Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-08-17


reefs in search of rare shells. Now
the scientist. up to his shoulders in
water, presented sorry spectacle.
''Save me! save mer' he yelled.
''I'm caught by big taclobo! Hurry,
or you'll be too later'
His Spanish was faulty, but Sanchc
caught the word taclobo. He needed
no further explanation.
The giant clam lies at the bottom
of pools, often shallow, with its huge
valves agape to admit food and air,
and woe to the man who unwittingly
places hand or foot within the gap, fol
the she'll shuts instantly like o stee.
trap. Many Malay fisherman. caught
in that clutch, has perished wretchedly
in the rising tide.
For more than two hours had the
naturalist stood there, alternately
shouting and praying as he watched
the water steadily mounting higher
and higher, but now he saw in brown.
skinned Sancho possible preserver,
and despair gave way to hope.
Courage, senior! will save you"
the boy cheerily called, as he lowered
the mast, and padded his boat eau.
tiously inshore until the buoyant out.
rigger was within the Americana
grasp. Overheard went the anchor
q curious combination of wood, stone
and twisted rattan and then Sancho
snatched up heavy, keen edged
knife.
''Hurry, my lad!' cried the natural.
ist, for the water was now quite up to
his neck. eff there is no other way
to save me, chop off my foot
Sancho smiled reassuringly; he
knew from experience just what to do.
Then he dived and held himself at the
bottom by clutching spur of coral
with one hand. With the keen blade
in the other hand he vigorously
slashed and sawed at the byssus, or
cable, by which the giant clam cements
itself to the rocks.
1t was difficult work, and lack of air
soon forced Sancho to the surface, but
in few seconds he was down again,
hacking desperately at the tough cord.
A wave broke over the naturalist's
head, as he c!ung to the outrigger with
both hands, and then the byssus
yielded.
Up came Sancho with, "Now, senor,
climb for your life!" and like flash
the boy dived under the canoe. bob
bing up on the opposite side, and
clinging to the edge of the craft tc
counterbalance the weight of the
naturalist, who now began a desperate
effort to drag himself into the boat
The giant clam still clung obstinate
ly to the Americans rubber boot. but
lie had to lift only the creatures dead
weight, and this in water a heavy
load, however, to a man chilled and
exhausted from long exposure; but
inch by inch the American dragged
his weary length along one of the
beams connecting boat and outrigger,
with an immense mollusk clinging to
his left foot.
Finally, more dead than alive, he
got his arms and shoulders over into
the dugout.
Then Sancho, no longer fearing a
capsize, dived again, and began a
vigorous assault on the hinge of the
monster shell. Soon the grip of the
great clam L laxed, and the Americans
foot was free.
''Save the clam-I want itn' he
gasped, feebly; and then, after pulling
his whole body aboard, he fell back
in a dead faint upon a malodorous
heap of fish, where he lay quite undis-
turbed, for Sancho was now fully oc-
cupied in saving his canoe. 1t was
rapidly dragging anchor, and drifting
dangerously close to the rock-bound
coast.
Before long the dexterous youth
had worked clear of the perilous reef,
and was once more speeding for port,
but it was not until the twinkling
lights of the village showed close at
hand that the naturalist recovered
consciousness.
''Boy," said he, solemnly, ''you
have saved my life, What can l do
for you?"
Sancho's answer came promptly.
so senior, save my poor father! That
is all ask" and bursting into tears
he sobbed out the story of the family
misfortune.
"Your father shall be free, my boy"
the naturalist declared. Fear not,
tomorrow will witness his release"
And SO it came to pass, for the
American was quite able to pay the
sum for which the Filipino was held
in prison. His gratitude did not stop
with the release of Sancho's father.
He did not tell me the rest when he
related the history of the gigantic pair
of taclobo shells that form part
of his matchless collection. A mans
wife is, however, privileged to speak of
his good deeds. Sancho, fisher boy,
was sent to school through his hene
factors generosity.
Battle Tunes.
One of the pluckiest of war cores