The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-06-01

It had sounded easy; but in the pens,
if one failed, one had only to let 80
and come up with no worse penalty
than a deriSive laugh from ones COM
panions. 1t is different when one tries
it out at sea, when life itself may be
the price of slip.
Something, however. must be done.
Although in reality Bud had been
below the surface but few seconds,
the force with which he was swept
through the water and the efforts OF
the loggerhead to unseat him made it
extremely difficult to hold his breath.
A pair of iron hands seemed to press
with terrible force against his lower
ribs. His lungs shook like foul and
shodden sponges within him. His legs,
always hitching forward, were straight
ened again and again by the pressure
of the water.
But Bud was as much at home in the
sea as a South Sea Islander, and at
last. favored by a momentary slack
ening of the loggerhead's speed, his
knee caught under him. and he
Strengthened his body as much as the
length of his arms permittedS
Either the trick succeeded or the
turtle was almost winded. for almost
Immediately it began slowing and
>grudging rise. Bud had enough spirit
left in him to grin tight-hpped,
dimpled grin. Owing to the backward
tilt of his body. he could see the cheer
full simmer of moonlight on the sur
face. It danced like mercury, grew
brighter and more dispersed.
Then his head shattered the silver
film, and he shot the stale air from his
lungs in gulp that almost seemed to
pull them into his threat.
"Um-mr' he painted. 81 reckon we
were right close to being late for that
appointment.
The loggerhead, its dome just awash,
moved seaward with sudden acces-
sion of dignity. 1t was apparent that it
did not intend to exert itself in any
fancy diving until it was sure Of deep
water.
Bud glanced back over his shoulder,
and the cabbage-palms seemed to him
to have dwindled to the dimensions
of hat pins stuck in sand cushion. A
lively and picturesque little wake Of
phosphorescence suggested that they
might look even smaller in time.
Clinging to the shell with one hand,
Bud picked at the knot with the other,
but the swollen rawhide resisted his
wet fingers. A sudden boyish out
break of rage at his impotence swept
over him, and he struck the loggerhead
savagely on the head. The blows.
aimed without intention, did more than
skin Buds knuckles, for the creature
swerved confusedly until it's course
lay parallel to the beach.
Buds temper passed as quickly as it
had come. Another blow might undo
the good he had gained. AS long as
they held their present course he was
within swimming distance Of the
shore.
His face, pale from fatigue and the
cold moonlight, set precociously. He
had nothing with which he could cut
the line. nor could he use both hands
at the knot and keep his seat. BE
turned his hot gaze downward. What
if he gouged out those blear eyes with
his thumb, or tore open the baggy
throat!
Something desperate Bud was pre-
pared to do. He leaned forward, his
face drawn like a weasers, when sud.
denly the inspiration came. BE caught
up the line, and thrusting it under the
sullen beak, rasped it viciously back
and forth.
'sBite, you mossbackw he snarled,
reckless of the danger his fingers ran.
The loggerhead did bite, with quick
venomousness that was uncanny. A
gush Of fat bubbles gurgled up, and
the keen, horny jaws sliced through
the rope as if it were kelp. The next
moment the turtle dived, and Bud, un-
prepared, found himself gasping, but
alone in the water.
He fell into the stroke, the long side
stroke he could maintain for an hour
at time, laying his course by the prim
palms. He heard a faint "Halloow
from John, returning down the beach,
and grinned abstractedly.
It never occurred to him to ask for
assistance. Such a swim was mere
play in his two-piece costume. He was
busy with the lessons of the recent in
cident.-Youth's Companion.