The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-10

was evidently in difficulties, Ono OF
them leapt OUT again to lend him a
hand If possible; but to eyeryone's
horror, before help could reach him
Louis suddenly sank out Of sight in
the water.
They gave him up for lost then.
for, caught between these plunging,
grinding logs, man had practically
no chance Of living. You can imagine
their amazement and delight, there.
fore, when, a moment or so later,
Louis head appeared in open water
cloe to the bank. He had seen his
danger, and, diving deep below the
nurface, had swum for this spot Of
safety. Eager hands were at once out
stretched to aid him, and he was soon
once more on land.
IAN immediate examination Of his
boots showed that number OF the
nails had been roughly wrenched out
AS they bent over and saw this the
men were loud in their denunciation
of the scoundrel who had done this
piece Of villainy.
There is only one man here who
bears me ill-will,' said Louis, looking
up at them. Where is Pierre Legros.
Let him answer to me for this
The others, too. took up the cry
and ran along the bank in search Of
the missing man, for Pierre had not
waited to see Louis rescue. They
cpuObf in vain for htv,, lx.x,,1.-or. "a
disappeared before any one could lay
hands upon him and took to the
woods. This flight was construed in
to evidence Of guilt, SO the matter end
ed ior the time being. the men prom
ising that Pierre should have warm
reception when he showed up again.
Il saw or heard nothing more of
Louis Radillac or Pierre Legros for
over year. then fate brought us
strangely together again.
Having finished some important
business in Ottawa, | took the steam.
err one morning to travel down the
river to Montreal The journey this
way is most exciting, because one
shoots the famous Lachine rapids
just before reaching Montreal.
"On this warm summer afternoon
was passing by the steamers cabin,
where the pilot stood at the wheel
guiding the vessel along the twisting,
tossing thread of water in the main
channel, when | saw among the pass.
eugers a man whom I recognized as
Pierre Legros. was about to move
forward to speak to him. but he sud.
denly turned and climbed the steps to
the upper deck, and lost sight Of
him.
We were now about halfway
through and rearing the worst part,
where the river seems to be goaded
to its fercest rage. Suddenly, as
leant over the boats side, there was a
sharp cry of Man oYerboard.' and the
next moment | saw a black speck in
the water a little distance away. It
was mans head bobbing up and
down
Life-belts and other things we're
hastily thrown over, but it seemed
hopeless to think Of rescuing the poor
fellow.
The man swan splendidly, and but
for this he must have been lost. For
now another cry of A canoe! Look
"a cancel broke out, and there was
a rush Of passengers to the other side.
There, to our amazement we saw
long Indian canoe, manned by two
psrn steadily making for a point in
the stream where it would just catch
the swimmer as the torrent carried
him down
We watched the race breathlessly,
the race between man and the river.
and, when. in the nick Of time, one Of
the occupants Of the canoe bent over
and clutched the drowning man. draw
ing him up into safety, such a sh6tt
went up from our throats as must
have been heard above the rear of the
rapids. Whether he heard it or not.
the other man in the canoe waved his
hand towards us; then with his com
panion he set to work padding back
to the shore.
We reached Montreal in due
course. and all thought of Legros for
gotten in the excitement of this. incl
dent, | omitted to look for him at the
landing stage. had some time on my
hands. as it happened. so l determined
to go back by rail to Caughnawaga.
rear which place the rescue had been
You can judge Of my surprise
when found there that the man whose
ife had been so miraculously saved
was Pierre Legros, while one Of his
'escuers was none other than Louis
9adillacl Pierre was in bed. recov-
sring from his immersion, and Louis
vas seated by his side when / entered
he little cottage On table near
hem lay this string of nails.
Louis told me how he was visiting
i pilot friend in the village. and had |
,een out with him in the canoe before
he accident occurred, so was forum
lately on the spot He further told |
ne how Pierre mad confessed to hav-
ng torn cat those nails from his
Louise boots. and had begged his for.
,iveness.
He was mad with jealousy that
ime, said Louis simply, or he not