The Opelousas courier., 1902-04-05
DOG OF ID COVE.
By Norman Duncan.


perceived, for the sea was choppy ant
the bluffs shielded the inshore waters
WEN fetch the harbor on the mex
tack" Billy muttered to the Skipper
who was whining in the bow.
He put the steering oar hard alee
to bring the punt about. A gust caugh
Dthe sails. The boat heeled before 1t
and her gunwale was 1sder water
before Billy could make aEmove tt
save her. The wind forced Ter down,
pressing heavily sapon the canvas. He1
ballast shifted and she toppleA over
Boy and dog were thrown I'D o the
seattle oAe. aft, the other fo ward,
Billy diysG deep to escape en- pngie'
ment with the rigging Of the boat.
He had long ago learned the Nsson
that presence of mind wins half D.
fight in perilous emergencies. The
coward miserably perishes, where the
brave man survives. With his courage
leaping to meet his ~predicament, he
struck out for windward and rose to
the surface.
He looked about for the punt. She
had been heavily weighted with bal
last and he feared for her. What was
he to do If she had been too heavily
weighted? Even as he looked she
sank. She had righted under water;
the tip Of the mast was the last he
saw Of her.
The sea-cold, fretful, vast-lay all
about him. The coast was half a mile
to windward; the punts, out to sea,
were laboriously beating toward him,
and could make no greater speed. He
had to choose between the punt and
the rocks.
A whine-with a strange note in it
attracted his attention. The big dog
had caught sight Of him, and was beat
ing the water in a frantic effort to
approach quickly. But the dog had
never whined like that before.
"Hi. Skipperg Billy called. STEADY.
by! Steady!"
Billy took off his boots as fast as he
could. The dog was coming nearer,
still whining strangely and madly paw
ing the water. Billy was mystifed.
What possessed the dog2 1t was as
If he had been seized with a fit of ter
TOR. Was he afraid or drowning? His
eyes were fairly flaring. Such a light
had neve been In them before.
In the instant he had for speculation
the boy lifted himself high in the
water and looked lntently into the
dogs eyes. 1t was terror he saw in
them; there could be no doubt about
that, he thought. The dog was afraid
for his life. At mi Billy was filed
with dread. He could not crush the
feeling down. Afraid of the Skipper,
the old, affectionate Skipper-his own
dog, which he had reared from a pup
.y! 1t was absurd. But he was
afraid, nevertheless-desperate afraid.
Back, by" he cried. sect back,
sirr!'
Billy was a strong swimmer. He
had learned to swim where the water
Is %cold-cold, often, as the icebergs
stranded In the harbor can make 1t.
The water was bitter cold now, but
ne did not fear it, o did he doubt that
ne could accomplish the long swim
which lay before him. 1t was the I'M
accountable failure Of the dog which
disturbed him-his failure In obedience,
which could not be explained. The
log was now within three yards, and
past all reason.
"Back. sir" Billy screamed. "Get
back with you'll"
The dog was not deferred by the
command. He did not so much as hes
tate. Billy raised his hand as IL to
strike him-a threatening gesture
which had sent the Skipper home with
lis tail between his legs many a time.
But it had no effect now.
get back!" Billy screamed again.
It was plain that the dog was not to
e hidden. Billy threw himself on his
Jack, supported himself with his hands
kicked at the dog with his feet.
Skipper was blinded by the splash
ng. He Whined and held back. Then
he came again. Billy moved
from him. head foremost, stiIl
burning the water with his feet. But
thus. he was no match for
he dog. With his head thrown back
o escape the blows, the Skipper forged
him. He was struck III the jaws.
Q the throat and again in the jaws.
sut he rawed on, taking every blow
complaint and gaining inch
y inch. Soon he was SO close that the
I'D could no longer move his feet
RELY. Then the dog CHANGED to catch
foot with his paw, and forced it
nder. Billy could not beat him of.
No longer opposed, the dog crept
p-paw over paw, forcing the boys
ody lower and lower. His object
clear to Billy. The Skipper, fren-
by terror, the boy thought, would
~ to save himself by climbing on
is shoulders. /
Skipper he cried, @you1l drown /,
ne! Get back!p'
The futility of attempting to COM
aand obedience from q crazy dog |
truck Billy Topsail with force. He
lust act otherwise. and that quickly, ]
he Were to escape. There seemed
be but n thing to do. He took a i
,ng breath and let himself sink |
oWn-down-as deep as he dared. [
,own-down-until L. retained breath {
efficient but to strike to the right and ]
ise again. {
The dog-as it was made known later /
as high as he could force him. {
nlf md 1noLna nhnrrA L. = H. i