The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-01


who slipped back as often as he attempted
to climb out. The chill of the pool fed
by mountain springs evidently was ex-
hausting him, for his movements were be-
coming weaker. Miss Elliott took In the
situation st glance and acted upon 1t in
stantly.
Keep up I'll help you" she called, and
ran swiftly down the bank to the point
where the young man was desperately
treading water to keep himself on the sur
race. Casting about In search of some
thing with which to aid him, her eye fell
upon a small dry branch lying on the
ground She caught it up, and after tests
ing Its strength to- make sure that it would
bear her weight, extended one end to him,
crying
F'Now catch hold and hang on"
The swimmer obeyed silently; he had no
breath left for words. Elizabeth braced
her feet behind projecting rock and
threw heriwhole weight backward. IT was
no easy matter to move the t75 pounds at
the other end of the POLE but Elizabeth
was Automatically strong girl, and with
the aisRof such efforts as her companion
was able to make in his own behalf he was
brought to a resting place on the bank. He
lay there silently sfor a few moments to
.'recoveB his breath and strength.
Thanks, awfullyn' he said presently.
clambering up and shaking the water
from ms dripping person like a big dog.
You saved me from a watery grave"
Miss Elizabeth smiled sympathetically.
my service was hardly so great as that"
she answered, but such as 1t was you
are very welcome to it. How in the world
did It happen?"
A guilty color came into the young mans
face, but apparently Miss Elliot was not
noticing him.
20, I was rather too anxious for that
q irHf h.,
could, "and I came a cropper on the wet
moss at the top of the slide. But If I'm
not mistaken that trout was worth the
experience
The conversation was thus diverted to a
new channel, and some moments were &C.
cupied in admiring the trout estimating
his weight and wondering how so fine a
specimen had strayed up the brook-mat-
ters in which both of them evinced
sportmanslike interest. The diversion
gave Mason an opportunity to regain the
presence OF mind which had deserted him
during his recent exciting experience.
I'm afraid that have forgotten the
formally of making myself known" he
said at the first lull in the discussion of
the fish. II am Roderick Mason of New
York, and am staying ct the Witch bay
camp"
Under the circumstances it would be
super1uous for me to say that am pleas
Gu 10 meet you, MI. mason, Tepueu tne
young woman. Her self-possession had
not been impaired at any point in the in
terview, and Rod mentally observed that
she must be accustomed to having young
men rain down on her in this unconven-
tonal manner. "I am Miss Elliot, to be
more exact, Miss Elizabeth Elliot of New
York. and am staying with my uncle,
Judge Vantine.'
i Rod made haste to claim his acquant-
ance with Judge Vantine. He was not re-
warded with any intimation that Miss Ell
liot had ever heard of his existence, how
ever, and the converse ton drifted into the
conventional channels of discussion of
the camp, the lake. the fishing and the
scenery.
I'm afraid 1 have spoiled the fishing
here for the day" said Rod apologetical-
ly, observing that his fair companion was
gathering up her belongings with the ev-
ident Intention of departing. "My sudden
appearance must have sent them all sour
rylng under the rocks"
1T really doesn't matter" returned Miss
Elliot. III SHOULD have left in a few min
utes4 at StlN. rate ! dare say you know
the lake s.stdfmy moods.
You Must let me row you home" be-
gan Rod and stopped abruptly. The
thought of The wager with White had
passed entirely from his mind until THIS
remark recalled it and made him feel eH-
ceediugly uncomfortable.
81 shall manage very well by myself
said Miss Elliot a trihe coldly, as she no
ticed the sudden interruption of his re-
mark. Otherwise 1 should not have come
out alone. II il gets too rough they VIII
send the launch over for me-.
IF you take my advice, she continued,
breaking the silence that ensued, you will
go straight home, too, or that cold bath
win result in making you ill., You have
boat here, 1 suppose? You could hardly
have come by balloon"
Rod felt that the cool treatment he was
receiving discounted the effect OF his I'M
mersion. but he decided that it was wise
10 give heed only to the latter part of her
remark
INV canoe is just around the point
here he said, hastily. "ts the place
were 1 usually land. There are fewer
logs there"
After this unblushing falsehood the con-
versation Jagged once more and Rod went
to the rescue of his fish basket, which
had fioated some distance toward the out
let Of the stream and was lodged against
an obstructing log. When he returned
he said, with note of genuine anxiety
in his voice:
81 don't want to offend yon, Miss Elliot,
but / really wish that you would let me
row you home. It's blowing half a gale
outside. If you will consent to that" he
went on eagerly, II should like very much
to borrow. the boat to row myself back to
camp. You know canoe isn't much good
in rough water"
Miss Elliot mounted a high rock and
looked lakeward, where the spray from
the tumbling waves was dashing over the
fallen timber of the flow.
1T does seem TO be rather rough, she
said, listening to the booming sound that
came from below. rs your canoe small?"
VERY small said Rod, unfinchngly;
"a mere cookie, was "a fool to come out
in It," v. .
perhaps 1t would be better for both of
us to wait for the launch" went on Eliza
beth,
II don't believe that is necessary" he
answered quickly; they can't tell from
the point how rough it is over here. Your
boat win ride as wen as the launch any
way, and the pull across IS Just what /
need to WARM me up and keep my mus
cles from getting stiff"
MISS Elliot seemed convinced that his sell
fish presentation of the case left no room