Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-05-02

( ~ > UNIV " ANNNNAC ~ w as t'N~kNlN
The girl covered against the side "
the deck opening Wait" called IL
her, and, slipping down into the water
again, | waded as close as | could to
the door, the water then catching ME
close to the shoulders,
Jump" l ordered, holding out my
arms
II can't; I'm afraid" she said
DO as tell YOU" | roared, lump
at once" AS caught her weight with
my arms under hers she was for the
moment almost Immersed. but | stag
my footing TN Auherry's arms reached
us from the Snag. up which we clam,
herrd. the girl dripping wet and catch
ing her breath in terror
We had travelled perhaps three quar-.
tiers Of mile when | noticed the dim
loom of trees on our side OF the
stream aud saw that we were APP
preaching q long point which ran out
below us. This should have been the
deep side of the river, but no one can
account for the vaGaries OF the Nilsson
ri. When we were within hundred
yards or SO OF the point we felt a long
shudderiug sCrape under us, and after
Il series of slips and jerks our old suaE
came 70 anchor again. its roots having
once more laid hold upon bar II
occurred 10 me that as had been able
to touch bottom on the other bar
might do so here crawled back along
the trunk of the snag to a place MS
near the roots MS | could reach and,
letting myself down gently, found
that could keep my footing on the
sand.
Little by little edged up the stream
and found that the water Shoaled to.
ward the heap of drftwood 1t drop
ped off. ! know not how deep, between
the edge of the bar and the piled drift;
but, standing no more than waist deep,
| could reach the outer limbs of the
drift and saw that they would support
my weight After that | waded back
to the suag carefully and once more
ordered the young woman to come To
me
She came back along the naked and
slippery trunk OF the snag. pulling her
self along by her hands. her bare feet
and limbs deep In the water alongside
| could hear the sob OF her intaken
breath and saw that she trembled In
fright. and, more dead than alive, IL
seemed to me. she fell once more into
my arms felt her grasp tighten
about my neck and her firm body
crowd against me as we both sank
down for nm instant Then | caught
my feet and Strengthened and was real.
ly the steadier for the added weight ns
any one knows who has waded in fast
| water.
Get up. Auberry," ! said to him ms
he approached and motioned to the
long, overhanging branches from the
drftwood. He swung up, breaking Off
the more insecure boughs. and was of
the belief that we could get across In
that way AS he reached down |
swung the young woman up to him.
and she clambcred on as best she
could Thus, | scarce know how, we
all managed to reach the solid drift
and so presently found ourselves
ashore on a narrow sandy beach hedged
on the back by heavy growth OF
willows.
Now then. you men," ordered Mandy
McGovern. get some wood out and
start a fire right away. This here girl
Is shaking the teeth plumb outn her
head" Mandy drew forth two TASKS.
each stoppered with bit of corncob.
The one held sulphur matches. thus
kept quite dry, and this she passed to
me. The other she handed to the
young woman.
Here" said she. take a drink OF
that. It'll do you good"
| heard the girl gasp and choke as
she obeyed this injunction. and then
Mandy applied the bottle gurgingly to
her own lips.
Presently we had roaring blaze
started. and Mandy. seating herself
comfortably upon log and producing
a corncob pipe and quantity OF nat
ural leaf tobacco. proceeded to enjoy
herself in her own fashion. This
here's all right" she remarked We
might be heap worse off'n we air"
| could not help plying the young
woman who crouched near her at the
preside, still shiverlng She seemed SO
young and helpless and SO out of place
in such surroundings The freight
showed in silhouette the outlines of
her face. 1t seemed to me had never
seen one more beautiful Perhaps she
felt my gaze. for presently she turned
and said: Indeed ii might be worse.
thank you SO much II was very
brave of you"
We had waited perhaps not over an
hour. undecided what to do. when Au-
berry raised hand Listen" he
said. There's boat coming" and
presently we all heard the splash OF
oars Our fire had been seen by one OF
the boats OF the River Belle out pick
ing up such stragglers as could be
found So our little bivouac on the
beach came To an end