The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-03-28

THE BOAT SUDDENLY TIPPED AND ROLLED
STRAIGHT OVER.
| exhausted every possible study of the
situation. pushed around the piles
and shook the boards, hoping to find
one loose, but the contractors had per.
formed their work we'll
There was no use calling for help
for there was no possibility of any one
being within five miles of the place
So l didn't waste much strength In
that way
There was only three feet of space
between the boat and the boards over
head. At the rate the tide was rising |
should have nearly an hour before the
climax could be reached tried to
console myself with the thought that |
was safe. The water would force the
boat up toward the roof, but by lying
down in it we could wait for the turn
of the tide. | took measurements and
found that with six inches of space we
could escape if we took care not to
rock the boat.
On the other hand, if the water crept
up beyond that point the boat would
be swamped, and | would have ~
choice other than to sink like Il log
Jock might swim around and eventual
ly escape. but for me there was no
escape
The thought of such an end sent the
cold shivers down my spine 1t was
difficult to sit there and wait for the
end. lit my pipe and tried to smoke.
but my courage ooZed out slowly. and
twice the pipe went out. Then | put ii
away and took another measurement.
turned pale with apprehension. The
tide had gained a foot and half. BY
aid of the dim light | looked at my
watch. The time for high tide was
still half an hour off.
| realized then that my fate was
sealed. The water would reach to a
level with the floor of the dock, and |
would drown. l tried to picture the
scene Of the final struggle In fancy l
experienced all the sensations of death.
Jock must have been thinking of the
same thing, for he suddenly grew nerv-
Gus and excited. He whined and whlm-
pered and chased up and down the
boat. tried to grab him to stifle his
cries, but he avoided me and finally
leaped overheard
That splash in the water brought
more alarm to me than anything else.
Jock was deserving me, and, like a
drowning man clinging to his support
nf t,-n Y l. Ill e .
him back.
l must have leaned heavily on the
side of the boat. for it suddenly tipped
and rolled straight over, turning turtle
so quickly that was In the water be-
fore / could think Fortunately | had
presence of mind enough to grasp the
sides. | chung to this support and
gasped for breath.
l tried in vain to turn the boat over.
1t would have been a stupendous job
In that narrow space for an expert
swimmer; for me 1t was absolutely i'm
possible.
The top of the boat was within a few
inches of the dock overhead, and |
NC'ib nv NIiilb uDOh IL SllnDlN
chung to it and shivered. Jock swan
around and around the overturned
craft, whining and begging me to leave
it, but there was no alternative, and |
chung desperately to the slippery bot
tom.
The water rose inch by inch. First
the bottom of the boat bumped against
the boards overhead; then it was held
firmly in position and the tide climbed
higher marking the rise on the sides
When there was only six inches of
space In which to breathe | began to
lose all hope. At five inches the lap
ping waves frequently slapped the
briny water In my mouth. craned
my head backward, forcing my mouth
and nose as near the boards of the
roof as possible. Jock was by my side
doing the same.
But he took it less silently and calm.
ly. He spluttered and whined and
made frantic efforts to bore his nose
through the obdurate boards. was