The Helena independent., 1892-02-07
Brave BEN BR0UCHT0N.
BY MARIA M'INTosH COX.
WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR THE HELENA INDEPENDENT.

could not tell how--had been the face Of
little Dick Dunlsp2 Waiting for no more
in he plunged.
| stsadiness Of mind is ant to keep it com.
pany. and Ben thought fast ana to good
purpose; Tom ID heavier than am, and
| ! can't swim we'll; shall never to able to
hold him.
With all the force he possessed he made
for the nearest log. and pressing his chest
| against ii, awam on toward the spot out
| there--thero, just at his hand, it rose
again. bnt this time it had not energy to
lift itself above the water. Lying in q
nost unnatural position, his throat strained
backward and his head resting between
the shoulders SO that the face appeared to
turn straight and fiat toward the heaven
above it, the legs hanging limp and stiff,
straight down, and the motionless arms
falling backward, in useless stiffness, Ben
saw Tom Dunlap; and with an asonized
clutch he graspsd the wet web of his
bathing suit and took an almost hopeless
inspiration of the soft air, not knowing
in this dread moment what must next be
done.
"Tomn' he yelled. "Tom, keep up: don't
give up, Tom! Tom, Tom, try to keep
ups
He used all the power of his young voice
and faint shiver ran through the cold sub
merged body. A lightning-like inspiration
darted through his mind; he gave the log
beside him. a hard, downward push depress
ing it some inches below the water, and
with all haste--he knew not how-succeeded
in bringing it in contact with the drowning
boy. Then--stlll he knew not how--he
pulled one motionless arm across it and
then the other, and saw with wild sense
of e1ultation that it would float. Tom did
not attempt to grasp or hold. but the log
was we'll under his armpits and hs did not
slide back.
Thsn strange dullness came over Ben's
senses; his Shoes now water-soaked, felt
like Lead tho first dawn Of hope seemed to
bs followed by exhaustion.
But help was coming from the shore. A
brave young girl, putting to shame the
cowardly boys upon the wharf, had sue
ceedsd in pushing boat into the water,
and she rowed toward Ben with all her
might. When she came within an arms
length o. the tired boy, he could not SO
much as push poor Tom toward her, but
she conquered the resistance of his uncon-
soious weight and pulled him into the boat.
When once the heavier part of his body
was over the gunwale. he fell suddenly for
ward and lay helpless mass at her feet.
She had not a thought, even. for Ben, but
pulled for the shore with all her strength.
Ben, keeping his clear, brave head, re-
allied that the tide was fast coming in, and
ceasinQ to struggle, he foated on the soft.
upholding waves until they laid him gently
on the beach, as if they had brought him
intelliRently home. And then, though he
could no longer work, his tired body had to
obey his slf-forgetting heart. The oystef
men were rapidly coming, and he knew
just where to tell them to look for that pale
object he had seen sink out Of sight.
Using every remaining energy, he made
them understand, and staggering to his
weak feet. he stood. with water running in
streams from his drenched clothes, and
guided to where they must search.
Brsathless, the crowd now gathered on
the beach stood in silent expectation.
man, we'll fitted for his work, and bound to
succeed, dove far into the glowing water;
one, two, three minutes passsd-he rose
with empty arms. Undaunted, again he
disappeared, and yet again he rose, bring
ing nothing with him. "Once more" he
called out hopefully; this time four min
utes passed, and then he Brought with him
q little figure too pitiful to speak about.
Already Tom was lying in a hospitable
house, with every tender ministry helping
him to fight for life, and to the same open
door the strong arms of the oysterman car
ried the little brother. HE is gone.'' he
said as he laid him down.
But Ben reaped the full harvest of his
heroic endeavor. Before their half-crazed
mother could reach them, Tom had shown
that life was surely coming back to him.
And after long hours of friction and heat