The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-01-31

as Il gun"'
Then he whipped out his glass and
watched the boat rushing up the lock.
Just as she came from under the lee of
the hills the wind caught her and she
keeled over like a cookie shell. could
see one chap hauling away at the sail.
but the second Johnnie seemed to be
doing nothing eXcept holding on to the
first.
They're "A couple Of duffers,' 1 was
beginning. when Captain Herrick in
terrupted me.
They're womcn!" he said. and be-
fore you could say knife he'd kicked Off
his boots. thrown off his coat and
made for the lock.
Are you sure you can swim across
the bay. Reggie?" he shouted as fol-
lowed his example.
Rather" said 1; why, did twice the
distance yesterday"
Yes. but not in q sou-west wind
and with Il sea on like this. However,
Just keep on the lee side of me and
we'll manage all right, I dare say" said
Captain Herrick.
Nh manag we did. though I'm
bound to say when I heard one of the
women give an ear-piercing yell. just
as we were halfway across the loch. I
got such n fright that il it hadn't been
for Captain Herriclk / should have gone
down like a stone
He swung round In 4 second and put out
his arm.
Back up. Reggie. old man." he said.
well reach them In another couple of
minutes, and they're all right as long as
they can makea noise"
All the same I was jolly glad when we
got across and found the two women cling
Ing to the bottom Of the upturned BOAT
One OF them was a stout old party In a
big. mushroom-shaped hat and a waist
the other was a slim young girl, possibly
S,~~ Il ~I<~,, rN1,~. - f-l. u. ~
to take your head off. She stopped in the
middle Of a Shrek when she saw Captain
Herrick and me swimming toward them.
"Oh, save US! Do save us!" she howled.
All right, but you must obey orders,
please said Herrick. Put your arm on
my shoulder. s0-no. not round my neck, or
we shall both sink. That's better! Can
you swim?" he said. turning to the
onnge woman.
Yes, q little"
Then follow slowly. and Reggie here
will give you a lar If you want to rest
q bit. We're not far from the shore, and
IN come back presently"
He was off before I'd time to look
around, and when 1 did,, If I hadn't been in
rather a funk about having to look after
the girl, l should have felt inclined to howl
with laughter, he looked so jolly queer
swimming away with the fat old lady in
the mushroom hat in tow.
The girl was awfully plucky, and though
she wasn't a particularly good hand at
swimming, she got along somehow, and
only caved in once. and then l managed to
keep her atioat all right till Captain Her
rick swan back to US. 1 was jolly glad to
see him. l can tell you, and it was splendid
to see the easy way he swan to shore
with one arm around the girl, who looked
like a mermaid with her long black hair
floating out behind her.
AT least. l thought it was black until it
began to dry in the sun, and then ii curled
u. in brown rings and cooked ripping.
She must have been a jolly pretty girl.
too. for she even managed to look nice
with her clothes all dripping wet and her
shoes like a couple Of wet spongcs
BY the time Captain Herrick had finished
buttoning the old lady into his dry coat
and given her a pretty stiff drink from his
flask. had got the girl into my blazer,
but she was most awfully pale. and shiy-
cred TIL her teeth chartered again. Cap
ain Herrick poured soma whisky down