The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1886-10-28

but have you noticed that boat out
there2"
1t was little boat with two men in it,
not very far off. 1 looked first at it and
then at Clara.
"Yes, DEAR" she whispered, softly,
though they were not near enough to
hear; 'I have watched it for the last
five minutes, and 1 am sure they are fol-
lowing u.s."
'What should they want:" I said,
bravely, though I felt little queer; "we
must pass them to get home"
| Grow to land anywhere, Andie, dar-
ling" said Clara, who had turned very
pale; II don't like their looks. Sec,
they are gaining on u.s."
And so they were.
AS soon as shey saw us make for the
nearest land they put on their utmost
speed.
.'Row quicker--quicker, Andie!" gasped
Clara.
But could.,not, I had already strained
every nerve; the pursuers were gaining
quickly on US, and I thought it best to
cease my exertions and put bold face
on the matter by shouting to them.
Perhaps they were respectable people,
who wanted the loan of rope or an
oar.
They had very bad countenances, to
be sure; but one must not judge by ap-
pearances.
I tried to reassure Clara, who sat, white
and trembling, but self-possessed, in her
! place.
Our disagreeable visitors left us very
short time in doubt.
Two strong, bearded, muscular men,
they rowed straight alongside US, and in
amost oststraightforward manner demanded
our purses.
My blood - up; I stood before
Clara with an oar, intending to show
fight.
"You shall not rob us,"I cried. II
will die first"
"Then die, cheeky young dog" this
is my English translation of their Swiss
epithet), said one of them, knocking the
oar out of my hand and laying me sprawl
ing in the bottom of the boat.
"Andrew." said Clara, calmly, in Eng
lish, keep quiet; it is no use resisting" {"
Then in German to the men:
"Here is my purse; there is not much
in it, but it is all have"
"Your earrings" said one of the ruff
fans, stretching out his hand toward
Clara.
l had just picked myself up, and was
sitting rather stunned and dazed in the
boat, but I could not stand this and made
a lunge at the nearest man, who held me
firm in one hand, threatening to drown
me in the lake if I did not hold my
tongue and keep quiet.
"Do keep quiet for my sake, Andie," {"
said Clara again.
So there was, ignominiously pinioned
by one of the men, while the other de-
manded from Clara her earrings, her
watch and little ring she wore.
Then they held whispered consul
tation. Clara told me afterward she
spent those moments in praying God that
they might not be tempted to drown US
to conceal their robbery; and her prayer
was an ;wered, for after giving me part
ing shake, and turning out my pockets
for the few 'coppers I had in them, they
left us, shouting out as they rowed off
that if that young dog tmeaning me) had
not had lady with him, they would have
taken away the oars from our boat, and
left it to drift about the middle of the
lake. N
We did not move for, some little time
after the thieves left US, as Clara had
turned quite faint when the danger was
past, and had to lie down in the bottom
of the boat, while I damped her fore
head with my handkerchief dipped in
the lake.
Then I'VE rowed home as fast as we
could and found everyone in alarm at
our absence There was great excite
'ment when our tale was told, and while
I was talking to the old cousins and to
the head of the police felt quite like q
hero; but but when I lay down in bed,
with an aching head from the tumble I
got in the boat, could think OF nothing
but fathers saying: "Discretion is the
better part Of valor."
If had turned to 60 home when Clara
wished, we should not have been out in
the dusk, and probably the thieves would
not have dared to attack US.
This was my moral to the days ad-
venture.
1t may please my readers to hear that
the robbers were caught some few days
after, and Clara got back her watch,
ring and earrings it was through
trying to dispose of the latter that they
were detected.
Of course we got no money back, but
luckily Clara had not much in her purse.
We never were out on the lake after
dark from that day.
Household Remedies.