Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-05-16
outstrlpped in the chase, could come

ing-dress, had little fear of the wa
ter, and when the calf tumbled her
over shelving bar and into the
deep water, she felt no alarm. She
chung to the calf, persistently deter.
mined to conquer and bring 1t to land.
The little moose proved nearly as
strong, although not quite as unman-
ageable, in the water as on the land.
Polly's quickly formed plan to turn
the calls head about and force 1t
to land, where George and Anna
could help to secure it, would undoub-
teddy have worked out safely but for
an unforeseen incident.
Polly had turned the moose calf
about and was steering 1t partly to-
ward the shore when she heard a
shout of alright from the girls on
shore.
She looked up, to see her comrades
fleeing abolt the beach and huge
creature, which was unquestionably
the mother moose, splashing toward
her in shower of spray.
Polly, hanging to the calf, was not
greatly alarmed, even though the big
animal swan with lusty strokes to-
ward her.
"She cannot hurt me in the water
thought Polly. But the powerful
creature came on with the force OF
a steam-launch, her great brown eyes
fixed upon her struggling calf, and
wholly lnheeding Polly's black head
bobbing beside 1t.
When the big moose drove against
them, Polly suddenly felt herself
borne upward and outward upon the
crest of a wave, and with the be-
numbing sensation of hard stroke
upon her left arm. The COW had
suddenly realized that some creature
was holding her calf, had reared her
self in the water, and struck blindly
to be rid of the enemy.
Polly went under and came up.
strangling. Then, frantically grasp.
ing with her free hand, she found
her fingers clinched in the coarse
hair of the big moose's flank, and
there she knew she must cling II
she wished to keep the breath Of
life in her body.
Instead of turning toward shore.
the COW moose, gathering her calf
within the shelter of her neck and
shoulder, pushed straight away for
the west shore of the lake. 1t was
about two miles and half to the
dense pine woods of the Chippewa
reservation.
The COW, swimming with powerful
strokes, did not seem to note the drag
behind her. Polly, startled now be-
yond measure, raised her head and
looked back, to see Anna wringing
her hands and George frantically
gesticulating on the beach. Polly's
left hand was yet too behumbed
for use; and had it been otherwise
she was now too far out to attempt
encountered as she was with heavy
skirts, to swim ashore.
So she raised her voice and shout
ed directions.
Go after the boat!' she cried.
Run straight out to the north and
catch is on the first tack!"
Instantly the two fled to obey hel
order. They ran round on the wide
beach.
1t took Polly but few moments
to determine that the water was toe
cold for her long endurance; ant
presently, feeling the numbness go
ing out of her arm, she made a fierce
effort, and mounted upon the moose's
neck. The weight suddenly thrown
upon her seemed for the first tim,
to give the mother moose notion
of the encumbrance attached to her
The animal snorted shrilly ant
struggled in real fright, trying vainl,
to get out from under her burden
She threshed the water in gian
strokes, swayed her body, and sanl
her TANKS until she nearly stood OF
end in her frantic endeavor to ri,
herself of her rider.
Even her calf was forgotten in tn
struggle. Polly saw the little crea
ture slip to the rear, but was too bus,
maintaining her seat to pay 1t further
attention. However, both hand
clinched In the long name of the cow
shoulder sufficed to maintain her hold
After time the moose, apparentl
forgetting her calf, began straight
away race for the nearest point o
| the mainland.
Had not the water been SO col
Polly would now have looked FOL
ward confidently to rescue from tn
boat, or to being lowed safely ashor
by the moose.
But the lake had still the chill Q
winter in its depths, and Polly fel
her fingers stiffening in the grip TIL
wind struck her body now with col
siderable force; she shivered, an
felt that she could not keep her hol
4 many minutes.
Yet she thought of the calf, an
looked back TO see what had becom
of it. The little thing was sti
swimming strongly in the wake {
the COW. Polly envied these will
creatures their strength and endul
ance and their lack of encumberin
dress.
Minute after minute passed. Pc
ly's teeth chartered, and she fel
the deadly grip of cold creepin
through her body. Slowly the shor'
line drew nearer. Polly made mel
tai calculation-the moose was swim
ming perhaps at the rate Of thre
miles an hour, and she knew tn
lake and its distances. She reckone
that she had yet twenty-five or thirt
minutes to endure. And she fel
she could not do it-that her hand
must soon lose their hold.
| She looked back, to see the sailboa
| just pulling out from the island. Sh
saw the wind catch its single sad
and then the boat disappeared, rur
ming swiftly behind the timber-line.
| Now Polly shut her eyes and clunt
exerting all her will-power to oyel
come the cold. For minute afte
minute she chung with closed eye.