River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-01-11


You'll take me?r cried Phil. as he
caught NJ with Andy by a swift rush.
No" replied Andy, You'll make the
boat too heavy. I'll GO alone. That's
the only chance of overtalxing the Elf.
Brace Up. Phil I'll do my best to save
Dick"
Phil seemed determined TO go in spite
oS :k!s. But Andy eluded him and
pushed ahead. Now he was clear of the
promontory, and the next instant the
Alfratta was slEimning swiftly IN pur-
suit OF the Elf with ANDY perched firm
" on the seat.
The crowd cheered Justify and Andy
turned long enough TO wave his hand.
Then he gave MS undivided attention
20 the task that lay before him That
Il was likely to prove a stern and diff
cult one he quickly realized. His con-
ceptiOn of the winds force had not
been exaggerated. The speed of the ice
boat was something fearful and he
found that he had but slight control
over Il. At first he was content to
swing along on the track of the Elf.
which was more than quarter of "a
mile ahead of him. and still speeding
diagOnally toward the opposite shore
of the river. He could see Dick perched
on the rear end, but could not make
ont what he was doing. A moment or
two later there was proof TO show that
the little fellow had been experiment.
ing with the sails. The Elf suddenly
swung about. and slipped straight
down mid-riSer for one hundred yards.
Then it tackled diagonally toward the
Port Treverton shore. Possibly these
movements were due to the vagaries of
the wind, though Andy thought other
wise lie quickly hauled on the jio and
altered the Alfratta's eoul , 10 tina. of
the Eff
His satisfaction vanished when he
spied a reef of out-cropping rocks be-
tween Il e two boats Their presence
above the ice was due TO the fact that
the river had frozen when at a low
stage. The barrier extended clear from
mid river 20 the Port TrevertOn shore.
and the Elf had been below il when
she tackled.
The only course open to Andy was to
circle around the rocks. so he at once
tackled toward them But when he had
reached aud passed their outermost
edge and was minded TO tack in the OPP
pOsite direction such a squirt of wind
came on that the jib-sail was helpless.
The Alfratta darted nearly across the
remaining half of the river. Then it
swung straight down stream, parallel
with the shore and at distance from
it OF seve. Il hundred fee.
For time Andy made no attempt to
alter his present course lie was on
one side of the river, The Elf on the
other. Finally the other boat came
lacking over as far as mid-stream.
when il turned and kept parallel with
the Alfratta. Andy was undecided
what 10 do. lie could see Dick waving
mis- cap at him.
IF tack across now" ne reflected,
III likely drop behind the Elf, and be
driven clear to the other shore before
can turn around But if fool away
any time Dick may blunder into an air
hole. It's mighty awkward fix"
He hesitated a little longer, then all
choice was suddenly taken out of his
hands. As he glanced down the broad
vista Of glittering ice he saw something
that made his heart leap and his blood
turn chill Half a mile ahead, in mid
river, was a great sheet of open, black
water. The Elf was dashing straight
toward it.
For moment Andy was sick with
despair. Then his resolve was taken.
lie tugged n.adly at the iib-sail, and to
his delight the Alfratta instantly
tackled outward IL sped faster and
faster. The two boats were now trav-
cling on opposite sides of a triangle
Would they meet in time, or would
both find : watery grave in the vast
air hole?
Andy kdew that there was scarcely
a chance. Yet he did not finch in the
face of almost certain death. He
steered the Alfratta steadily on. deter
mine1 20 save Dick or perish with
him.
Meanwhile the Elf encountered some
rough ice and fell little behind This
made Andy's chances brighter. The
next minute was full of horror and
suspense. The two iceboats rushed
madly on, one headed straight for the
air holes, the other striving to cross
above it Dick saw the peril now, and
his shrilI cries echoed far on the air.
Andy waved his hand cheerily lie
could see moving black speclcs over ON
the Port 1reverton shore.
Now the gap of vawning black water
was Just ahead. Nearer and nearer
swept the Elf Closer and closer came
the Alfratta. The sides of the triangle
were rapidly dwiniling to a point.
Andy felt his heart rising To his throat.
He scanned the distance between the
CLEAN of hope.
Dick" he shouted with all his
might. ''cr1wi mp front. BE ready for
me. II miss jump off. Do you under
stand?'
Dick nodded. Thea quickly
obeyed orders. Now the critical mo-
ment was at Eand. A. distance of
only twenty feet from the brink of the
air-hole the Alfratta dashed obliquely
across the bow os the Elf There was
crSsh and culver, and that quickly.
Andy snatched little Dick and dragged
him from his place q: peril.
The Eli swung about, and ground
swiftly on. She plunged into the
DGEt y water. dAA was GAGktu uONiA pN
the swift current. The sails fioated
To- momen: and then disappeared
The AIfratta barely cleared the fur
thelInost edge of the air-hOle. She
tac.,ed rapidly across the river with
her double burden. and five minutes
after she ground safely on the Port
TrevertOn shore. a mile and a half be-
low the village Most of the crowd
were on the spot, having run swiftly
along the bank. There was great
cheering and applause, and Andy
blushed To find himself a hero. Phil
burst into tears when little Dick
jumped into his arms. Later on he
begged Andy's forgiveness, as did also
Jack and FRANK.
There's nothing TO forgive" said
Andy. I'm only sorry the Eff is lost.
We can't have that race now. CHI
cago Tribune.
AN AMUSING FIRE.
Lots of Historical Personages Were
Trundied out I'm hurry.
Barnum's museum. destroyed July IS.