The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-02-11

anC1Cr anu II AASO Inv ""bS
to test the depth. 1t went down sur
prisingly; five feet had been allowed,
but it was not enough.
"I bent over to see how much
would be needed, the small boat rolled
with my weight, and l followed my
anchor to the bottom. / came up In
a tangle of grasses, struggling oesper-
ately. With the hip boots full OF wat
er, swimming was impossible. After 9
moments wild pounding Of the water
I came to my S and let my legs
down to test the depth. The big BOOTS
sank slowly, the water rising higher
and higher. When it reached my
throat a spasm of fear sent me KICK
ing again; but it was a fru1tless enort'
Down went my feet again, and II wat
er touched my chin. With the first lap
Ct water in my nostrils, I tried to
shout. A wheeze was the result a
sound that did not go beyond the circle
OF reeds round me.
Then my feet felt more solid sub
stance beneath them-an Oozy bottom
that settled with ny weight, but firm
er than water. By standing on t1ptoe,
l was able t lift my nose a couple OF
inches above water, but with the
yielding bottom, this was only a mo-
nentary respite. In horror at thought
of drowning, I strained my aching
throat to produce a sound.
Il felt about for more solid support.
The beat had drifted away in an open
channel between high grasses. There
was nothing within reach-nothing but
the reeds. An idea of temporary sup
| port from them came, and sweeping my
hands out; l gathered three or four In
each hand and grasped them firmly.
Pressing down cautiously, l found that
considerable weight could be put on
them-erough &c. that l could even lift
ny feet from the bottom and feat.
Nothing remained but to wait till
Deacon discovered ms. There was high
grass between my position and the
| camp, but l was in the open, from
where l could see the tent plainly. Al
ter the first shock Of fear passed, I dis
covered that 1 was intensely cold; SO
Geld that my teeth ratified and cramp-
ing pains ran through my limbs.
"The decoys had been drifting about
and now they were being brought by the
breeze along the open stretch OF water
l watched them, curiously impressed
by their lifelike appearance in the
shadows. AS 1 looked, a Pair passed
With a whir Of wings overhead and
dropped into the water beside the de-
| coys. Others followed them. They
paid no attention to me, and l had
forgotten my situation in watching
them, when a fash and a Earring re-
port near at hand sent the blood whip
ping through my veins. Twice agal
came the report, and some ducks fell
into the open water beside me. One
wounded. futtered into the grass.
81 could see the Deacon walking out
Of the gloom, and l screamed as loud
as my vocal cords would permit. Then
l supported myself unsteadily with one
hand, and waved my cap an instant
above the grass"
Chambers paused in his story and
laid his left hand OF my knee. Three
thread-like scars a parallel acros:
the back.
You said, I believe, that Deacon wa
a good shot" he continued, smiling
"and l knew it so we'll that for the
next five minutes I came as near dying
of fear as a man can and live. Al
the time those decoys were drifting
nearer to me, and more ducks NIGH
settle at any minute.
Witt ducks flying low or settling,
was in a fair position to receive thu
contents of his Winchester. My heat
alone visible above the water nigh
easily be mistaken in the gloom for
duck. A fusilade Of shots began now
now, and 1 knew he was shooting a
the decoys, and dropped under the wat
er. When l came up l heard tn
splash Of his boat.
THE help that would have beer
mine could l but have shouted becam
a nightmare in the silence. l coult
hear the crack of the gun, could fee
the burning dart of the shot. In m,
agitation, 1 lost my support and SAM
beneath the surface. Chance brough
one foot on a clump Of grass tina
raised my head above the water.
turned to the boat and saw Deacon
dimly outlined, erect and with the gu
in his hands. I watched him, rigi
with horror. A reed broke with m
weight, and the gun was thrown u
for action"
Chambers paused and wiped tn
sweat from his forehead.
you Low we used to laugh at Dea
con for being so slow in shooting. Tha
was all that saved me. l tried to ca
him-the name Deacon would nc
come. But as l strained for a sounC
the word joint came out, guttura
hoarse."
John!' " l exclaimed. "That we
, his name! How did you think of it?
g" didn't. 1t just came. The gu
dropped, and the next minute Deaco
| was beside me, amazed, astonisher
Mortified, at what had so narrowl
missed being a tragedy"
5 Chambers got up and paced the o
, fee.
Deacon and l haven't particular
r enjoyed hunting since that event.
, From Youths Companion.