Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-11-05
LUCKY SWIM


Battle of Bunker HILL was a red let
ter day in the life of Dick Talbot.
In the first place, he was fourteen
years old on that day; and, in the
next place, he had pitched his club,
the TFimountains, to victory, over
their bitter rivals, the Wonders, in an
exciting 81 to 20 game, Of ten in
nings.
In the next place
But walt until we get to it.
After the game and the Wonders
had gone home defeated to Hyde PARK
It began TO rain hard. The rain began
at FIVE O'clock, and 1t came down IS
II 1t intended to make clean, all
night job Of It. AS the boys ran into
old Sky High Gimcrack's old red
barn, out Of the wet, Dick said:
"say fellers, this is just the kind
of weather in which to go in swim
mingw
No sooner were the words uttered
than the boys began to get out Of
their clothes and into their bathing
trunks, which we're hanging in tho
barn. Then, with wild yells OF
laughter, they all started for the
water In the rain, and Dick was tho
first to dive Off the little pier which
ran from the barn thirty feet out into
the bay. One boy after another fol
lowed, and soon they were all splash
ing around, ducking each other and
playing leapfrog.
About a quarter of a mile from the
pier was q small white schooner
yacht lying a., aachor. She had been
there for a week. Nobody seemed to
know anything about her, or very lit.
tie, which amounted to this: Her
owners, two mysterious looking men,
were seen around the village a good
deal, but for what purpose nobody
seemed to have much of an idea They
were evidently enjoying vacation.
Say, fellows" said Dick; Il am 50
ing to swim out to have peep in at
that yacht.
Dick swan out to the mysterious
yacht, and boarded her over the
bows. Nobody seemed to be aboard
Dick went aft and looked into the
cabin. Nobody there. He went down
the companionway and looked around
He was about to go up on deck, when
he heard somebody weeping in a boat
alongside, and then a mans voice
saying
Hurry up, Bill! Here take her
Send her down into the cabin out OF
the way. Hoist the anchor, then up
sail, quick. Stop your sniyelling
young one. Nobody's going to hurt
yer if yerll be nice and quiet like
Then Dick heard steps overhead
He drew back as the companionway
was darkened and a little girl came
sobbing down into the cabin. He
could hear them hauling up the an
Choir and hosting sail while peering
into the little girls face.
He recognized her as Mr.. Roger
Baldwin's daughter Nelly. Mr.. Bald
win was the richest man in Dorchcs
ter and Nelly was his only child
Dick gasped.
"What is the matter, Nelly?"
Then Nelly Baldwin sobbed as if her
little heart would break as she re
piled:
"The bad men stole me off the porch
while was playing with Fido after
dinner"
Dick did not wait to hear any more
He said:
"Pll save you. Don't worry" and
he was on deck like flash.
The yacht was going through the
water at a spanking gait, the sails
were up and there was man at the
wheel. Dick shot past him like an ar
row from Robin Hoods bow and took
header over the stern, while the
man at the wheel yelled:
Here. What are you-who-say
Bill, wing that duck, quick!'
By that time Dick was a little
astern, but not out Of range Of the
bullets that whistled around his head,
one of which ploughed furrow along
his scalp like a part made by a comb
and brush. In two minutes the
yacht was far away and Dick was
alone with the blood and rain run
ming down his face and a mile of
water between him and land.
With NOW for it," Dicks jaws
came together like a steel trap. lock-
ing In his determination to save Mel
ly Baldwin from the fate Of poor lit
tie Charlie Ross, who had been stolen
two years before and was never heard
of afterward. Stroke after stroke, on
and on, toward that distant pier,
Dick swan through the dark and
rain.
Steadily, splendidly through the
waters he ploughed, until it seemed
ages since he had leaped from that
pier! Nelly might never again be
heard of The thought was madden
ing! Then the tears ran down with
the blood and rain! Another dip, and
his eyes were clear and he could see
lanterns moving about the pier He
summoned all his strength and packed
It into one long, tremendous shout
Some of the lanterns seemed to drop
off the pier Those who carried them
we're getting into row boats. 1t seem
ed to Dick as if he were dropping out
of a balloon, as if he were dying I'M
der a mountain, and then-a gasp
two white arms in the air-and
blank.
When he opened his eyes men and
women, boys and girls seemed to be
about him. In the army he saw Mr..
and Mrs. Baldwin. He gasped his
story into their eager ears, and then
away he went into the land Of obli-
Won again.
In less than five hours that yacht
was captured by q revenue cutter of
Nixs Gate in Massachusetts Bay.