Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-11-26

ner.
| Jacky's panic-stricken struggles at
once ceased; for he had been used to
| giving instant obedience to Ellis COM
| mands. He looked in Ellis dripping
| face.
easy partner" said Eli, still quiet
| ly. "Strike out, now"
| Jacky. smiled, and struck out as di-
rected. In a moment he was swim
ming at Els side.
"Take it easy, lad" Eli continued.
"Just take it easy while I rights the
boat. It's all right. I'll have you
aboard in a jiffy. Is you-is you-all
right, Jacky?"
aye" Jacky gasped.
Eli waited for a moment longer. He
was loath to leave the boy to take
care Of himself. Until then he had not
known how large place in his heart
his little partner filed, how much no
had come to depend upon him for al
those things which make life worth
while. He had not known, indeed, how
far away from the old, lonely life the
| lad had led him. So he waited for
moment longer, watching Jacky. Then
he swan to the overturned dory, where
after an anxious glance toward the
lad, he dived to cut the gear-and
dived again; watching, and yet again;
watching Jacky all the time he was
at the surface for breath.
The gear cut away, the mast pulled
from it's socket, Eli righted the boat.
1t takes a strong man and clever
swimmer to do that; but Eli was
clever in the water, and strong any
where. Moreover, it was a trick he
bad learned.
'Come, Jacky, b'yw he called.
Jacky swan toward the boat. Eli
swan to meet him, and helped him
over the last few yards of choppy sea,
| for the lad was almost exhausted.
Jacky laid hand on the bow Of the
dory. Then Eli pulled off one Of his
long boots and swan to the stern,
where he began cautiously to bail tbs
boat. When she was light enough in
the water he helped Jacky aboard and
Jacky bailed her dry.
"Ha, ladp' Eli calculated, with a
grin that made his face shine. "You
is safe aboard. How Is you, b'y?"
'Tired, Eli" Jacky answered.
"You bide quiet, where you is" said
Eli. 'sIll find the paddles, an I'll
soon have you home.''
Ellis great concern had been to get
the boy out of the water. He had
cared for little else than that-to get
him out of reach Of the sea. And now
he was confronted with the problem Of
making harbor. The boat was slowly
drifting out with the wind; the dusk
was approaching; and every moment
it was growing more difficult to swim
in the choppy sea. 1t took him long
time to find the paddles.
STEADY the boat, Jacky," he said,
when the boy had taken the paddles
into the dory; 'I'm comm aboard
Eli attempted to board the dory over
the bow. She was tossing about in a
choppy sea; and he was not used to
her ways. Had she been punt-his
punt-he would have been aboard in
trice. But she was not his punt-not
a punt at all; she was new boat,
dory, a fiat-bottomed craft; he was
not used to her ways. Jacky tried
desperately to steady her while Eli
lifted himself out Of the water.
"Take care, Eli" he screamed.
"She'll be overv' t
Eli got his knee on the gunwale-
TO more than that. A wave tipped
the boat; she lurched; she capsized.
And again Eli waited for Jacky to
come to the surface Of the water;
again buoyed him up; again gave him
courage; again helped him to the boat;
again bailed the boat-this time with
one of Jacky's boots-and again
helped Jacky aboard.
'I'm wonderful tired, Eli" said
Jacky when the paddles were handed
over the second time. I'm fair done
out"
"'Twill be over soon, lad. I'll have
you home by the kitchen fire In half
an hour. Come, now, partner. Steady
the boat I'll try again."
Even more cautiously Eli attempted
to Chamber aboard. Inch by inch he
raised himself out Of the water. When
the greater waves ran under the boat
he paused; when she rode on an even
keel, he came faster. Inch by inch
humoring the cranky boat all the time,
he lifted his right leg. But he could
not get aboard. Again, when his knee
was on the gunwale, the dory cap
sized.
For the third time the little partner
was helped aboard and given boot
with which to BAIL His strength was
then near gone. He threw the water
over the side until he could no longer
lift his arms.
ELI" he gasped, II can do no
morev
Eli put his hand on the bow AS
though about to attempt to Chamber
aboard again. But he withdrew it.