The free press., 1893-06-01
Now Whalcn Lake is led Dripcipal]v |

thought themselves good swimmers,
but they had never tried a course half
so long as this, and before they had
gone one hundred yards their own
forced exertions and the low temper
ature of the water began to tell upon
them.
However, they pushed gamely on
for fifty yards further, by which time
young Porter was some distance in ad-
vance, Hughes next and Willie John
son bad third.
Suddenly the latter called out:
tHelp me, Alf! Pm tired out"
$50 am l." dolefully cried Johnnie
Porter from his leading position. 81
don't believe | can reach shore"
"You go right on, Johnnie, and try
to get the boat. Pll help Willie," gal
lantly said Hughes, and the brave lit
tie fellow turned back to his distressed
comrades side.
"You're safe enough, Willie," he
cheerily spultered. "Put one hand on
my shoulder, and keep straight as a
log and I'll tow you ill.,"
For some distance further the over
weighted swimmer struggled man.
fully on. encouraging his helpless
burden as best he could. Then, when
no moro than fifty yards from shore,
Willie family gasped: 'Ifs-no-use
f-Pm-numb-all - over! Pll
-drown-you-,too - hold -
on. Tell-mother-I-- was - sorry.
Good-by." And removing his cold
hand the young hero sank like stone.
Alfred Hughes knew only too well
that he could not have sustained him.
self, and his companion as well, for
twenty seconds longer; but the know-
edge that Willie had voluntarily re-
linquished his only hope of life in Or
der that he might be saved sent thrill
through his chilled frame and he man.
aged to call out brokenly:
"Johnnie! the boat t!-quick quick!
Willie Is gone!"
But Johnnie had just dragged him
self by a supreme effort ashore, and
could not have stirred, at the moment,
to save q world.
ooh! Willie, Willic!" cried Alf, as
if his friend could hear him, 81 can't
dive for you. l must die, too. There's
no hopeW
Is there, indeed, none? All, yes,
by Heavens mercy, one, slight thought
it may be as gossamer thread; for
at this instant there came, running
swiftly down the slope to the waters
edge, the two men who owned the
boats and who, from the window of
an overlooking house, had seen the
exhausted boy 60 down.
Never pausing in their eager race,
not even stopping to ask question,
they sprang into the ready skiff and
shot like an arrow from the shore.
"Doa't stop! Don't stop for mel"
faltered Alf Hughes, as they swept
alongside, ga few yards further out
straight in a line with the other boat!
Oh, hurry! good men, hurry"
One man is rowing, the other
watching, and now, ten yards beyond
the self -forgetful Hughes, he sees,
while peering anxiously over the side,
white body lying motionless on the
bottom twelve feet below the surface.
..Back waterI steady her, George!"
he cries to his mate, and down like
plummet he darts to the rescue. In
two seconds he is up again, his hand
twined in the boys long hair. Another
second and both are in the boat.
Willie has been submerged possibly
two minutes. He may yet be saved!
No breath is wasted in words, no
fraction of time in dallying. The
hardy fisherman, who still holds the
oars, with one long, sweeping stroke,
turns the bow shoreward; his COM
panion picks up the exhausted All 10
the boat flies along, and the hfty IN
tervenIng yards are passed over III
flash.
Then the dry man lifts the drowned
youth out to the hot sand, takes on MS
own upper garments and wraps MN
M. while his friend goes Tor the
anchored skiff. Quickly returning
the two bear the still form tenderiy 10
the house whence they themselves
have lately come. leaving the now re-
,;,,;,u Johu and Alfred to resume