Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-02

board into the water. Nothing serious would have threatened, for the man could swim like an otter, had not a floating, half submerged log thrust up some short, stiff stumps of boughs, up on the points of which the man struck heavily and was not only hurt, but had his clothes impaled securely by one of the ugly spears, so that he hung in helpless position, while the waters mo- ton alternately lifted and submerged him, his arms beating about wildly.
 When Beverley heard the strangling cry for help he pulled himself promptly together, flung off his coat, as if by , single motion, and leaped down the bank into the water. He was a swim mer whose strokes counted for all that prodigious strength and excellent train ing could afford He rushed through the water with long sweeps, making q semtcircle, rounding against the cur rent, so as to swing down upon the drowning man.
 ! Less than half hour later a rumor by some means spread through the town that Father ,Beret and Lieuten- ant Beverley were drowned in the Wa i bash. But when a crowd gathered to verify the terrible news it turned out to be untrue. Gaspard Roussillon had once more distinguished himself by an exhibition of heroic nerve and muscle. 'fVentrebleu! Quel hommev' ex- | claimed Oncle Jazon, when told that M. Roussillon had come up the bank of the Wabash with Lieutenant Beverley under one arm and Father Beret under the other, both men apparently dead. I Bring them to my house immedi- ately," NJ. Roussillon ordered, as soon 1 as they were restored to consciousness; 1 and he shook himself, as a big wet ani- nal sometimes does, covering every 1 body near him with muddy water. 1 Then he led the way with melodramat- l ic strides.
 Tn justice to historical accuracy there
 must be trifling reform of what ap- | peared on the face of thingsto be grand l ly true. Gaspard Roussillon actually l dragged Father Beret and Lieutenant l Beverley one at time out of the eddy l water and up the steep river bank. 1 That was truly a great feat; but the
 hero never explained. When men ar
 rived he was standing between the col
 lapsed forms, panting and dripping. 1 Doubtless he looked as if he had
 dropped them from under his arms,
 and why shouldn't he have the benefit ! of great implication?
 "I've saved them both," he roared:
 from which, of course, the ready ere
 ole imagination inferred the extreme of
 possible heroic performance.
 Bring them to my house immediate Iy" And it was accordingly done.
 The procession, headed by M. Rous-
 sillon, moved noisily, for the French
 tongue must shake off what comes to
 it on the thrill of every exciting mo- l ment. The only silent Frenchman is the dead one.
 Father Beret was not only well nigh
 drowned, but seriously hurt. He lay
 for a week on bed in M. Roussillon's l house before he could sit up. Alice
 hung over him night and day, scarcely
 sleeping or eating until he was past all l danger As for Beverley, he shook off
 all the effects of his struggle in little l while. Next day he was out, as well
 and strong as ever, busy with the
 affairs of his office, Nor was he less
 happy on account of what the little ad-
 venture had cast into his experience.
 Tt is good to feel that one has done an
 unselfish deed, and no young mans
 hAaEt xepels tho Srashnes6 ,a8 what