The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-11-18
ETHE WILD GEESE&
~m Stanley J. MeYman. r.

1S'"o.
But their shouts were merged in the
wall OF despair. Of shrieks and cries.
that f1oated away into the mist. The
boat. travelling with the last Of the
tide. had struck the cable with force,
n was already drifting a gunshot
away. Whether any saved themselves
on 1t. the two clinging to the hawser
could not see.
Bale. shivering and scared, would
have shouted again. but Colonel John
stayed him.. Goo rest their souls"
ne said. solemnly. The men aboard
can do nothing. BY the time they'll
have lowered a boat it will be done
They can AXE us aboard" Bale
said.
LAY. II we want to go to sadiz
goal" Colonel John answered slowly.
lie was peering keenly toward the
land.
But what car we do, your honor?"
Bale asked with a SILVER.
Swim ashore"
God forbid!" "
But you can swim?"
Not that al Not near that far, God
knows!" Bale repeated with emphasis,
his teeth chattering. I'll go down like
9. stone"
"Cadiz goal! Cadiz goal!" Colonel
John muttered. isn't 1t worth a swim
to escape that?"
"Ay. ay. butt
DO you see that oar drifting?" In a
twinkling 1t will be out of reach. Of
with your boots. man. off with your
Clothes, and to it! That oar is freedom!
The tide Is with US still, or it would not
be moving that way. But let the tide
turn and we cannot do It,"
It's too fart"
III you could see the Shore" Colonel
John argued, you'd think nothing of
1t! With your chin on that oar, you
can't sink. But 1t must be done before
we are chilled"
He was stripping himself to his I'M
d~erclothes while he talked; and in
haste. fearing hat he might feel the
hawser Stacker and dip-a sign that
the tide had turned. Already Colonel
John a plans and hopes, but free
dom was needful ii they were to come
to anything.
Gomez" he cried smpulsively. Man,
you are not a coward! Comet"
He let himself into the water and
after a moment OF hesitation Bale fol-
lowed his example. let the rope GO,
and with quick, nervous strokes,
bobbed after him in the direction of
the oar. Colonel John deserved the
less credit, as he was the better swim
hiCA. 91C o~dEp lOLS anu SLOW, WlLu
his head low. and his eyes watching his
follower. A half minute OF violent
exertion and Bales outstretchel hand
clutched the oar. 1t was q thick,
clumsy implement and 1t noatsd high.
Colonel John bade him rest mis- hands
on 1t and thrust it before haan length
wise, swimming with his s.e1.
For Ave minutes nothing was said,
but they proceeded slowly and patient
", trustthg-for they could see nothing
i'ha't h tide was still s%econding their
efforts. Colonel Joh knew that If tho
shore lay, as he Judged, abou half a
mile distant. he must to reach it, swim
slowly and reserve his strength
Though a natural desire ito decide the
question quickly would have impelled
him TO great exertion, ne resisted it
At the worst, he reflected that the oar
would support them both for a shor,
time.
minutes. as he calculated, when Bale
vi f1oated higher. cried joyfully tina,
he eould see the land. Colonel Johr
made no answer; he needed all his
breath. But a minute later he too saw
It loom low through h fog; n then
bottom. and wadet on to a ledge OF
rocks. which projected. a hundred yards
from the mainland eastward of the
mouth OF the inlet. The tide had
served them Well Thy carrying them a
little Ito the eastward. They sat a mo-
anent on the rocks to recover their
strength. and then. stung to action by
the chill wind, which set their teeth
ichattering. they got to their feet and
scrambled painfully along the rocks
mntil they reached the marshy bank OF
the inlet. A pilgrimage scarcely less
painful. through grose and PUSHES
i!hrought them at h end of 10 minutes
ito the jetty.
Here all was quiet. II any of O'Sul-
Evan Og!s party had saved themselves
they We're not to he seen, nor was there
any indication that the accident was
known on shore.
While Colonel Gohn had been picking
dis way his thoughts had not been idle;
and now, without hesitation, he made
French ship loomei beside it. He
boarded h vesael by a plank and
looked around him. There was no
watch on deck, but a melancholy voice
piping in a French song rose from the
depths OF the cabin Colonel John babe
Bale follow him-rhey were shivering
from head to .toot-and descended the
companion.
The singer was Captain Augustin. He
lay or his back on his bunk, while his
mate, between sleep and waking, form
ed an unwilling audience.
--1out mai chausse, tout NAL vetu,"
-Roan~re snarin. dioureviens-tu?..
TTont donx Tout ,doux.'
With the last words on his Nps he
called ON the name Of his maker. for
he Gam two falf-nakad, dripping fig
door. Fer the moment he took them,
by the dim hight, for the revenants Of
drowned Meaa. while his mate. a Breton.
rose on his elbow and shrteked aloud.