The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-11-18
ETHE WILD GEESE
F~ BY Stanley j. Meyman. !

Bale, SmVerlng ana scared, Would
have shouted again, but Colonel John
he said, solemnly. 1.-The men aboard
can do nothing. BY the time they'll
have lowered a boat 1t will be done
with these"
They can take US aboard" Bale
said.
"Ay. If we want to go to Sadiz
goal" Colonel John answered slowly.
He was peering keenly toward the
land. q
But what can we do, your honor?"
Bale asked with a shiver.
Swim ashore"
God Forbid"
But you a swim?"
Not that far. Not near that far, God
knows!" Bale repeated with emphasis,
his teeth chattering. I'll go down like
a tone"
"Cadiz goal! Cadiz goal!" Colonel
John muttered. isn't 1t worth a swim
to escape that?"
LAY. ay, but
do you see that oar drifting?" In a
twinkIing 1t will be out of reach. OFF
with your boots. man, off with your
clothes, and to it! That oar is freedom!
The tide is with us still, or 1t would not
be moving that way. But let the tide
urn and we cannot do it."
IT'S too fart"
IL YOU COulu see liz olloIC, SolollCi
John argued, you'd think nothing of
It! With your chin or that oar, you
can't sink. But 1t must be o before
we are chilled"
He was stripping himself to his un-
derclothes while he talked; and in
haste, fearing that he might feel the
hawser slacken and dip-a sign that
the tide had turned. Already Colonel
John had plans and hopes, but free
dom yUnS naalful If thew were tn coma
to anything.
"Come!" he cried impulsively. Man,
you are not a coward! Gomez"
He let himself into the water and
after a moment OF hesitation Bale fol-
lowed his example, let the rope CO..
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
mer. He swan long and slow, with
his head low, n his Eyes watching his
follower. A half minute of violent
exertion and Bales outstretched hand
clutched the oar. 1t vas a thick.
clumsy implement and 1t foated high.
Colonel John babe him rest his hands
on it and thrust it before him length
wise, swimming with his feet.
For five minutes nothing was said,
but they proceeded slowly and patient
ly, t~rusting-for they could see nothing
that the tide was still ~seConding their
efforts. Colonel John knew that IL the
shore lay, as he judged, about half a
mile distant. he must to reach it, swim
slowly and reserve his strength.
Though Il natural desire to decide the
question quickly would have impelled
him to great exertion, he resisted 1T.
At the worst, he reflected that the oar
would support them both for a short
time.
They had beer swimming for 10
minutes. as he calculated, when Bale,
who floated higher, cried joyfully that
he could see the land. Colonel John.
made no answer; he needle all his
breath. But a minute later he too saw
it loom low through the fog; and then,
in some minutes afterward, they felt
bottom, n Waded 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 by carrying them a
little to the eastward. They sat a mo-
ment on the rocks to recover their
strength, and then, stung to action by
the chill wind, which set their teeth
chattering. they got to their feet and
scrambled painfully along the rocks
until they reached the marshy bank Of
the inlet. A pilgrimage scarcely less
painful, through grose and rushes,
brought them at the end Of 10 minute
to the jetty.
Here all was quiet. If any Of O'Sul-
Ivan Og's party had saved themselves
they were not to be seen, nor was there
any indication that the accident vas
known on shore.
While Colonel John had been picking
his way his thoughts had not been idle:
and now, without hesitation, he made
along the jetty until tho masts Of the
| Frannh shin lnOma1 hpEi1a II He
boarded the vessel 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 bade
Bale follow him-they were shivering
from head to foOt--and descended the
companion.
The singer was Captain Augustin. He
lay on his back on his bunk, while his
mate, between sleep and waking, form
ed an unwilling audience.
Tout NAL chausse, tout ma vctu.'
Pauvre marin, d'oureviens-tu?
Tou douX Tout doux."
With the last words on his lips he
called on the name of his maker, for
he saw two ~half-naked, dripping fig
ures peering at him through the open
door. Fer the moment he took them,
by the dim light, for the r~evenants of
drowned men, while his mate, a Breton,
rose on his elbow and shrieked aloud.
1t was only when Colonel John called
them by name that they were reas-
sured, lost their fears, and recognized
In the pallid figures before them their
late passenger and his attendant. Then
the cabin rang with oaths and invoca-
lions, with mon Dieu!" and Ma foi!''
Immediately clothes were fetched and
rough cloths to dry the visitors and re-
store warmth to their limbs. and cognac
and food-for the two were half starved.
While these comforts were being adj
ministered and half the crew, crouching
about the companion, listened, Colonel
John tOld very shortly the tale Of their
adventures, and their narrow escape. In
return he learned hat the Frenchmen
were virtually prisoners.
They have taken our equipage,
cursed dogs" Augustin explained, re-
framing with difficulty from a dance OF
rage. The rudder, the sails, they are
not, see you? They have locked all in
the house on shore, that we NAV not
go by night, you understand. and by
day the ship of war beyond, pirate for
certain, goes about to sink us if we
move! All, sacre nom, that l had never
seen this land OF swine"
"HeVe they a guard over the rudder
and the sails?" Colonel John asked.
Il know not. What matter?"
IF not, it were not hard to regain
them" Colonel John said, with an ode
light in his eyes.
And the ship of war beyond? What
would she be doing?"
while the fog lies?" Colonel Johr
replied. Nothing"
"nH,@ &c. ~ w- ~