The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-01-11
GIRLS COURAGE
Torignall

I't NUru | 70 rather huNe hcuru .5J wu,s.lc sgrccch ln my ear.-
 "Ilov was thaty"
 "i admit there was a girl ln it. speaking of girls. do you know they rcyer have the sense to be frightened a. thc proper time. At least, that was the way with Che girl ln this case You know I've always been stuck on ocean canoeing. This year took my canoe Co N.. on the coast of Maine. It's risky. ! tell you. knew lt and took an the care [ could | never went out except iu Che best of weother and always took a compass and barometer. reached \. In July and padded outside every day that was duc and the sea was not too rough. so that by the last days of August bad my hand well In. l would feel my way, so Co speak. watching the sky aud Che water. with an occasional look ut my instruments. The people an thought was foolhardy. but what's the fun without a spice ot danger?
 cone afternoon when the sea was especially smooth and the sky serene | padded farther than usual There's a singular feeling in being far from laud ln a canoe hcayed up and down as tLc waves roll under you. nothing but sky above you and water all around There's such a ghostly lonell- ness abou. it, such helplessuess. All a fellow eau do Is Co dexterously avoid the force of Che waves with bis paddle. as a mau might keep batting a tigers eyes with a stick SO us Co prevent It's dcyouriug him. Kneeling in the canoe, | was always on a level with the water, at one time poised on crest. at anOth- er far down in tbe trough. Its a sin- gullr sensation. different from any oth- CT | have ever experienced
 suddenly glancIug at my barometer. ! saw lt was sinking. l swept the hOr- lzou with my eye and landward saw a black cloud rising In an Instant l got one lc- straight forward and made for shore with 1n my strength
 ~I was stil a mile away from the hlrbor's mouth when ! saw ahead of me Che Clashes of a double bladed pad de. Then ! rcmembered that a lot of college girls had come to x. the day before who bad been canoeing in the Interior. and my blood ran cold as it occurred Co me that some one of them had been crazy enough to come out on Co Che ocean. | have plenty of muscle auH l..s ..t'ng In my best work. SO tst [ gamed ol thc canoe ahead and SO saw giIi lu a Tam O'Shantcr aud blue sweater kueel.ng and pad C's- .1r the shore.
 "Au of a sudden there came a white space under the rising cloud, and the whole heaven seemed to shoot toward thc zenith. There was a terrific pun of wind. and for thirty seconds | had an | could do to keep my boat adoat Then came a lull. and 1 looked for the canoe ahead. expecting t0 sec it bottom up. To my surprise and relief. there was Che girl battling with the water. She was pretty close to me. for she had been blown outward. while ! had part Iy held my own. ] hailed hcr direct ln. her l0 slow up and l would run alongside When ] did so. | found her as coli rs a cucumber. Whether she r,al.z,d tlIJ she and ! both were almost certain to be blown out to seq | dld not know. At any rate, I ad- mircd her pluck
 -'You must get Into my eanOe' said.
 And leave mlne? No. thank you.
 "'Then | can't help you
 "'Who asked for helpT she said
 q then pulled up ln front Of her. and as my quarter grazed her bow I grab bed both rails with my hands and rolled over Into her canoe.
 Perhaps at this point you're look ing for some fine talk. We'll here it is; Lit down in the bottom.' said Lie down yourself tt was a case Of lie or death .Lic down or I'n brain you with this oar' She saw that tle time had come to quit fooling and lay down. I paddled away against the wind. mak. ing uttlc he1dway. expecting every wnve Fs it came Ou Co twist the canoe around and roll us over. Thanks Co long practice. | evaded them. but t was discouragIng. after safely ridlzg one. Co scc bisscr one right upon me. Che fool girl kept pokiug up her head. and every time rode a wave she'd ex claim Bravo. Isn't it dner as though I were performing in a circus.
 awen. we got Into the harbcr at last I -nn Che canoe ashArr and we both stepped on dry hud.
 What did you mean by going out thereT | asked. a sudden anger coming over me after the terrible ordeal as though she was to blame for the whole affair.
 "T'm sorry | forgot to ask your per mission she snapped.
 "Don't you know that we have es- faped drowning as by a mlrucleF
 "She cast a glance out over the angry waters
 It does look pretty rough out there. Much obliged Co you. GOOdby. ! SO back Co college tomorrow. We're al lowed Co receive Friday evenings. Sor. ry YOU lost your canOe'