Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-19

party, ana so was Aunt Hannah. who
had a kiss for each smiling face, and
so were Uncle Jlms big collie dogs,
that appeared to think the outing was
arranged solely for their pleasure.
out in the grove behind the orchard
Uncle Jim had constructed number
OF swings and aee-saws, and In one
corner of the big field beyond he had
moved the grass. so that the boys
could have a nice ball field.
The little folks, after the manner of
their kind, quickly scattered and gave
themselves entirely over to the many
games that help amuse Jack and Jill
After n While Betsy and several OF
her friends wandered off down the lane
toward the wster-an arm of the Sound
where Uncle Jim kept moored his
yacht Hauled out on the sandy shore
there was small boat, and into this
the girls jumped and played "sailors"
1t was rare good fun, and they roll
licked to their hearts content They
did not notice that in their rompings
they had loosened the skin from her
mornings, and that rapidly rising tide
had set her afioat. Suddenly Betsy dis
covered that their frail craft was
adrift. They were not a bit alarmed,
but thought 1T fine fun and shouted In
their glee.
But on the shore, Dan and Dick, two
wise collie dogs, evidently thought DIFF
ferently. They saw the little boat drift
from the shore, and scented danger and
probable disaster They ran to and fro
along the waters edge, emitting short,
sharp yelps, and in dog language pro-
claiming the peril of the little folks.
strong wind from land sprung up,
and despite the force of the incoming
waters the boat was surely but slowly
making for the broad stretch OF
trencherous waters beyond.
Betsy began to realize that her posi-
tion was not one Of pleasure, and in
her distress called aloud for help. Her
companions took up the cry, and the
plaintive cries reached the ears OF the
troubled dogs on shore. The latter re-
doubled their yelps but they were too
far from help for them TO be heard
The frightened girls looked TO the In
tellgent dogs TO save them. They saw
one of the dogs suddenly leave his COM
panion and dart up the lane. while the
other one waded out in the water as
far as he could go. the meanwhile keep
ing up a succession OF sharp barks.
As the boat drlfted outward Il APP
peared to feel the fun effects OF the
wind. and Its Roadway was increased.
Minutes seemed ages to the thoroughly
alarmed children, and saw before them
| but n short stretch Of land-locked cove
| and beyond a wide sweep of rolling
| waters
The remaining dog. Dan. was seem
| ingly becoming desperate. He whined
| piteously. The girls saw him leave his
wading ground and plunge into the
| deeper water and swim toward them
| They cheered him.
The race between the dog and boat
was close and exciting one. The
entrance to the cove was not very wide
a narrow strip Of land extending well
| out that acted as a sea wall TO the
| little haven. II the boat should get be
| You'd this arm the chance OF rescuinp
| the children were slim indeed and this
| fact appeared TO be known TO Dan.
The good dog reached the boat before
| the danger line had been passed. He
swan around and around, seemingly
| unable to afford assistance. with Q
| joyous bark he finally grasped the boat
line tightly between his teeth ant
started to paddle toward the point oil
| the projecting strip OF land.
Dan was n big dog and possessed
lots OF strength, and the wind aidet
him somewhat for he had only to maxi
! n slight change In the skiff's course L
run 1t aground. He struggled al
seldom a dog has ever fought, and hi.
efforts We're not in vain, for after toll
ing what seemed to be a long, loni
time the bottom of the boat scrapel
the pebbly shore.
Just at that moment Uncle Jim ant
Dick, followed by a half dozen men
broke through the shrubbery that line,
the shore. and. rushing into the shall
low water, brought the girls safely Il
shore. 1t was a Joyous rescue.
And Dan? He could have had all tn
good things in the baskets.