The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-07-18

the list" ~
When school dismissed that afternoon. Raw
Cullen called the boys together and proposed that
they should go swimming down in the "big basin"
Inc big BASIN was an oddly-shaped bayou,
which had been followed out by by the river when
1T changed its course once upon time The
water III the basin nearly always warm and
there was just enough of combined sunshine and
shadow to make it an ideal place for swimming
Pietro had started off alone toward home Rex
caught sight of him. and was seized with one Of
his sudden generous impulses Come along
Pietro, he called through his hands, down to the
river
ooh, let him aloner' exclaimed Pat. eve don't
want him."
Eyes we do retorted Rex, quickly. For once
he had forgotten to be afraid of the big boy "Any
way, do. Come on, Pietro." he called again
and Pietro turned and went with them wondering
what had happened to make them so friendly
1t was perfect day, and the boys were soon
shouting and splashing about in great glee In
the midst of their fun Rex made discovery
cow had escaped from the pasture near by
and was wandering along the river toward place
which the boys called the danger hole" The
water had an unsettled look there and people
SAID that II any one were to enter it he would be
sucked down. to rise again.
That's one of Comstock's cows" Rex exclam-
ed I'm going down to head her off. If she gets
into that hole, she'll be drowned"
"Oh, you're forever hunting I'D some uncom-
Portable duty. Stay up here where it's pleasant"
But Rex did not heed. He was already gliding
down the basin" with long, steady strokes Pie
tro was close behind him. Mr.. Duncan was an
excellent swimmer, and he had taught the little
adopted waif so well that the Italian boy had few
equals, though not many of the older bows had
found it out
Rex stopped down stream, just ahead of the
navigating cow and started her back up the bank
But suddenly she took perverse notion into her
cow1sh brain, and struck out for the middle of
the stream, with Rex in close pursuit. When she
felt the strong force of the current however in
stinct told her it time to turn back With
a struggling leap she veered around and started
toward the shore.
Poor Rex was directly in the way of Bossv's
hoofs, and moment later he was striving to get
MS breath and wondering what made his right
arm feel so queer. He tried to swim out of the
current, but that arm refused to work, and while
he managed to keep himself afoat he felt that he
was drifting aside, and straight toward the dread
ed danger-hole.
But he had forgotten Pietro. The Italian bow
had gone in toward the shore when the chase be-
gan Now he saw that something was the mat
ter, and he began swimming out and down the
stream as fast his swift, sure strokes would
carry him.
Rex was at the very edge of the dreadful hole;
in another moment he would be drawn into it.
The boys in the basin were shouting vehement
calls but they seemed afraid to come to his res
cue Pietro was very near now Swiftly he shot
ahead and throwing his left about Rex, he
began slowly to work his way out while Rex
helped as best he could with his unnurcd arm
He was plucky lad and did not hinder his res
curer by becoming panic-stricken as manv bows
would have done
In few minutes the boys safe. They al
lowed themselves to float along with the current
until they were past the danger point, and then
worked gradually to the shore Their com
rades had come to their by this time and
were Fastening to meet them.
The boys gathered about the two advanturers
and escorted them back to the bank of the basin
They said little about Pietro's share in the affair;
btf thew ca11 hin,