The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1903-03-27
Z r T was very narrow escape"
said the doctor.
Crossing the harbor| l

said the doctor.
/ "Crossing the harborY
exclaimed.
EYES," said he, with laugh, then
gravely, at was my narrowest escape"
"Tell me the story" said l. much in
terested.
1t was a quiet evening-twilight--
with the hari Dr. water unrufiled, and
the colors of the afterglow fast fading
from the sky. We We're sitting by the
surgery. door. watching the fishing
boats come in from the sea, and our
talk 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 l. with
the little garden in front and the lad
going up the path?"
"Aye," said the doctor. Some years
agt, when that sturdy little lad was a
taSdler in pinafores he was taken sud
denly ill., 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 Lad 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 pitiable state OF grief
and fright | 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. ''Tis
safe enough t risk. Make haste, doc
tor, sir! Make haste"
lead the way! said I.
"He led so cleverly that we crossed
without once sounding the ice. 1t was
q zigzag way-a long, winding course
and 1 knew the day after, though |
was too intent upon the matter in hand
10 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.
"'My boy is dying, doctor! said the
mother, when We entered the house.
ooh, save him!
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.
"T thinks, sir said Tommy's father.
when 1 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 find
my way back, never fear
81 wisht you'd stay here the night
said the mother. If you'll bide, sir.
we'll make you comfortable
"'No. no. said 1. L must get to my
own bed
eff you'll not go round by the shore,
sir said the man, leave me pilot you
across
"'Stay with your lad said I, some
what testify. I'll cross by the ice
"''T'wlll be the longest way home
the night said he.
"When n man is sleepy and worn out
he can be strangely perverse. l would
have my own way, and, to my cost,
was permitted TO take it. Tommy's
father led me to the landing stage. put
q gaff in my hand and warned me to be
careful-warned me particularly not
to take a step without sounding the ice
ahead with my gaff. and he brought
tine little lesson to an end with a visit
full. L wisht you wouldn't risk it,
1.-The tone Of his voice. the earnest
ness and warm feeling with which he
spoke. gave me pause 1 hesitated. but
the light in my surgery window. shin
ing so near at hand. gave me a vision
of clean and comfortable rest. and
put the momentary indecision away
from me.
1T is quarter Of n mile to my sur
gerry by the Ice l said, and It is four