Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-04-11

time the other two punt5 were under
way, and the sails of the skiff were
huttering as her crew prepared to
beat home for the night. The Never
Give Up was ahead Of the fleet, and
held her lead In such fine fashion as
made Billy Topsail's heart swell with
pride.
The wind had gained in force. 1t
was sweeping down from the hills in
gusts. Now it fell to breeze, and
again It came swiftly with angry
strength. Nor could its advance be
perceived, for the sea was choppy and
the bluffs shielded the fnshore waters.
wen fetch the harbor on the next
tack" Billy muttered to the Skipper,
who was whining in the bow.
He put the steering oar hard alec
to bring the punt about. A gust caught
the sails. Ths boat heeled before it,
and her Sunwale was under water
before Billy could make a move to
save her. The wind forced her down,
pressing heavily upon the canvas. Her
ballast shifted and she toppled over.
Boy and dog We're thrown into the
seattle one aft, the other forward.
Billy dived deep to escape entangle-
ment 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
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 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 strange note in it
attracted his attention. The big dog
had caught sight of him, and was beat
Ing the water in frantic effort to
approach quickly. But the dog had
never whined like that before.
"Hi, Skipper!" Billy called. STEADY,
by! Steady!"
off ,fc, ntc fo CT hn
could. The dog was coming nearer,
stlll whining strangely and madly paw
ing the water. Billy was mystitied
What possessed the dog? 1t was as
if he had been seized with a 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 Intently 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 once Billy was flied
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
py! 1t was absurd. But he was
afraid, nevertheless-despe afraid.
Back, b'y"' he cried. Get 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 it.
The water was bitter cold now, but
he did not fear it, nor did he doubt that
he could accomplish the long swim
which lay before him. 1t was the un-
accountable failure of the dog which
disturbed him-his failure in obedience,
which could not be explained. The
dog was now within three yards, and
excited past all reason.
Back, STRIP Billy screamed. Get
back with your
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 back" Billy screamed again.
1t was plain that the dog was not to
te hidden. Billy threw himself on his
| back, supported himself with his 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
| churning the water with his feet. But
swimming thus, lie was no match for
| the dog. With his head thrown back
to escape the blows, the Skipper forged
after him. He was struck IN the jaws,
in the throat and again in the jaws.
But he rawed on, 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 CHANGED to catch
one foot with his paw, and forced 1t
under. Billy could not beat him off.
No longer opposed. the dog crept
| Cp--paw over paw, forcing the boy's