The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-04-10

In few moments the news OF
the accident spread through the vii
lage, and people came hurrying to
the bank, gesticulating wildly and
pointing to the open water in the
distance.
Eugene and Stephen watched
with beating hearts the boat moving
before them. Never had she APP
peared to fly so fast. The sail of the
Icicle was strained to bursting, and
her mast shook ana irembled before
every new gust, as Though it would
snap apart.
At last, much to the boys relief,
they found that they really did gain
upon the Ice Queen. Now they
could plainly see the frightened look
upon Madg's face as she crouched on
a seat close to the helm, both hands.
clutching the side of the ice-boat.
oPut her aboutl" shouted Stephen
to her ''Don't you see you are max
ing right for the water? You'll be
drowned"
Madge looked wildly round, but
did not move.
"She doesn't understand p exclaim-
ed Eugene despairingly.
'Push the helm away from you
shouted Stephen making the motion
with his hands.
But Madge only looked more be-
wildered than ever.
"She don't know anything" cried
Eugene in Mortified surprise.
'Let the sail fly, then-quick,
quick p yelled Stephen. "Theres the
water in sight. Oh, she doesn't even
understand that Unite the rope =
unite the rope"
Little Madge turned her head and
stared at the sail. As she did so she
caught sight of the water and seemed
to comprehend all her danger: for
she gave pitiful cry, and, crouching
down, hid her face in her hands.
"What shall we do now ?" asked
Eugene desperately.
s'Steer so as to run close against the
Ice Queen; but don't strike, or we
will all be killed." replied Stephen,
And he crawled along the frame of
the boat until he reached the bow, and
kneeling down by the mast took
knife from his pocket and opened it.
"Now," cried Stephen, as he bent
forward, the knife firmly grasped in
his right hand, and his left arm
tightly clasping the mast.
In a second the two boats almost
touched, and Stephens knife came
down with swift, sharp movement
upon the strained sheet-ine.
The Ice Queen gave a shudder, slid
on for few yards, and then stood
still
Eugene soon slaekened the speed of
their boat, and Stephen jumped out
and ran to the little girl.
'Are you hurt p he cried.
Madge looked up at Stephen
through her fingers and shook her
head; then she glanced at the water
into which she had so nearly been
plunged.
81 couldn't let the sail fly out" she
sobbed, 'because I don't know how,
and I did not know where the other
thing was. Oh, please take me homel
I am so cold and tired"
''Al rightl' replied Stephen. "ITl
take care of you now"
Then he took a blanket from his
own boat and wrapped it around the
shivering little creature; and tying
the severed sheet line of the Ice
Queen, he turned her bow up the
+ river. In few moments both boats
were moving rapidly toward Moss
bank.
The chase had led them a long dis
tance from home far that they
were quite out Of sight of the village.
But presently they saw number of
people, some running along on the
, bank and others skating toward them
on the river.
2 The first to reach the boats was
, Mr.. Turner. He looked very pale and
excited, but when he ascertained that
Madge was uninjured, he seized
hand of each of the boys and shook
it warmly
r Soon they were surrounded by a
crowd, who praised and applauded
Eugene and Stephen for their bravery
, until they made their escape.
The next morning Mr.. Turner met
, the two boys After thanking them
again and again, he said:
, "Will you do me the favor of tax
. ing the Ice Queen away from my boat
house and using it yourselves ? I
shall never useit myself after this"
The boys changed the name of
their new boat to the Madge, and dav