The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-19
Four Boys And a Boat.
BY MORRIS WADE.

MY brother Joe and l were hoeing corn
on our fathers farm one hot June day, when
George Hare and Lewis Hyde came up the
dusty road and Invited us TO go for boat
ride.
"Boat rider G'wayl There Isn't a boat
between here and Pennington except one"
well, that's the one we have, said Lewis.
Your Uncle Will's7"
Eyes, he and my aunt came up with 1t.
They are going to stay until Monday, and
he SAYS we can have the boat this afternoon.
"All right" said. I'VE are on our last
row. Father said we could have the rest OF
the day to ourselves as soon as we got this
field done. Where's the boatr'
Fright over by the ferry. Wen walt for
you there"
In about Is minutes we hid our hoes In
the long grass by the fence and hurried to
the river None OF us was accustomed to
rowing. but there was little rowing to be
done. Our course was down stream, with
steady current The rowing would come in
on our way home.
Floating down the river that bright June
day was delightful. soft breeze made lit
tie rlpples on the water. We went along at
fair speed, taking the oars by turns or lean
ing over the edge Of the boat to trail our
myers IN the cieuTt COOi WattIs We -
and sang and shouted to boys we now ana
then saw on the river bank, no matter
whether we knew them or not.
On we floated, past meadows and orchards
reaching down to the rivers edge, past Dlts
of woodland and fields of young corn that
moved lightly In the breeze and shone In the
SUM- At the sight of an old mill on the bank
Lew" said:-
''Why. we are five miles from home. That's
49, 1irr nd
miles from our ferry. We'd better go back
pretty soon. 1t will take a great deal longer
to go back than 1t took to come down the
stream"
IL know that" said Joe, but it's early
yet, and there's no hurry about our getting
home, Just so we get there in time to do up
the chores Let's go down to that bend In
the river anyhow.
The bend in the river was about half
mile ahead We hurried down to 1t and
rowed to a large rock almost in the middle
of the river. The water seemed deep around
the great bowlder, and George said:-
what Jolly place to go swlmmingF
He began unbuttoning his jacket as he
spoke, and added
I'VE can undress right here In the boat and
tie the boat to that big snag sticking up in
the water on the other side Of the rock"
We were in a secluded spot and the water
looked inviting, SO we yielded to Georges
proposition. In a few moments George and
Joe and l plunged headlong into the water,
while Lew" rowed the boat around the
rock and fastened 1t to the snag with bit
of rope Then Lew" took a header and
Joined us.
I'll tell you what we'll do" said Lew
after we had been In the water for few
minutes. Lets 60 away up the river and
noat down ON our backs In this strong cur
rent Come onl''
He swan to the shore and we followed
him. We ran along the sandy bank for a
long distance up stream and then rolled
around for sometime in the warm sand of
the river bank, half burying ourselves In 1t
and enjoying Its agreeable warmth. Finally
we plunged into the river and foated down
toward the rock on our backs. Reaching
the rock, we climbed out upon 1t and Lew
said
Now, boys. we really must go for-Great
Caesar!'
What Is it7' asked.
where's the boat7'
THE boati Didn't you tie 1t to that
snagf"
'0f course didl''
Where is 1t now, thenf'
THAT sNJust what I'd like to know"
We stared blankly at each other. few
inches of the old snag could be seen above
the water, but the boat had disappeared.
I'll bet you ] know just what's hap
pened," said George, suddenly. THE top OF
the old snag has been broken or by the rope
pulling on 1t and the boat has foated away.
well, we'd better float after II In pretty
short ORDER said Lew, al he leGped Into the
stream. We followed him and swan swiftly
around the curve In the river. No boat could
be seeri
The coarse of the river was nearly straight
for about half mile, aud then 1t curved
again. We swan to the shore and ran tc