Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-29

for shallower place, but FOUND none.
At last he reached the point Of the
Nat he was on and saw, to his dismay,
that here was the deepest spot yet, a
hole. secured out by a current like a
mill race. Turning, he saw. creeping
rapidly and steadily together over the
fiat behind him, two lines OF foam, one
from each channel. His retreat was
cut of.
He was in for wetting, that was
sure. However. there was no help for
1t, so he waded in. The water filed
his boots there, 1t gurgled about his
hips, and beyond, as he could see, it
seemed to grow deeper and deeper.
The current was surprisingly strong;
he found 1t difficult to keep his footing
in the soft sand. It looked as though
he must swim for it, and to swim in
that tide would be no joke.
| Then, from behind him, came hail.
He turned and saw moving toward
him through the shallow water now
covering the fiat beyond the next chan
mel, the cart he had seen leave the
shore by the packet wharf, and. later,
on the outer bar. The horse was jog
ging along. miniature geysers spouting
beneath It's hoofs. The driver waved
to him.
Hold on, mate" he called. Delay
there. Stay where yo& are. I'll be
alongside in a shake. Git dap, Janu.
ary!"
Ellery waded back to meet this vel
come arrival. The horse plunged into
the next channel, surged through 1t,
and emerged dripping. The driver
pulled the animal into walk.
Say" he cried. I'm cruisin' your
way; better get aboard. hadn't you?
There's kind Of heavy dew this
mornin'. Whoa, Bill"
"Bill" or January" stopped with ap-
parent willingness. The driver
leaned down and extended a hand.
The, minister took 1t and was pulled
up to the seat.
'*Whew!" he painted. I'm much
obliged to you. guess you saved me
from a ducking, II nothing worse"
The horse. a sturdy. sedate beast to
whom all names seemed to be alike,
| picked up his feet and pounded them
down again. Showers Of spray flew
about the heads Of the pair on the
seat.
Il amt so sure about that duokin'."
commented the rescuer. Hum! guess
likely we'll be out OF soundin's II we
tackle that sink hole you was under.
takin' to navigate. Let's try 1t lit
tie further down"
Ellery looked his companion over.
WELL" he observed with 4 smile,
from what rye heard Of you. Captain
Hammond. rather guess you could
navigate almost any water In this 70.
cality and In all sorts Of weather."
The driver turned tn surprise.
"So?" he exclaimed. "You know me-,
do you? That's funny. l was tryin'
to locate You, but l amt been able
to. You amt Trumstte, III bet on
that"
Eyes,. am"
Tut! tut! tut! you don't tell me.
Say. shipmate. you hurt my pride. /
did think there want soul that ever
trod sand in this village that l couldn't
name on sight. and give the port they
hailed from and the names Of their
owners. But you've got me on my
beam ends. And yet you knew me-.
"Of course did. Everybody knows
the man that brought the packet
home"
The cart was afloat. The horse. find
Ing wading more difficult than swim:
ming, began to swim.
Nov I'm skipper again. sure
enough" remarked Hammond. "Aint
| gettin' seasiok, are you7"
The minister laughed.
NO." he said.
"Good! she Keeps on . fairly even
keel, considerin' her build. There she
strikesl That'll do, January; you
needn't try for record voyage. Walk
in'a more In your line than playin'
steamboat. We're over the worst OF
1t now. sayl you and didn't head for
port any too soon. did wei"
mo. should say not. I ought to
have known better than to wait out
there so long. I've been warned about
this tide. l."
"s-sh-sh! that's all right, Always
glad to pick up derelict, may be 4
chance for salvage. you know. Here's
the last channel and it's an easy one
There! now It's plain sailin' for dry
ground"
The old horse. breathing heavily
from his exertions, trotted over the
stretch Of yet uncovered fats and soon
mounted the slope Of the beach. The
minister prepared to alight.
Captain Hammond" he said, you
haven't asked me my name"
mo. seldom do more'n once. There
have been times when I'd just as soon
cruise without too big letters along
side my figurehead."
We'll, my name is Ellery."
"Hey? What? Oh, no! no! ho!"
He rocked back and forth on the
seat. the minister's feelings were a