The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-11-10
CHAPTER XI.
Dan Lapham.

body's drink. Men we VIII dIihK "
the memory Of Dan Laphaml"
"Then Dan 10 dead, Joe2"
"Without any doubt" said man who
had just entered the place, the RAIN
dripping from his hat and clothing.
''We secured the bay and river about
the rocks, but no trace Of the boy could
be seen. We recovered his boat, which
driited under the wharf at the life saw
ing station late in the afternoon, pnt
Marty a trace OF Dan, poor Dan, the re.
liable"
The fishermen had gathered at nay
denis place the night after the storm
and were seated at the tables as usual
plying cards for the drinks.
They had been interrupted by Joe
Golden, who had just arrived from the
life saving station. Joe was utility
man about the bay. He was town
marshal when such an officer was need
ed. He was an extra at the life sta
tion, fisherman, carpenter, bartender,
clerk, deliveryman, or whatever he was
called upon to dc.
He had been called to the life saving
station that day and had worked
throughout the storm. He had wit
messed all OF the disasters and came in
to report them.
Dan Lapham was one OF the most
popular men In the village. lie was
young, strong, even-tempered, could
pull q boat with superior skill to any
other man, talked but little and was as
brave as lion. He knew not the
meaning OF fear. lie was boon COM
panion on land or sea. He WAS a fav-
orite partner In the games and good
player. He was missed tonight for
the first time in many weeks and the
boys at Hayden's arose to man at the
invitation OF Joe Golden TO drink to his
memory.
The men resumed their games, but
they did not diop the name oil Dan
Lapham from their conversation.
Fret one would speak OF some good
trait Of the boy and then another would
recall an incident in which Dan was
concerned. All OF the fishermen knew
Of something good and none spoke III
Of the young man, who single handed
had rowed boat and tended tap Tor
more than year.
"No one has ever been missed as we
shall miss Dan," said old Hayden,
who had broken his rule and called
upon all present to drink at his ex'
pense, 'Heres TO Dan Lapham's g
health--memoryl" said the veteran
rum seller as the crowd arose and drank
by rounds.
But old Hayden was wasting his
liquor, 80 far as sacrificing II to the
memory OF dead man was concerned
And the fishermen, while growing gen.
erous over the memory OF one they con-
sidered dead, were extolling the vir-
tues Of man who was living at that
very hour.
His life. however, was not at that
time assured and his position was moi
one Of ease, but Dan Lapham still lived
and was planning to live a great dea
longer.
He was at that hour clinging to thu
rocks near the dead line at the lowe
end of the bay. His benumbed fee
were set upon the slight shelving tina
jetted out Just above the waters edg'
at that very moment, while his hnger
were deeply clinched In crevasses above
He had climbed to the highest poin
that could be reached, but he also re-
membered that the tide had reached 1t
limit.
He had dragged himself ahead OF !
like a half-drowned serpent throughou
the afternoon and he now welcomes
the fact that II was time for the waite
TO Tecede.
When he reached his trap that nom
ing he found that he had missed San
kala and Ringwold on the way. II
realized that the young girl would b
helpless against the strong underto'
and started out to render such assist
ance as might be within his power
He beat back toward the shore droppin
lowe, and lower into the bay, for h
knew that the receding waters wouC
draw them that way.
Day had barely dawned when he say
the boat Of his companions being car
rIed toward disappointment rocks at
rapid rate Of speed. He cut acros
from the point OF discovery with all
his might to intercept them. Blu
even the strong and vigorous younl
man over estimated his skill He wa
caught in the undertow like the grip o
a cable car and carried aH mercilessl.
toward the breakers aa we're his friend
whom he would have rescued.
But he was not even granted th
privilege OF following the course the
boat had taken. He had crossed Il
dividing line OF the receding undercu
rent and bis boat was dragged away I,
ward Chinook rocks. He could I
.onger battle against the inevtiabl
but he could influence the boat to son
extent in the course II took to ruil
The bleak rocks were preferable to Il
White-capped breakers and the oceG
beyond, and he steered the best
could for them.
There was one chance in a thousand
escaping death there, by clinging
the rocks that would DESTROY him, b
once In the breakers. no earth
hope was left. They had never y
surrendered a victim alive in all u
story OF disasters at the mouth of Il
Columbia. But fortune had favor
the man, as the reader already know
though his escape was still by no mea
certain. As the boat had approach'
the rocks, Lapham watched like pa
ther preparing to leap. The viii
spray dashed upon the rocks with an9
recoil, and the water seethed al
foamed about the place like the boiliI
OF huge Caldron. The prospect WI
as uninviting as death itself, but La
am stood straight in his boat, oar
hand his eyes piercing the precincts
the boulders and his muscles standiI
out In knots. 1t was case Of powe
Al -. look;n., daath in tha face