The Yale expositor., 1905-05-26
SAVE HIN"
fOriginal.1

would be apt TO choose commonplace
occupation. They were working In q
cotton mill on small wages, when
Kenerson noticed the wages paid tc
divers and proposed to Fowler, will
whom he had become very intimate
that they should learn how to dive
They left the mill and, entering the
service Of wrecking company, soon
became the most daring among the
compapy's divers.
Meanwhile Kenerson married, and
it was said that the marriage was Al
sad blow to Fowler. But this was
made up merely from observation, for
neither Fowler nor Mrs. Nancy Ken
erson ever said a word to any one
as to how either regarded the other,
and. as for Nancy, she chose Tom Ken
erson. However this may be, the two
men became stronger friends each
year until they were more like broth
ers than friends. Ned Fowler was of
ten a guest at the Kenersons' and al
ways conducted himself toward his
friends wife honorably.
Ten years after the two men entered
the diving profession Fowler was still
in the service of the wrecking COM
pany, while Kenerson engaged him
self for odd jobs requiring a man of
great nerve and experience, for which
he received large pay.
One day Fowler received a tele-
gram:
Red Jacket wreck. Come and save him.
NANCY.
These few words brought up dis
tressing picture to the diver. He saw
above water men with anxious faces
steadily pumping air, others eagerly
watching for any sign from the life
line, while perhaps fifty to a hundred
feet below lay his friend, held down
under a mass of wreckage, hourly get.
ting weaker, the signals hourly becom-
ing fainter.
1t was a three hours Journey by the
shortest and quickest route, but when
Ned Fowler reached the railroad sta
ton he found Il locomotive with steam
up ready to take him to the scene of the
disaster, and. flying at the rate of a
mile a minute, it was but two hours
from the time he received the telegram
till he was on the float over the sunken
Red Jacket. Nancy was there, wonder
fully cool outwardly, but Ned saw by
the imploring glance she gave him how
she suffered.
Nancy" he whispered, tell me that,
whether or no save him, you'll believe
L did my best"
Save him." was all she would say
in reply.
The helmet was put on, and Fowler,
getting on the ladder, soon sank out Of
sight. 1t was half an hour before he
came back and reported that he had
found his friend in the hold of the
steamer pinned under an iron frame
which had slid down upon him while
he was at work. He had taken Toms
hand and by a pressure they both knew
we'll assured him that his old crony
was with him. The difficulty was to
remove the debris. Fowler had at
tempted to do so, but had failed to stir
the mass. He had come up TO get
rope to attach to it, hoping that those
above might lift it,
Meanwhile the signals on the life line
were becoming fainter. Before assum-
ing the helmet Il second time Ned whis-
pered to Nancy, who was now pic
ture of despair:
Nancy. do you believe l am doing
my best?''
Save him." was again her sole reply.
The last look those present caught of
the divers face was that Of one who
had determined to go to his death. He
had little hope that he would save his
friend, and he knew that he could not
face his friends wife If he came up
alive leaving him dead below. He
sank beneath the surface, a cable coil
on his right arm, which uncoiled as he
descended Within twenty minutes
after he had disappeared he gave the
signal to pull on the rope. A dozen
men took hold there was a creaking;
then the beavers went down on their
backs in q heap-the rope had broken!
Again the diver came up. His he'll
met was removed for consultation.
Fowler said that his friend could not
be taken out alive unless it were done
at once. Get me an anchor chain"
he said.
There was none on the floats, but in
an instant n boat pulled off to a vessel
lying near and brought the chain.
It was lowered and Ned called for his
helmet.
Nancy" he whispered, will you be
satisfied that have done my best with
this effort? There will not be time for
another"
"Save him." was still her only reply.
'If l don't" he replied. 'goodby."
After awhile-a long while-the sig
nal was given, and this time the chain
held, the debris was removed, and an
other signal came to pull up Kenerson.
He came to the surface; his helmet
was removed he was dead.
But no signal came from Fowler. His
rope was pulled up, but nothing came
with it. Quick as it could be done a
diver who had Just come to the float