Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-07-22

Owed head nrSt into the waters OF the
bay.
Tasker jumped to his feet, half dazed
by the blow
Into that boat, all o'y'!" he roared,
land bring tn cuss back or drown him!"
There was rush of half dozen. of
the men to the side. The falls had not
been unlocked, and they swarmed
down them into the boat. In flash
the fastenings were cast off and, with
the second mate in the stern sheets,
they pulled away.
Larry had taken a long header from
the Carstairs' rail and, when he struck
the water, he went down for ten feet
without a stop. Then he struck out
horizontally and, with quick strokes
made in the direction he knew the shore
to be in, all the time keeping under
water.
At last, when he felt he must have
fresh air. he let himself rise slowly, SO
slowly that his head made not the least
splash as it broke the still water of the
bay.
Then he took big draught Of fresh
air and looked around him. He was
nearly hundred feet from the Cars
tairs, and he heard "old Tasker" swear
ing and believing some commands to
tho boat.
Turning his head in the direction of
the shore he saw, not twenty feet dis
tant, the boat which he Judged had
been put out after him. The men were
lying on their oars and the officer in
the stern was standing up with his back
toward him, scanning the bay around
him.
1t was evident they had not yet de-
tected him. They were looking in every
direction but the right one But it was
equally evident to Larry that he could
not hope to pass them and get to shore,
his only place of refuge, without being
seen, when his capture would be only a
matter of short time. The night was
dark, but there was good deal Of
phosphorescence in the water and his
movements would show him to thern
very speedily. Swimming under water
for that distance was beyond even him,
and he was an excellent swimmer.
AS the boat lay there, not moving ex-
cept for slight rocking, and he saw
them all looking away from him, an
idea came to Larry which made him
silently sink his head below the water
again and strike out under water to-
ward his pursuers.
A few strokes and he allowed himself
to rise very gradually. Everything de-
pended upon how accurately he had
judged the distance between his first
position and the boat. If he had gone
three feet too little or too much his
capture was insured. What he wanted
what he must do-was to come up
Immediately under the stern of the
boat.
Presently, just as he thought his head
would come above the surface of the
water, he felt something hard over him,
and, reaching up, he touched the boats
bottom. With little maneuvering he
moved backward and felt his head rise
above the water. He was just under
the counter of the boat.
LET her go on thcrc!' a voice
growled overhead, and Larry thrust one
arm forward and down and grasped the
keel; the other arm he bent above his
head against the sternmost part of the
counter to fend himself off with.
AS he lay his position was not ar
asy one, but he thought he could re-
tain it for time. His body slopec
astern, entirely covered by water, SC
that only his head and part of his
shoulders which were concealed by the
boats overhang, were above the sur
face.
The boat started ahead slowly and
Larry thanked his stars--toward shore.
For awhile they patrollcd parallel witt
the water front and he had to hang or
and hope they would come little nearer
TO the wharves
He was beginning to get very tired
He had nothing to grasp which afforded
him any good hold and his fingers were
becoming numb. The water swirlet
and rushed past mis- head, but it wa
evident the trifling noise it made wa
not heard by'those above him.
Presently the boat turned toward
shore. In minute or so he saw the
dark outline of one of the bulkheads o
the piers, lie glanced at the water in
tervening There was about two hun
dred feet between him and the shore
He-made up his mind to try it.
Once again he sank, having taken
long breath, and made for the shor
under water. By and by he had com
to the surface again.
The instant his head broke the waite
there was yell from out in the river
They had discovered him, he knew
But they were nearly hundred fee
away and he had not more than tina
to cover in order to be safe.
He went at it arm over arm. lie ha
never known before how fast he coul
swim. They gained on him but Larr
kept it up When he reached the pie
he dived under the stringcr piece an
his pursuers halted, They couldn't TO
low him there.
A couple of minutes later figure al
peared on the wharf, 1t was Larry.
The men in the boat saw him shal1
his fist at them and then move quickl
away. The second mates heart quake
as he thought of the reception "ol
Tasker" would give him when he cam
back empty handed. And Larry wer
off to his lodgings, we'll satisfied wit
the outcome of his adventure, notwitl
standing it had given him the most III
pleasant experience of his life of dan
ger and hardship. Francis c. William
in Detroit Free Press.
She Knew.
Maria" called out Mr.. Billus in a
! l.