Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-12-03

rapidly and steadily together ovet the
fat behind him, two lines of foam one
from each channel His retreat was
cut off.
He was in for a wetting, that vas
sure. However, there was no help +.
1t, so he waded in. The water filed
his boots there, it gurgled about his
hips, and beyond, as he could see, 1t
seemed to grow deeper and deeper
The current was surprisingly strong;
he found it difficult to keep his footing
In the soft sand. 1t 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 fat beyond the next cham
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 its hoofs. The driver waved
TO him.
Hold or, mate" he called Delay
there. Stay where you are. I'll be
alongside in shake. Git dap, Janu,
aryi"
Ellery waded back to meet this well
come arrival. The horse plunged into
the next channel, surgei through it,
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"
"BilF or January" stopped with ap-
parent willingness. The driver
leaned down and extended hand.
The minister took 1t and was pulled
up to the seat.
"Whew!" he painted. I'm much
Obliged to you l guess you saved me
from ducking, if 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 duckin',"
commented the rescuer. Hum! guess
likely Wen be out of soundins il we
tackle that sink hole you was under
takin to navigate. Let's try it lit
tie further down"
Ellery looked his companion over.
We'll" he observed with a smile,
from what I've heard of you, Captain
Hammond, I rather guess you could
navigate almost any water in this To-
cality and In all sorts of weather"
The driver turned in surprise.
"So?" he exclaimed. you know me.
do you? That's funny. I was tryin'
to locate you, but | amt been able
to. You amt a Trumetite, I'll bet on
that"
Yes, I am"
Tut! tut! tut! you don't tell me.
Say, Shipmate, you hurt my pride. |
did think there want a soul that ever
trod sand in this village that could;s't
name on sight, and give the port tlk
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 ahoat. The horse, find
ing wading more difficult than swim
ming, began to swim.
"Now I'm skipper again, sure
enough" remarked Hammond. Amt
gettin seasick, are you?"
The minister laughed.
M be said.
Good she keeps on fairly even
keel, considerin' her build. There she
strikes! Thatll do, January; you
needn't try for record voyage. Walk
ms more in your line than playin'
steamboat We're over the worst Of
It now. Say you and didn't head for
port any too soon, did we?"
mo, should say not. l 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 ali right. Always
glad to pick up derelict, may be a
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 flats 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."
/ well, my name is Ellery."
Hey? What? Oh, no! no! hot"
He rocked back and forth on the
seat. The minister's feelings were a
bit hurt, though he tried not to show
it.
! "You mustn't mind my laughin'," ex-
planned Nat, still chuckling. "It amt
at you. It's just because was Won
derin' what you'd look like If should
meet you and now Hol no! You
see, Mr. Eilery, rye heard Of you,
same as you said you'd heard of me
Fhe minister, who had jumped TO
the ground. looked up.
Captain Hammond" he said, I'm
very glad indeed that | met you. Not
alone because you helped me out of a
bad scrape; / realize how bad il might
have been and that"
@Shsh. shhi Nothin' az ALL Don't
be foolish"
But I'm glad, 700. because I've
/ r,oa~5 -, many co,d tbi,sr about vo,l
that was sure yen must De worth
knowing / hope you went believe
went 10 your fathers meeting with
any"
"No, no, Iumpin' Moses. man,
don't find fault with you for that.
understand. guess"
Well il you don't mind the fac
that am what am I'd like to shake
hands with you"