Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-07-29

1t flashed right across me what he
meant. "Bill. you blackguard." says |
do you mean to tell me-and man
there a-drownding? Have you no COM
mon humanity" says l, bristling up
"that you'd think of five pound afore q
fellow-creature?"
Five pound is a good bit better MOI
30 bob" says Bill. looking up at me, sui
len-like.
Well, sir, I'll say it to your face
though your own father is a county
councillor, / 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 30 bob for bringing in a man alive
as you save from drowning.
"Bill-o'-my-soul." says |, raising my
sweep, being that angry with the man
that I'd have knocked him over the
head as soon as | would a rat, will you
row, or shall / brain you?"
just at that minute my eyes went
towards the shore; and if there wasn't
Miss Noe, not wringing her hands now.
but plunging into the sea, clothes and
although a lady with skirts-and
swimming for dear life out 10 the boat
to help me.
| up with my voice, an l shouts;
'Come along, Miss Noe! You puts the
men to shame! Blessings on you for
brave girl!' She was swimming that
splendid
Well. / rows towards her, and helps
her aboard into the boat, and in she
jumps, all dripping, but taking no moro
notice of it, bless you, than If water was
a feather bed to her. And she seizes
the oar Bill-o'-my wouldn't work
and she cries out TO me, agonized like:
ROW on, Cap'n Cooley, for heavens
sake, row on! Alex is a-drownding!
Well. l wasn't going to carry su.
percargo, as you may say, TO weight the
boat, nor yet passenger for nothing
So, to tighten the burden, / just ups with
Bill-o'-my-soul and clasps un around
the waist, being a older man nor him.
but, heaven be praised, a strong one
He was took by surprise, too much TO
struggle. AMI heaves un over afore
he knowed where he was, and makes
Jonah of him. He come up sputtering
being the worst swimmer for a seafar-
ing man as ever l met with. There"
says |, hitting out at him with the blade
o. my sweep. See how you likes II
yourself" says l. There's five pounds
n-goin' begin for whoever pulls out
your ugly corpse, for nobody amt GO
ing to trouble about you living" And
off we two rows, Miss Noe in her drip
ping clothes, and leaves Bill there. to
sink or swim. accordin' as he was
A quarter o. mile out we comes up 10
a sailing boat. Wind was nor'enst, or
might been pint nearer east, may
hap, and a sail before the wind could
bear straight down upon where Mr.,
Alex was drownding. Miss Noe, she
stood up and calls out TO the men:
"0ver yonder!" she cries, showing the
way with her hand. "Quicls, quick; he's
In second they sees. and without
one word off they goes, luffing that sud
dent l wouldn't "a believed ii If hadn't
ioen it, and they flies before half gale
over in the direction of the gentleman.
Well, he was done up for swimming,
through not having another kick left
IN him, as you may say; but he was able
10 float on his back, and might have
loated an hour more, mayhap, If so be
Is the chill O. the water didn't numb him
md send him to the bottom. They
come up to him. and pulled un in.
could see them a-pulling of him; but
it was 30 bob or five pounds
worth, couldn't rightly make out for
certain.
as it alive or dead?" says the young |
ady
"Well," says I. ''he do look rather
imp" says |, "as is natural when you've
been lying so long in the water. But
think it's alive. anyhow, we'd better
'ow back and get your things dried, |
Mss"
"Oh, no" says she, crying, 81 can't go |
Jack till know. Cap'n Cooley" says |
he, 1--WE must row on and meet them"
Well, didn't quite like it, owing to
he gentleman perhaps having nothin'
IN, which Miss Noe hadn't thought of; |
till, this being a matter o. life and |
leath, where such things can't be al
owed TO count, rows on to meet them.
About 100 yards off, l stands up and
houts, so as she shouldn't understand: |
Is it fve-pound job, mate, or a 30
,obber?"
And the young gentleman himself
fits himself up in reply, with one of the
shermen's jerseys on, an a sail
wrapped around un. and he shouts at
he top of his voice, waving his hand,
Alive, alive, Noel"
I wanted to turn then; but, bless yor.
here wasn't no keeping back that
Dung lady. Afore l knowed where
vas, at the sound of his voice, she'd
TODD mp in the boat and jumped off
he seat, and was swimming for dear