The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-04-10


cautionary measure, when We went -
in it.
Il pushed it out TO a bit Of open
water, fifty or seventy-fye yards from
shore, and set out the decOys. They
were fastened together with cord
and | had a piece Of scrap iron in the
boat to anchor them with.
There was just light enough to see
objects on the water toward the west
and the flash Of birds passing through
the circle OF light overhead. The lake
was teeming with bird life Clouds Of
noisy black birds wheeled from one
part to another; Gathering rails We're
stirring about in the grass and splash
ing across the open water; occasional
~ a poke rose with hoarse shrek and
heavy, awkward Tapping Of wings. A
whistle of wings went past overhead
and away to the left | followed them
till they passed a clump of willows,
when a jet of fire leaped out, followed
by the sound Of Deacon's gun.
For the moment | had forgotten the
decoys, and l now discovered that they
had drifted away from the beat. There
was no current, but wind enough 70
move floating objects till they lodged
in the reeds | tied rope to the
anchor and dropped it into the water
to test the depth. 1t went down sur
prisingly; five feet had been allowed,
but it was not enough.
Il bent over to see how much more
would be needed, the small boat rolled
with my weight, and | followed my
anchor to the bottom. | came up in
tangle Of grasses, struggling desper-
| ately With the hip boots full OF wat
er, swimming was impossible. After
moments wild pounding OF the water,
| came to my senses 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 spasm Of fear sent me kick
ing again; but it was fruitless effort.
Down went my feet again. and the wat
er touched my chin. With the first lap
OF water in my nostrils. | tried to
shout. A wneeze was the result,
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 my weight, but firm
err than water. BY standing on tiptoe,
| was able to lift my nose a couple OF
inches above water, but with the
yielding bottom, this was only mo-
mentary respite. In horror at thought
Of drowning, I strained my aching
throat to produce sound.
II felt about for more solid support.
The boat 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, I gathered three or four in
each hand and grasped them firmly.
Pressing down cautiously, | found that
considerable weight could be put on
them-enough so that | could even lift
my feet from the bottom and float
Nothing remained but to wait till
Deacon discovered me. There was high
grass between my position and the
camp, but | was in the open, from
where I could see the tent plainly. AT
ter the first shock Of fear passed, dis
covered that | was intensely cold, so
cold 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.
| watched them, curiously impressed
by their lifelike appearance in the
shadows AS | looked, pair passed
with whir Of wings overhead and
dropped into the water beside the de-
coys. Others followed them. They
paid no attention to me, and | had
| forgotten my situation in watching
them, when a flash and a Earring re-
port near at hand sent the blood whip
ping through my veins. Twice again
came the report. and some ducks fell
| into the open water beside me. One,
wounded, fluttered into the grass.
| Il could see the Deacon walking out
Of the gloom, and | screamed as loud
as my vocal cords would permit. Then
| l supported myself ulSlOdullJ Win OAc
hand, and waved my cap an instant
above the grass
| Chambers paused in his story and
laid his left hand on my knee. Three
thread-like scars ran parallel across
the back.
you said | believe, that Deacon was
good shot," he continued, smiling,
"and l knew it SO we'll that for the
next five minutes came as near dying
Of fear as a man can and live. All
the time those decoys were drifting
nearer to me, and more ducks might
settle at any minute.