, his long hair hanging Ike elf
locks about his face, and bis hands
ou,stretched piteously toward me, as
be wildly repeated bis appeal
"Do, for heavens sake, take me
over, sir The devils are after ME 7"
"What devilsY" / said. interested
in spite of my i'll humot al being in
terrupted at my favori,e exercise.
The bailitfs-the bailiffsl" be re-
peated.
"Oh, I can't go to Jail, Ny wife
nv children ~
was sufficiently hsrrsssed by
debt at the college to have my heart
touched at this. 1 at once backed nv
boat against the bank, at the same
time csutioning him about getting
in, for the working craft, unwieldly
enough for one was dangerous for
two; and as soon as be was fairly
aboard, took the water with my
long SOULS, and began to move
across.
Faster. iasterl Can't you hear
Fem coming 7" feverishly cried my
queer passenger, while just then q
confused rearing and shouting began
10 make itself audible behind the
copse. / laughed at his nervousness,
cautioned him that the blood from
his nose was dripping on his trows-
ers. and then gave way with will
Compelled to steer for myself, /
occasionally turned nv head to see
where i was going. Once, after so
doing. faced my passenger, and saw
him watching snxiously some circles
in the water just aster1, as though he
might have thrown something over
board but supposing that they might
have been caused by fish jumping,
] said nothing
| made the opposite bank in few
minutes, for the Thames was very
narrow at this point, and the man,
hsyieg scrambled ashore, darted in
among the trees, and disappeared-
without saying Thank rou,p or any
thing else-ss though the fends were
ST bis heels.
/ laughed again at his mad haste,
and rowed leisurely along toward my
fasorite inn on the rivers bank. As
I did so / heard the voices Of the
poor devils pursuers growing nesrer
and nearer and palmer, until | made
out the cries of Murder, mur-
der"
| laughed again al what | thought
was dodge the bsilifs were using
to get up crowd 10 pursuit of poor
runaway, whose only crime was per-
haps an arrears Of rent, or 9 publi-
cans extortionate bill; and, though
| presently heard the voices calling
on to stop, only quickened my
stroke, knowing that / would be at
The Jolly Oarsmen" almost as soon
as any of them could ge; across the
wnieh was on the other side
Of the river, and much the nearest
way for foot passengers.
So, rather tickled 9, having outwit-
ted the bailiffs-the college boys nat
ural enemies in those days-l spurt-
ed down TO The Jolly 0srsmen,r
pu; up nv boat, and joined a lot of
cur fellows in the bsgatelle room,
without saying anything of what had
In g little while, however, s hoarse
CRY of Boat. boa.r' from tie tow
path opposite, caused us all to rush
out.
Gathered upon the fSrther bank
were . dozen or so excited men, two
Of whom were st once ferried over to
The inn. One of :hem pointed TO the
rox of wherries snc skifs moored
along the aoat. and asked with an
authoritative air:
Which of these bats came in
last?"
The boat-keeper at once pointed to
the one / bad occupied
And which Of you young gentle
men," be continued. turning 10 rs,
..rowed down in this boat ~
! gave my comrades the wink, and
We answered him with q laugh OF
scornfIl indifference.
1T is really no joking matter. gen.
y said the ether OF the two,
who wasa little milder spoken than
bis partner, though equally in earn