Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-06


movement had alarmed them.
All this was SO evident to the doctor that
he never gave a thought to looking for any
other cause. He had vague idea that the
sound of spiashing which awoke him was
very considerable; but then the mystic inhu-
encc of sleep in the realms of dreamland is
capable of magnifying molehills into noun
tains and whispers into thunders.
You may be sure that / watched these pro-
ceeding with the closest interest and attcu-
ton. 1t was SO obvious that the doctor
should think as / have suggested above.
The two swans burst from their hiding-place
close to the nose Of the punt, and their terri
| fed cries were so loud and their whole beha-
vior so eloquent of splashing and noise. that
Il myself almost forgot the real origin Of the
excitement.
But | was Immediately reminded of it by
the sudden appearance of Harry's head above
the water. He had fallen in the rear of
the punt, and the shock of the cold water
had recalled his scattered wits. Then, natu-
rally, his limbs aroused their energy to de-
liver him from a watcry grave, and so his
head rprose to view.
! Seeing the doctors great straw hat just in
| front OF him. he instantly dived again, and
quietly. swan round the adjacent. promon,,
tory of the island, where the shrubs offered
close and friendly shelter.
Harry dragged his dripping person up tie
bank, and concealed himself safely in I'll,
thlckcts, there to remain until the coast
should be clear of danger. All this | watched
with absorbed attention.
| Th doctor proceeded on his voyage. Hc
lande! at the pier and moored his boat close
inshorc. Then he walked toward the house,
aud finally disappeared from view. | at
once hailed my friend.
81 say, Harry, that was the narrowest
shave you ever had in your life! What a
lucky escapelp
"Narrowest shave, do you call it? It's
the broadest ducking that | ever had, at any
rate, and ISdon't see where the escape come,
in. I'm sure to be caught, sooner or later;
No of course not-easy enough. III
cut off and get your dry things You can
swim to land and change behind the beech
tree Well spread your clothes out S to dry
We'll, look sharp, and bring towel
while you are about it.
I ran off, and managed to- smuggle down
the neccssaries. / found Harry, already rid
OF his wet garments, behind the tree; He
was soon dried and dressed, his clothes
were spread out to dry, and we both, shortly
afterwards, presented ourselves IN the class
room.
We we're ten minutes late and got an Inn
position; but that was all. And Harry Daw-
son, at any rate, did not grumble nor con,
slider the excessive penalty-he was so amazed
consequences of his misdemeanor. 1t un-
doubtedy shook his confidence in the doc
tors sagacity to think that solid boy could
drop from height. of twenty feet into the
water. not two yards away from the doctor,
and actually not be caughtl
OF all the surprising things that bad ever
happened in his school experiences, this was
surely first and foremost.
So thought the other boys, when the news
Of the adventure was published. They
could hardly believe 1.-THE. doctor had such
way of finding out everything; but 1T is very
certain he never found out this, 1t only
proves that the wisest of en- may occasion
ally be found/naDping,. and so cannot be con-
sidered absolutely infalible.
After thisincredible escape. Harry Daw-
son showed his appreciation OF the part
played by his black swans, He used to col
iect pieces of broken bread from the break
fast table and run down to feed them. One
day the doctor found him SC. occupied ~,
birds, Harry"
ragged Perhaps they are distant relations OF
those that saved Rome, sir.
.But. those were gray geese, not black
ssWere they, SIR? Oh, yes; forgot!.'
81 don't know" continued the doctor
"that swans ever proved Of such valuable
aid to men in sudden danger"
Didn't they, sir? Well, perhaps they
Harry felt he was venturing on danger
GUS ground, and was amazed at his own
Possibly so,v replied the doctor. 'T can
but will have a look at the classics. There
are some pretty stories about swans in the my
thology. / would remind you of that prince
of the Ligurians, who used to walk along the
banks Of the Eridanus, lamem.,hg th over The
sumed to drive the horses Of the Sun across
the heaven, they became unmanageable;, and,
rushing from their proper, track. wellnigh