The Washington herald., 1911-07-02

danced on, ever farther from land--buoyant,
green. with dragging oars.
1t was hopeless. He had really known it
from the first
And could it be near sundown, too! Yes,
the afternoon had waned and a great, red
pail o. tre was just dropping below the forest
He had assured Uncle Felix that he would
not make any one anxious. And here he was,
lost the very first day! What should he do!
Nos cry! No; only sob little below his
They were certain to come from the camp in
search of him.
Maybe they might sec his floating boat. He
would holler" very loud, and that would
show them where lie was.
Before it got really and truly dark, he would
be lack in the tent.
But night, though slow in following the dis
afrSSar&Rnee ts SarR Of the sun did presently drop
was still on the lonely bluff
lhe mosquitoes came by thousands. queer
voice shouted, close at hand:
'Tu-whoo-o-o!"
Charley made a wild jump when he heard
IT., soon he realized that it was only an owl.
lie had left his hemlock boughs and hi.
AK fan behind. He decided to return to
lie stumbled along painfully-7he could not
see 10 pick his way over roots and stones and
t9nGlIng vines. Presently he found his heap
OF branches.
he said; "but / haven't. III sit down ON
these and rest awhile"
The, lake still reflected something Of the day
but the land was wholly in the dark. The
Uniting point
Charley spread out the boughs and Aun=
himself full length upon them. He proppcd
his head upon his hand, so as to hear more
certainly IN case any one should cali HE name.
The sound that first attracted his attention
was distant cracking of twigs Something
was walking through the underbrush. As
crushed down bushes II was evidently max,
ing its way to the water.
lie strained his gaze toward the sound, and
presently a black body emerged from. tangle
bank to the edges of the lake, t = ~.
Charley could see its outline disnly as soon
as II reached the -snd. The water'S slQE made
good background. ~
The creature drank, waded out a little and
seemed to wallow. At any rate, there was a
ment. " i
did not seem as i he breathed az al. he wa9
SD terrified. All HE senses were concentrated
upon that black beast
s;,.lsnl BSt Ehot at was that'Other sOund'
1T was, indeed, Charley's rescuer, but ne
eOhld not answer. He was certain this neigh,
Dor in the dark was bear il he should can
out; tu = tn nigh, NJ, come directly at him.
The call came nearer. He could hear the
click OF the oare in the row-locls.
The animal heard, too, growled its astonish.
ment, left its bath, and, with great houn-
dsring and stumbling. made is way back into
the woods s3s W. X + Il 4 10y
Then Charley sprang down 10 the very edge
of the water, put his curved hands to his
mouth and sent all the force of his voice into
one long, shrill ''Whoopw
Answer came:
"W-ho-o-pp
"Hi-iip
"Where-e~
"H-e-r-e!"
1t was Uncle Felix and Mr.. Floyd
( Charley scrambled into their boat the very
instant il touched the shore,
"0h, OH" he sobbed rI promised i
wouldn't be troublesope; bat couldn't help
it,. didn't mean to-oh, ] didn,tl"
"All right my. boy" said Uncle Felix
cheerily 1T might have been worse. we 5
won't count this one. You are safe now. Here
we go"-pushing the boat of with strong
stroke.
"Dil you-see,- -bear!" gasped Charley
What bear"
"a bear came down out of the woods to
drink He having such good time when
you hcllered."
nE pAGB cry ~