Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-11-03
SAVING HIS SiX-YEAR-OlO.
a Mans Adventure While Boating with
His Little Son,

i'A' - =
His Little Son.
MY story is short" said he. II
heard the dog booming down from the
mountains; heard the deer in the
woods just where | was listening to
him; saw him break out into the open
exactly where l was watching for him,
and then | shot him"
"And hit exactly the spot you aimed
for, SUPPOSED" said his companion.
Not precisely. 1t was an inch and
a quarter to the left, for he was travel
ing fast, and I did not try for extra
fine sighting. But this was not nv
first, and since we each agreed to give
our first deer stories, you may as well
have mine now. 1t was years ago. I
got him under the jack light, float
ing it is now called. 1t was a simple
case of brutalizing assassination, and it
would be easy to believe that Almighty
God punished me for it without DELAY.
| shall never do it again.
ut was just at break of day, and
leaving my guide to dress out and
hang up the deer, | took my little six
year-old boy in the boat and rowed
across the lake on an errand. When
we stated to return l paid out a
trolling line and passed the rod to my
boy in the stern. Presently a bass I
suppose it was a ~bass-struck the
spoon, and struggling so violently
that poor little Russell's strength and
skill weren't equal to it, and he PARTLY
stood up TO pass the rod to me. also
partly stood up to reach for it. Now.
you all know what a tifty-pound
Adirondack boat is capable Of. Proper.
ly handled, it will live in the highest
waves ever met in these waters; but
any %greenhorn can get under one in an
instant in fiat water.
II was careless. The boat tipped
and nearly filled and then righted. |
instantly placed each hand on oppo.
site gunwales of the boat and,
Strengthening my arms, raised my body
free from the boat and gently bal
anced myself out into the lake and
swan to the end of the bow. Of course.
in balancing out | completely filed
the boat with water, but ! kept fright
side up and hoped that, swamped as it
was, it would sustain the boy and also
allow me to bear a part of my weight
on it while | swan and pushed it
along. The boat sank at first until
the water came up to Russell's mouth.
| bore no more weight on it, and kept
soothing and encouraging him to sit
absolutely still. The water was bit.
terly cold. Ny hunting clothes and
boots were heavy. swan and pushed
us steadily and carefully as | could,
aiming for the point of an island. L,
was slow-terribly slow. / economical
my strength in every possible way.
and began to speculate on the time
when complete exhaustion would over.
come me. 1t was certain to come long
before | could reach the island. In
encouraging and directing the boy to
sit perfectly still, and at intervals to
scream at the top of his voice, I used
the fewest possible words and ex
pended the least possible amount Of
breath.
"a numbness, beginning at my feet,
crept gradually up my legs until they
were all but useless. ! swan only
with my arms, and at every second OF
third stroke pushed the boat care.
fully with one hand. 1t was plain now
that could not get to the island, and
that no boat could possibly get to US
in time to be of any service to me.
therefore gave Russell final precise di,
rections; trying to give him the i'm.
preston that / was simply going
away after help. l wanted-oh. so
muchl-to say good-by to him, and to
give a message to his mother, but !
did not dare to risk the little fellows
emotions.
MY pains were 10Y so intense that
it required no courage to let myself
slowly sink. 1t came as a blessed re.
lief. 1t came almost as a d~isappoint.
iiiCht dltCi i ldd huuh W una IDut nv
feet struck bottom.
I'VE had just reached the edge of a
shoal and were in a trine over six feet
of water, thought that / was diving,
and the hope that footing gave was
only a languid stimulus. 1t was the
thinking Of that dear, courageous boy
that gave me enough vitality to thrust
my head above the surface again. A
few more sinkings and a few more
thrusts brought me to wading ground"
Are you on bottom, papa?'
81 had only enough strength to say:
Yes, my son. and l slowly-very
slowly-pushed the boat to the island.
l lifted the boy out and said: Russell,
say thank Cod"
Thank God, papan"-N. Y. Mail
and Express.
E.-.A Ls.1A O.