Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-13
.IT T was very narrow escape" !"
said the doctor.
"Crossinp tho harborf~

CrOSSluS tue udfpOr! i
exclaimed.
"Yes," said he, with a laugh, then
gravely. "it was my narrowest escape"
"Tell me the story" said I, much IN
ferested.
It was a quiet evening-twilight-
with the harbor water unrinIied. and
the colors of'the afterglow fast fading
from the sky. We were sitting by the
surgery door, watching the fishing
boats come in from the sea, and our
Halk had been Of the common dangers
Of that life
''Do you see the little cottage on the
other side-back of the church and to
the left" said the doctor.
"Under the big rock?" said I. 'With
The little garden in front and the lad
going up the path?"
"Aye," said the doctor. "Some years
ago, when that sturdy little lad was a
fodder in pinafores he was taken sud-
denly i'll. 1t was a warm day in the
spring Of the year. The ice was still in
the harbor, locked in by the rocks at
the narrows, though the snow had all
melted from the hills, and green things
were shooting from the earth in the
gardens. The weather had been fine
for a week. Day by day the harbor
Ice had grown more unsafe, until, when
Tommy, the lad you saw on the path,
was taken i'll, only the daring ventured
to cross upon it.
"Tommy's father came rushing into
the surgery in a pitiable state Of grief
and fright. I knew when first caught
sight of his face that the child was i'll.
"'Doctor,' said he, my little lads
wonderful sick. Come quick!
"'Can we cross by the ice?' said.
"T've come that way said he. '"Pls
safe enough t risk. Make haste, doc
tor, sir! Make haster
"'Lead the way! said I.
'He led so cleverly that we crossed
without once sounding the ice. 1t was
zigzag way-a long, winding course
and / knew the day after. though l
was too intent upon the matter in hand
to perceive 1t at the moment, that only
his experience and acquaintance with
the condition Of the ice made the pas
sage possible. After midnight, when
my situation was one OF extreme peril,
realized that the way had been
neither safe for me, who followed, nor
easy for the man who led.
any boy is dying, doctorr said the
mother, when We entered the house.
1Oh, save himp
"My sympathy for the child and his
parents-they loved that lad-no less
than certain professional interest
which takes hold of young physician
In such cases, kept me at Tommy's bed
side until long, long after dark. l
need not have stayed so long-ought
not to have stayed-for the lad was
safe and out of pain, but in this far
away place a man must be both nurse
and doctor, and there l found myself
at II o'clock Of dark night, worn out
and anxious only to reach my bed by
the shortest way.
II thinks. sir said Tommy's father
when I made ready to go, that
wouldn't go back by the ice.'
40, nonsense said 1. we came
over without any trouble. and I'll fine
my way back, never fear
II wisht you'd stay here the night,
said the mother. IF you'll bide, sir
We'll make you comfortable
"'No, no. said I. 4 must get to m!
own bed
"If you'll not go round by the shore
SIR said the man, leave me pilot yol
across
"'Stay with your lad said I. some
what testify. I'll cross by the ice'
"'Twill be the longest way HON,
the night said he.
"When n man is sleepy and worn on
he can be strangely perverse. I woul,
have my own way, and, to my cost,
was permitted to take it. Tommy
father led me to the landing stage, pu
gaff in my hand and warned me to b.
careful-warned me particularly no
to take a step without sounding the ic
ahead with my gaff, and he brough
the little lesson to an end with wist
full, Il wisht you wouldn't risk IT.
'"The tone of his voice, the earnest
ness and warm feeling with which h
spoke, gave me pause. I hesitated, bu
the light in my surgery window, shin
ing so near at hand, gave me visiol
of clean and comfortable rest, and
put the momentary indecision ava.
from me.
att is a quarter Of a mile to my sur
gary by the ice,' said, and It ts fou