The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-02-20
came up-waiting eagerly, on the alert

came up-Waiting eagerly on tue a'ess
to continue the chase.
Skipper, old fellow-good old deg"
Billy called in soothing voice:
"Steady, sir! Down, sir-back!"
The dog was not to be deceived. He
came, by turns whining and gasping.
He was more excited, more determined,
than ever. Billy waited for him. The
fight was to be face to face. The boy
had determined to keep him off with
his hands until strength failed-to
drown him if he could. All love for
the dog had gone out Of his heart.
The weeks CT close and merry COM
panionship, OF romps and rambies
and sport, were forgotten. Billy was
fighting for life. So he waited with
out pity, hoping only that his strength
might last until he had conquered.
Wlen the dog Vas within reach Billy
struck him in the face. A snarl and an
angry snap was the result.
Rage seemed suddenly to possess the
dog. He held back for a moment,
growing 1ercely, and then attacked
with a rusn. Billy fought IS best lie
could, trying to catch his enemy by
the neck and to force his head beneath
the waves. The effort was vain; the
dog eluded his grasp and renewed
the attack. In another moment he
had laid his heavy paws on the boys
shoulders.
The weight was too much for Billy.
Down he went, freed himself, and
struggled to the surface, gasping for
breath. 1t appeared to him now that
he had but a moment to live. He felt
his self-possession going from him
and at that moment his ears caught
the sound Of voice.
Put your arm"
The voice seemed to come from far
away. Before the sentence was COM
pleted the dogs paws were again on
Billy's shoulders and the water stopped
the boys hearing. What were they
calling to him? The thought that some
helping hand was near inspired him.
With this new courage to aid, he
dived for the third time. The voice
was nearer-clearer-whe he came up,
and he heard every word.
Put your arm around his neck" one
man cried.
"Catch him by the scruf Of the
neck" cried another.
Billy's self-possession returned. He
would follow this direction. The Skip
Pc: swan anxiously to him. It may
be that he wondered what this new at.
titude meant. 1t may be that he hoped
reason had returned to the boy-that
at last he would allow himself to be
saved. Billy caught the dog by the
scruff Of the neck when he was within
arms length. The Skipper wagged
his tail and turned about. There was
a brief pause, during which the faith
full cid dog determined upon the direc-
ticn he would take. He espied the
punts, which had borne down with all
speed. Toward them he swan, and
there was something Of pride in his
mighty strokes, something of exulta-
ton in his whine. Billy struck out
with his free hand, and soon boy and
dog were pulled over the side of the
nearest punt.
Through it all, as Billy row knew,
the dog bed oily wanted to save him.
That night Billy Topsail took the
Skipper aside for long and contiden-
tial talk. skipper" said he, II beg
your pardon. You see, 1 didn't know
what twas you wanted. I'm sorry I
ever had q hard thought against you,
and I'm sorry tried to drown you,
When I thought you only wanted to
save yourself, twas Billy Topsail you
were thinking Of. When 1 thought
you wanted to climb atop Of me. twas
my collar you wanted to catch. When
I thought you wanted to bite me- twas
a scolding you were giving ME for
my foolishness. Skipper, by, honest,
I beg your pardon. Next time I'll
know that all a Newfoundland dog
WAITS is a chance to tow me ashore.
And I'll give him whole chance. But
Skipper, don't you think you might
have given me a chance to do some
thing for MYSELF"
at which the Skipper wagged his
tail.-Youth's Companion.