The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-09
er I liked it or no, n ii was certainly

err / liked it or no, ana It was certainly
'tno."
The little student had. | found. run
straight into & hole in the Ice. There
we're plenty Of such holes, for the bosom
Of the river had not frozen over, be IL
remepbered The ice had tloated dcwn
stream from Lake Ladoga and. becom-
ing choked in the bends and bridges Of
the river, had packed and remained
fixed This il how the Neva becomes
closed every year, for IL the river had TO
wait fer the frost to cover 1t from bank
to bank before retiring from ken for its
winter rest, so strong is the current CT
who write, being a rowing man, know
that current full well) Tint 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 us best 1t can; the 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 n 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, IL may be,
n 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 well beneath the slippery
surface which would afford his feet no
hold or resistance. Obviously he must
let 90 in Il minute or two. The current
was Juggling at him ''for all 1t was
worth, and as a pulling force 1T was
worth a good deal.
"Helpi Hold me, for Gods sakel /
cant hang on another secondr" he
gasped.
I ran round to his end of the hole,
which was about eight feet long by four
or five wide. There I secured the best
foothold I could get, and then, bending,
seized my mar by the collar Of bis
shirt, digging my fingers we'll down
under his chin. When I felt I had him
tight. ! babe him try to struggle out.
II can't, I can't" he gurgled. I sup
pose ! was half strangling him.
my legs are right away under the
Ice. ! cant get them back. I have no
power. Save me. for Gods sake, who.
ever you are! I never did you harmi'
II am trying to save you," I said.
pulled at him. It must have been a
choky process for the poor fellow, But
I could not move him.
"Let 60 with your hands and I'll
pull you along the edge up stream" !
said. Don't lose your head. 1t will DO
all right. won't let you gor
mo, mol can't. ! daren'tl" he
gasped, IF I lose my hold on the ice,
the current will suck me away in an
instant. Hold on tight till some one
comesI'
mo one will come" I said. IF you
keep your head and lot me pull you
along quietly, you may be saved. Let
go with your hands, I tell you"
~ won'ti' he screamed. cts my
only chance. Oh, the cold Of I'll Get a
good foothold and pull"
"Let go, You fooll'' l said angrily.
II can't move you this way, and the