The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-02
come back. I shall have to go to the

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house for a robe to wrap you IN"
He went up the bank quickly, leaving
Madgc alone in the boat.
"Come, Steve" said Eugene, t'let us
CO."
He cast a frowning glance ut Madge
as he spoke. for he had not quite for
given her for her remarks ABOUT his
boat.
Stephen pulled up the brakes. and
they started off once more, but they had
gone only Il short distance when they
heard a loud cry from the bank, and
looking back they saw Mr.. Turner run
ming toward the river.
"The Ice Queen has broken loose"
exclaimed Stephen. "And oh, Eugene,
the little girl is in it all alone. See, she
is stretching out her hand to Mr.. Tur-
ncr :"
"Hoist the peak again." cried Eu-
gene. "Perhaps we can catch up to
He turned the boat quickly as he
spoke.
Then began q race; but this time 1t
was for life, as the wind blew directly
down the river toward the open water.
MIR. Turner, in hosting the sail, had
cast one end of the sheet line about the
cleat. This was safe enough so long as
the boat remained with its head to the
wind.
But some frolicsomc movement Of the
little girls had shifted the position of
the light craft. 1t had swung around,
md straining hard ut its fastening ,
finally broke away. 1t ruddcr had been
.iammed among the mass Of ropes, care
lcssly left in the boat, so that it held
firm, and away went the Ice Queen at
headlohg speed, with the Iciclc in Dur-
suit.
In a few moments the news Of the
accident spread through the village and
people came hurrying to the bank, gcs-
ticulating 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 appeared to fly so
fast. The sail of the Iciclc was strained
to bursting, and her mast shook and
trcmbled before every new gust, rs
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 Madge's
face as she crouchcd on a seat close to
the helm, both hands clutching the side
of the icc-boat.
"Put her about" shouted Stephen to
her. Don't YOU see YOU arc making
right for the water? You'll he
drowned"
Madgc looked wildly round, but did
not move.
"Shc doesn't undcrstand-' exclaimed
Eugene dcspairingly.
Push the helm away from you"
shouted Stephen, making the motion
with his hands.
But Madgc only looked more bcwild-
cred than ever.
"Shc don't know anything" cried
Eugene in Mortified surprise.
Let the sail fly, then quick.
quick" yelled Stephen. ''Thcre's the
water in sight. Oh. she doesn't even
understand that! Unite the ropc!-un-
tic the ropc!'
Little Madgc turned her head and
stared ut the sail. AS she did so she
caught sight of the water and seemed to
comprehend all her danger: for she gave
q pitiful cry, and, crouching down, hid
her face in her hands.
"What shall we do now?" asked Eu-
gene desperately.
''Stccr SO as to run close against the
Ice Queen; but don't strike. or we will
all be killed" replied Stephen.
And he crawlcd along the frame of
the boat until he reached the bow, and
knecling down by the mast took u knife
from his pocket and opened it.
"Now," cried Stephen, us he bent
forward, the knife firmly graspcd in his
right hand, and his left arm tightly
clasping the mast.
In Il second the two boats almost
touched, and Stephens knife came down
with n swift, sharp movement upon the
strained shcct-linc.
The Ice Queen gave a shuddcr, slid
Oh for a few yards, and then stood still.
Eugene Don siackcncd the speed of
their boat, and Stephen jumped out and
ran to the little girl.
care you hurtY" 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, ''becausc l don't know how,
and 1 did not know where the other
thing was. Oh. please take me home!
I am so cold and tired"
"All right" replied Stephen. "rll
take care of you now"
Then he took a blanket from his own
boat and wrapped it around the shivcr-
ing little creature; and tying the sever
ed sheet line Of the Ice Queen, he turn
ed her bow up the river. In a few mo-
mcn,s both boats were moving rapidly
toward Mossbank.
The chase had led them a long dis
lance from home-so far that they were
quite out of sight of the village. But
presently they sawa number of people,