Democratic messenger., 1894-02-17
A COAL OF FIRE.

Hes muff all round. outside
school work, I'm sure. Can't play
cricket little bit anyway. said Doug
las Mctcalfc.
"Rummy clothes he wears. eh? Hat
looks as il il had come out of an old
clothes shop said Frank Newlyn.
He's a sullen sort of beggar too. !
suppose he's proud of his poverty; somc
fellows are like that, you know"
George Marchant remarked.
All the three speakers were in the
sixth form mt Denmark House. and the
hoy they ref, rrcd to was Herbert Grier-
son. who had Just come to the school at
the beginning If this term.
IT was Saturday afternoon of warm
day in early summer, and the three
boys We're strolling down toward the
bay. on the heights overlooking which
the Denmark House stood. When they
reached the beach. they found some half
dozen other boys undressing prepara-
tory to bathing. 4 large. broad beam
ed boat lay ont in the bay. One or two
other boys We're now in it; among the
rest Herbert Grierson.
We'll swim out To those fellows and
have dive from the boat. Douglass
Metcalfe said. In two minutes the
two were swimming toward the boat.
followed closely by Tippoo. Douglas
terrier. They scrambled into the boat.
The others We're now in the water. with
the exception of Gricrson. who stood at
the bow ready tn dive. His clothes lay
beside him. with his hat on the top. A
sudden spirit of mischief seized Doug
las.
Lets see if he is as good at swim
ming as he is at Virgil" he whispered
to his companions.
"Own up now. Douglas. You're a
hit jealous nf Griers'n. Nou re- afraid
he's going to run you hard fer dux, old
chap. Newlyn said.
"Oh. as to that. don't care much
1nc way or tho other. replied Met
-alfc. with show of carclessness. But
| fancy I'm his match at swimming
anyhow. But well see in minute or
two.
As hc spoke Douglas pretended to
stumble against GricrSon's clothes. and
recovering himself struck the hat with
his hand. and sent it spinning into the
water.
"TIullo. that was jolly clumsy of
me-" he exclaimed.
In q moment Grierson was i'll the
water after his hat, which the breeze
had caught and carried to a consider
able distance out i'll the bay. Tippoo
was before him. however, and swim
ming toward the hat.
Now then. He's got pretty good
start. Well see who reaches the hat
first. But | must send that little ras
cal Tippoo back. said Metcalfe, who
was one of the best swimmers i'll tho
school. He leapcd into the water and
struck out with all his strength in the
wake of Grierson.
All were now watching the chase of
the hat with interest and laughter and
cries of Go it. Douglas. Strike out,
Grierson. : The hat $ going to win
1t was quite clear that Herbert Grier-
son was strong and expert swimmer.
For little Douglas Metcalfe did not
gain yard upon him, hut presently
the onlookcrs could see that the space
between tho two boys had narrowed.
Metcalfe was, in fact, doing his very
best. and it was with keen sensation of
satisfaction and triumph that he at last
overlook and passed his rival.
The hat was now floating few yards
in front Of Metcalfe. The chase of it
had proved harder one than had been
expected. Metcalfe and Grierson were
row far ont in the bay. and of course
much beyond their depth. At this point
strong current swept past the bay.
The River CLEAN emptied itself into
the sea mt the north horn of the bay,
and this caused current which set in
a transverse direction across tho bay,
occanward.
Both boys were by this time in the
center of this sea stream. Mctcalfe's
hand closed upon the hat. 1t was his
intention to swim back with il toward
the boat and replace it upon the little
pile of clothes. and thus put trium-
phant finish to his swimming feat.
Metcalfe was now facing toward the
shore again. GriersOn had turned too.
The latter WAS quite aware that Met
ralfe had acted as he had done not
To recover the lost hat and restore il TO
its owner, but in order to prove his SUI