The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-07-01
make" says my missus, being fond c.

make, says my missus, being fond c.
Miss Noe
Well, one Of they days, Mr.. Moore
that's AleX-he went out swimming off
the rocks by the cove, and Miss Noe,
she was ashore, sitting high on the
cliff, reading book OF something. But
every now and again my wife sees her
raise her head and look out to sea,
anxious like, after the heads bobbinr
about like buoys in the water. At last.
up she jumps and runs down to the
cottage, all breathless. l could sec n
minute her heart was in her
mouth. "Oh, Cap'n Tom," she saws,
"Cap'n Tom, do look out at Alex.
He's swimming over there, an it
seems to me he's in some sort O.
t,cuble'-love having eyes as can see
bstter'n a binocular.
Well, ! gets down my telescope,' an
fixes it upon him. He was mile out
TO sea-a black speck on the water. /
gets him we'll fixed. Sure enough, there
he was, throwing his arms up wild
and trying to make signs to the shore
for help.
rs it cramp?" says the young lady.
Don't you believe it." says |. "There's
deal more nonsense talked about
cramp in swimming nor there need be.
a man cant swim forever" says l, "let
him be SO strong as you like" says l..
Tired out, that's what calls it," SAYS
l. And tired out Mr.. Alex was, sure
enough, by the look of him."
"Oh, Cap'n Tom," says the young
lady, will you save him?" wringing
her hands in way that might melt a
stone, let alone a Christian.
l was halfway down to my boat by
that time.
Save him?' says |. "It is the saving
of him? Bless your heart, if he warn't
no friend of yourn at alias man to
n,an-Id save him. Bill-o'-my soul,'
says l, seeing Bill on the shore, come
and help me- says |. There's a gen.
tleman drownding."
"Drownding?" says Bill, running
down and putting out. Come on"
says Bill. I'm with you!" His name
being Bill-o'-1ny-soul, along of his hay
| ing been such a favorite when he was
young with all the young women.
Well, we put Off and rowed, Bill tax
ing one OF the sWeeps--as is our name
| for the long oars-and me the other.
After awhile it struck me we wasn't
| heading outward. Hooked up, and saw,
and we was most turned toward shore
again. I'd pulled the boat around on
! Bill-which | didn't understand. he
/ being then a stronger man nor me to
pull-not but what, when was in my
best days, I'd have pulled hoat against
any man in England.
"Bill,"- says l, sharp, you're not a,
pullin'."
He looks up at me rather odd
Mate" says he, quiet like, I'm no fool
Now, what are you a-rowing for?-the
young fellow or the money!
Pull. pull, mani" I shouts out. Pull
pull, | tell you! The gentleman S
drownding-Miss Noes young gentle
man."
He pulls stroke or two, quite feeble
| His heart wasn't in it. Then | loses my
temper.
'Bill-o'-my-soul," says l, IAN I cap'r
of this here craft or are you? For un
less you pull harder-I don't want nc
strong language here; but as sure as
my name is Cap'n Tom 'Oolley, II
wiring your ugly neck for you!'
He holds up his sweep, and says he:
'Oh, is that your game?" says he. AN
do YOU propose to compensate me?'
1t flashed right across me what he
meant. "Bill, you blackguard." says |
do you mean to tell me-and mar
there adrownding? Have you no com
mon humanity" says I, bristling up
That you'd think of five pound afore ;
fellow-creature?"
Five pound is a good bit better mol
80 bob" says Bill, looking up at me, sui
lcn-like.
Well, sir, III say it to youf face
though your own father is a county
councillor, I always thought that one
as bad law as the county could make
But that law is, all the same, and there
amt no helping it. It's five pound re
ward for bringing in dead corpse, an
only 80 bob for bringing in a man alive
as YOU save from drowning.
"Bill-o'-my-soul," says l, raising my
sweep. being that angry with the mar
that Id have knocked him over the
head as soon as | would a rat, Twill yol
row. or shall | brain you?'
Just at that minute my eyes wen
/ towards the shore; and if there WASH
Miss Noe, not wringing her hands now
but plunging into the sea, clothes ant
although lady with skirts-ant
swimming for dear life out to the boa
to help ME.
l up with my voice, an l shouts
Come along, Miss Noe. You puts ths
men to shame! Blessings on you fo1
a brave girl.' She was swimming tha
splendid.
Well, l rows towards her, and help:
| her aboard into the boat, and in shs
jumps, all dripping,Sut taking no more
notice of it, bless you, than if water wa:
a feather bed to her. And she seize:
| the oar BiIl-o'-my soul wouldn't work