The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-05-03

"lIelp Inc, Alfl I'm tired out.
$50 am J." dolcfully cried johnnie
Porter from his leading position. "I
don't believe | can reach shore"
"You go right on, Johnnie. aud try
TO get the boat. I'll help WiIlie," gal
lantly said Hughes. and the brave lit
tie fellow turned back to his distressed
comrades side.
"You'rc safe enough, Willic," hc
chcerily spuiiered. "Put one hand OIL
my shoulder, and keep straight as
log and I'll tow you ill.,"
For some distance further the over
weighted swimmer struggled man
fully on, encouraging his helpless
burden a. best he could. Then, when
no more than fifty yards from shore.
Willie faiutIy gaspcd: "lt.-no-usc
-Alf-rm-numb- - over! I'll
-drown-you-.;oo-if--l-h - hold -
on. Tell-mother-l-w was - sorry.
Good-by." Aud removing his cold
hand the young hero sank like II stone.
Alfred Hughes knew only too well
that he could not have sustained HIM.
self, and his companion rs well, for
twenty seconds longer; but tic know
edge HAT Willie had voluntarily re-
linquishcd his only hope Of life in Or
der that he might be saved sent II thrill
through his chilled frame and he man
aged TO call out brokcnly:
"Johnnie! the bcat!--quck! quick!
Willie IL gone!"
But Johnnie had just dragged him.
self by Il supreme effort ashore, and
could not have stirred, at the moment,
to save world.
ooh! Willie, Wilic!" cried Alf, as
IL his friend could hear him, 81 can't
dive for you. l must die, too. There's
no hope"
Is there, indeed, none? All, yes,
by Heavens mercy, one, slight thought
1t 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 aud who, from the window of
an overlooking house, had seen the
exhausted boy go down.
Never pausing in their eager race,
not even stopping to ask question.
they sprang into the ready skiif and
shot like an arrow from the shore.
"Don't stopl Don't stop for mel"
falicred Alf Hughes, as they swept
alongside, ga few yards further out
straight in II line with the other boat!
Oh. hurry! good men, hurryv
One nun is rowing, the other
watching, and now, ten yards beyond
the self-forgetful Hughes, lie sees,
while peering anxiously over the side,
a white body lying moionlcss on the
bottom twelve feet below tho surface.
''Dack water! steady her, Georgc!"
he cries to his mate, and down like n
plummct he darts to the rescue. In
two seconds he is up again, his hand
twined in the boys long hair. Another
second aud both arc in tho boat.
Willie has been submerged possibly
two minutes. Ii. may yet be saved.
No breath is wasted in words, no
fraction of timc in dallying. The
hardy fisherman, who still holds the
oars, with one long, sweeping stroke,
turns the bow shorcward; his com.
panion picks up the exhausted ALI as
the boat dies along, aud the fifty in
tervcnIng yards are passed over in a
flash.
Then the dry man lifts the drowned
youth out to the hot sand, takes Off his
own upper garments and wraps him
up, while his friend goes for the
anchored skiT. Quickly returning,
tho two bear the still form tendcrly to
the house whence they themselves
have lately come, leaving the now re-
vivins John and Alfred to resume
their clothing and follow when strong
enough.
While one of the rescuers assists the
good people of the house in their efforts
at resusciiation, the other hurries of
to the village for doctor, and soon
everything which skill can suggest is
being done for the unconscious suf-
ferer.
Meantime swift-footel messenger
has been sent to Mrs. Johnson's and
the distracted mother arrives to find
her only son apparently beyond all