Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-09-02
CHAPTER XVIII
RESCUE OF THE STUDENT.

RESCUE OF THE STUDENT.
My heart sank. I knew in an instant
that I was in for an adventure. wet
and cold one probably, and perhaps
very dangerous one.
did not feel heroic. don't think l
am made that way, and l honestly
avow that if had thought this wretch
ed student fellow would be sure to get
himself out of the water without assist
ance from me I should gladly have
turned at this emergency and gone
quietly home.
But unfortunately. or fortunately, my
conscience would not hear Of 1t for a
| moment.
"The little rascal will go under the
ice in minute. it said, "unless you
20 and pick him out of danger" ."
I knew my conscience was perfectly
correct. Ones conscience is about the
only thing in this world that is infalli-
BILE. Conscience is always right and al
most always disagreeable and unpleas.
ant.
| IF we listen to it-as we must in order
to preserve that peace of mind without
which life is not worth living-if we
listen to its whisperings, we are obliged.
at times. to do very revolving things
and to leave undone many pleasant
ones.
On this occasion felt bound to leave
untasted the pleasure of sneaking home,
dry and safe, and to undertake the re-.
voting duty Of risking my life in order
to save this little wretch. now yelling
for help, from the watery grave that
yawned for him. 1t was very unpieas-
ant, and I hated doing it. therefore, sar-
castle reader, do not imagine that in
describing my action. as must now
do, l desire to pass as in the slightest
degree heroic. do not have confess
ed that would rather have gone home
What did I was obliged to do, wheth-
er I liked it or.no. and it was certainly
"no. .
The little student had. found. run
straight into hole in the ice. There
were plenty of such holes, for the bosom
of the river had not frozen over. be it
remembered. The ice had hoated down
stream from Lake Ladoga and. becom-
ing choked in the bends and bridges of
the river, had packed and remained
fixed. This is how the Neva becomes
closed every year, for If the river had to
wait fer the frost to cover 1t from bank
to bank before retiring from ken for its
winters rest. so strong is the current u
who write being rowing man, know
that current full well) that many weeks
and perhaps months would elapse be-
fore the ice roof. creeping from bank to
bank toward the center of the stream.
could meet in the middle and span the
whole rushing river. But the pack ice
has to fit in as best it can; tn round
pieces have to accommodate themselves
into square holes. and the square ones
into circular spaces; hence, there are
many gaps for the first few days, and
into one Of these my little student had
run. 1t was fortunate indeed for him
that he was not instantly sucked under
the ice and helplessly drowned. Many
poor wretches have come to no less sad
an end by attempting to cross the Neva
too early in autumn or too late in
spring. They have splashed suddenly
into water. There has been, 1t may be-.
one shrill cry for help. and they have
disappeared, no more to be seen or heard
Of in this world.
But my little rascal, when rushed
up, was clinging like grim death to the
edge of the ice, his nails dug into the
snow, his stomach and chest tightly
pressed against the rough ice margin,
and his legs no doubt already drawn by
the current we'll beneath the slippery
surface which would afford his feet no
hold or resistance. Obviously he must
let 90 in minute or two. The current
was tugging at him 'for all it was
worth" and as a pulling force it was
worth a good DEAL
"Helpl Hold me, for Gods sakel
can't hang on another secondp he
gasped.
T ran round to his end Of the hole.
which was about eight feet long by four
or five wide There secured the best
foothold I could get, and then, bending,
seized my man by the collar Of his
shirt, digging my fingers we'll down
under his chin. When I felt I had him
tight bade him try to struggle out.
~ cant, l can't" he gurgled. 1 sup
pose was half strangling him.
"My legs are right away under the
ice. can't get them back. I have no