The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-07-17

groun's with him / give up me place,
an got a job here, 'tendin' the canal
lock-
And sometimes you think you were
to blame2-' l asked.
Sometimes" 4" he replied. Pete he he'd
curious ways, an l don't blieve he
meant no harm. 1 o'tn't hev called him
a thief
Soper suddenly started TO his feet.
and. shading his ewes with his hands.
gazed up the river.
"A fddle,'' he cried. Out on the
river, 1 heard it plain. There II is
ag'in,"
1 sprang TO his side. and looked up
the stream al a black object To which he
was pointing. II was a boat: and we
could see a man sitting in its stern.
rocking TO and fro. Then I heard a
quick succession of harsh, grating notes,
low. but distinct. and l saw that the
man was fiddling.
Its Pete" cried my eompanion
"Thet's his plasin' an that's him Look
AT the boat, Why. il won't stay up an
hour,-
The craft was sunk low in the water,
and was sweeping rapidly toward us
on the turbulent stream; but the fid-
dler seemed unconscious of his danger.
for he swung To and fro in maudlin
manner, running his bow madIy over
the strings of his instrument
Its Pete's way" Soper exclaimed.
lie don't know what he's doin'. fer he's
ben at the liquor ag'in.''
As he spoke he stripped of his coat
and boots.
What are YOU doing,'' cried. seiz-
ing his arm You are not going out in
such 4 fiood,'
The boat was bearing rapidly toward
/ Us; every motion of its maudlin occg-
! ant was now plainly discernible: every
note of his aimleSs music was distinctly
! audible
''Nawthin' else TO do came the quiet
reply. ''They's rocks an rapids below,
an thet boat 'ud never live through
| en-
With that SOper ran out into I he rive.
/ In a moment he was over his depth:
then he struck out into the stream.
HIS WAS not a masters stroke. He
heat the swiftly flowing water convui-
siNely with his hands. and seemed TO be
making almost superhuman efforts II
reach a point that he believed the boat
would pass His progress was slow.
and the current bore him down the
river His efforts would have been
vain had not the runaway craft taken a
sudden sverve toward him. II was al
most on him Then 7 slv him Iais,. his
long arm high above him and grasp the
bow. Instantly the loat turned its nose
toward the shore, and I breathed more
freely
Siders sprar 2 from his place. and Wit a
unsteady step began TO make his way
toward the man who WIS riSking his
own life TO save him. The craft gave a
quick lurch over on one side 80 that the
water rushed in and almost flied il.
Get down I screamed
let go there yelled SideIs. fran
tically- you'll upset me. YOU fool
He raised his fiddle and struck wildly
al Soper. but his blow fell short OF its
mark; he lost his balance and topple1
into the bottom of the boat which
righted itself. but none too soon Siders
quickly recovered and cautiously
crawIed forward
Cit of there he yelled.
Soper made no answer. for he was al,
most exhausted. He clung more des-
TerateIy to the craft. which was no-y
within a hundred feet of the shore
The fiddle whirled through the air and
crashed down on his head. Still h,
clung on With cry of disappointment
SiderS fell into the bottom OF the boat
ran out into the water. seized tn,
sinking craft. and dragged il ashore
When he heard the keel CRATE ON tn,
gravel. sam Soper released his hold ano
fell into my arms unconscious ! liftes
him out on the hank. Ace oss his fore
lead there was a great cash from whici
the blood flowed freely.
Some men came To my aid from
neighboring field. and helped me 1,
carry the injured man To his home
which stood few hundred yards baci
from the river The wonderful Sider>
who had partially recovered his sens
t-y reason of his immersion. followed us
lie explained that he had spent TIA
night fiddlinC at a party and had a
daybreasI started for his home Tn
last thing that he remembered clearl
= was getting into n boat to cross tn
river.
When sam SoTer recovered conscious
> ness i half an hour later he asked 70
, his brother-in-law. and as Siders san
into chair AT his bedside he held GA
2 his hand and said:
Pete. | think III 60 over the rive
4 to live agin. fer 7 low | WAS to blame.
Il low YOU was. too. Sam" humble
| the other, taking the proffered han,
2 But L don't bear you no spite-'-N-
+. Evening Sun