Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-10-01
heavily loaded, the boys volunteered to

within their reach.
There was strong current setting
past the house, and anything which
happened to drift into this eddy was
borne along SO swiftly that a quick
hand was required to capture it; hut
the boys had long rope and a pole with
a hook at one end, and by means OF
these implements they hauled in quite
a collection of miscellaneous articles.
"lIi! look dar!" cried Tom Pete, sud-
denly. "Dar's de Pelton boys doghouso
a-comin' down de stream. Is you gwine
to kctch dat?"
"No; let it CO." said John, with
scowl. "I'm not going to save his old
doghousc for him-yes, will, tool"
And impulsive John reached out his
pole and drew in a gaily-painted kennel,
which he had at once recognized as the
of Tracy's favorite hound.
1t WIS a cumbersome article to man.
age, but the two boys contrived to get
it on the housetop by dint of stout tug
ging. AS John Strengthened up after
the lift, he remarked, with an apollo
getic accent:
at cost Mr.. Pelton three dollars to get
the old thing painted, and l haven't got
anything against him!"
At this moment Tom Pete gave utter
ance to another excited "IIil"
"Dar's hull raft oh stuff a-comin'
down FIN Pelton's place." he said.
"Sumfin's done busted ober dar!"
'Nlust be their ginhouse; father said
hewas afraid it wouldn't stand replied
John, gazing regretfully at the mass OF
boards and timbers which came swiftly
down the current. 81 hope all that lum-
Der won't come humping against this
house." he added, with look of APP
prehension.
"If we do, we'll bust up, too, TO- sho',"
said Tom Pete, sagely. at ain'ta-gwine
to hit us, dough-it's gwine to pieces"
In fact, the mass of timbers began to
fall apart and drift away separately,
and John got ready with his pole to pull
in the boards as they were sweeping
past. All at once, with great start,
he exclaimed:
"Tom Pete, there's somebody hanging
on to that board out yonder!"
'It's dat ar Pelton boy!" cried Tom
Pete. "Hell git drownded, shot"
Before Tom Pete spoke, John had be-
come aware that it was Tracy Pelton
who clung to that drifting board, and
his whole generous heart went out to
his helpless foe in moment.
"Tom Pete, you hold onto the rope"
he said, hastily twisting coil of it
around his arm as he spoke. 1--WE can't
reach him with the pole, and he don't
know how to swim. I'll have to 60
after him."
as you gwine to drown'd yo'self TO-
dat kin OBJ a feller?" Tom Pete de-
manded, with strong disapproval.
"Of course not. I'm going to save
him."
"IIe amt wuff savin'," declared Tom
Pete, contemptuously.
"What are you talking about" said
John, with flashing eyes. "He's the
pluckiest fellow to fight that ever saw.
Do you suppose I'm going to let him
drown because he doesn't happen to be
the best friend I've got? What do you
take me for, anyhow"
"Don' take you fo' nuflin'!" said Tom
Pete, with a scared look, and Fastening
to clutch the rope, as John impetuously
added:
"Hang on to that rope now, and help
me haul him in. II he gets away I'll
pitch you after him."
And John, with shout Of encourage
ment TO his imperiled foe, flung himself
into the water, and struck out to Tracy's
aid. He was sturdy swimmer, and in
few moments he came alongside of the
board TO which Tracy was clinging, and
fastened his rope to it.
Tom Pete began TO haul in the repe
with great zeal, while John, putting one
arm under Tracy's shoulder, and swim
ming with the other, aided in propelling
him to the housetop, where they quick
ly drew him up, wet, weak and SILVER
ing, but by no means devoid of the
courage and "pluck" which John so
much admired.
"John Hartwell, you're good fellow"
said Ne, clasping Johns hand, with q
look that spoke more than his words.
81 thought | was gone when the GIN
house went, and / can tell you was
glad when you called out to me. You
have saved my life, and ] shan't for
get IT,"
'IIow came you on the ginhousc? I
thought your folks had all gone to the
hills asked John.
"Fathcr and / came down to feed the
stock over on the high knoll" answered
Tracy. 81 thought ! should be safe
enough on the ginhouse, while he went
over there with boatload of corn and
hay. But it gave way, and went over
like pile of chips. This current was
too much for it. It will cost father a
pretty penny to build new ginhouse,"
he added, ruefully.
When Mr.. Hartwell came back to get
the boys, he was very much surprised
to find Tracy Pelton in their company;
and when Mr.. Pelton discovered what
had happened, he was too gratezs- for
the rescue Of his son to complain about
the loss of his ginhouse.
When the waters had finally subsided,
SO that people could return to their
homes, the two planters, like all their
neighbors, found themselves much
poorer for lost stock and injured prop
erty; the flood had one good result for
John and Tracy-it had made them
friends-Golden Days.
Cinnn 4hn Lnnci iIa I, inn of thin nnrtII