The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-02-20


ntent with the rigging of the boat.
He had long ago learned the lesson
that presence Of mind wins half the
fight in perilous emergencies. The
coward miserably perishes, where the
brave man survives. With his courage
leaplng to meet his predlcament, he
struck out for windward and rose to
the surface.
Hc 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 tco 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.
\ 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, Skipperr' 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 dog? 1t was as
if he had been seized with fit Of ter
ror Was he afraid or drowning? His
eyes were fairly faring. Such light
had never been in them before.
In the instant he had for speculation
the boy lifted himself high in the
water and looked lrtcptly into the
dogs eyes. 1t was terror he saw in
them; there could be no doubt about
that, lie thought The dog was afraid
for his life. At once Billy was filed
with dread. He could not crush the
feeling down. Afraid of the Skipper,
the old, afectionate Skipper-his own
dog, which he had reared from 4 pup
py! It was absurd. But lie was
afraid, neyertheless-desp perately afraid.
Back, by" he cried. Get back,
sir"
Billy was a strong swimmer. He
had learned to swim where the water
is cold-coll, often, as the icebergs
stranded in the Larbor can make 1t.
The water was bitter cold now. but
he did not fear it, nor did he doubt that
he -ceuld accomplish the long swim
which lay before him. 1t was the IN
accountable failure of the dog which
disturbed hin2-his failure in obedience,
which could not be explained. The
dog was now within three yards, and
excited past all reason.
Back, sir" Billy screamed. "Get
back with you"
The dog was not deferred by the
command. He did not so much as hes
itate. Billy raised his hand as If to
strike him-a threatening gesture
which had sent the Skipper home with
his tail between his legs many time.
But it had no effect now.
"Get bacllw Billy screamed again.
1t was plain that the Cog was not to
Re bidden. Billy threw himself on his
back, supported himself with hi5 hands
and kicked at the dog with his feet.
The Skipper was blinded by the splash
ing. He whined and held back. Then
blindly he CAME again. Billy moved
slowly from him, head foremost, still
cnurning the water with his feet. But
swimming thus, he was no match for
the dog. With his head thrown back
to escape the blows, the Skipper forged
after him. He was struck III the jaws,
in the threat and again in the jaws.
But he rawed Oil, taking every blow
without complaint and gaining inch
by inch. Soon he was so close that the
lad could no longer move his feet
freely. Then the dog chanced to catch
one foot with his paw, and forced it
under. Billy could not beat him off.
No longer opposed, the dog crept
up-paw over paw, forcing the boys
body lower and lower. His object
was clear to Billy. The Skipper. fren-
zied by terror. the boy thought. would
try to save himself by climbing on
his shoulders.
Skipper" he cried, you'll drown
NE! Get Eack"'
The futility Of attempting to COM
mard obedience from q crazy dog
struck Billy Topsail with force. He
must act otherwise, and that quickly,
if he We're to escape. There seemed
to be but one thing to do. He took a
long breath and let himself sink
down--doWn-as deep as he dared.
Down,-down-until he retained breath
sufficient but to strike to the right and
rise again.
The dog-as it was made known later
rose as high as he could force him.
self, and looked about in every direc-
ton, with his mouth open and his ears
rigidly cooked. He gave two short
barks, like sobs, and long, mournful
whine. Then, as if acting upon sudden
thought, he dived.
For a moment nothing was to be
seen OF either boy or dog. There was
nothing but a choppy sea in that place.
Men who were watching thought that
both had followed the Never Give Up
to the bottom.
In the mol2entary respite under
water Billy perceived that bis situa-
ton was desperate. He would rise,
he was sure, but only to renew the
struggle. How long he could keep the
dog off he could not tell. Until the
punts came down to his aid? He
thought not.
He came to the surface prepared to
dive again. But the Skipper had dis
appeared. An ejaculation Of thanks
giving was yet on the boys lips, when
the dogs black head rose and moved
swiftly toward him. Billy had start
CT ten yards-or something more.