The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-31

the water again.
Even Bud was impressed with Ro-
lands ability as a swimmer. In fact,
SO much so that he concluded-for.
as you probably have seen by this
time Bud was really a coward and a
pully at heart-it would be hopeless
TO try to duck fellow who could
swim like that.
Moreover. Roland was making dives
and turning "fiip-dops" from the
spring board that he himself couldn't
do. And, somehow, the rest of the
boys seemed to be aware of the fact
that Roland was "stumpin' him. In
deed. they were treating the new
kid" with considerable respect.
Presently Roland climbed UP on the
bank and started for his clothes.
Guess I've been in long enough
now. fellows" he said. i've got to
be careful. you know, because of my
cold last week and"
Hey, you kid" yelled Bud. come
on swim out in the middle with me,
dare you to-dare you toi"
No." answered Roland. 1--WE been
In long enough. Besides, the cur
!
"You-you baby. You coward,"
yelled Bud, Go on then and mt on
your dresses-only believe me, you're
gong to chaw raw beef first!"
a howl of delight went up from the
crowd-even If Roland had been tha
prince of all good fellows they would
have laughed at that. For what bov
can resist the delicious sensation of
seeing
teeth in wild endeavor to unite the
hard knots that have been tied in his
clotnes! Which act, in the language
OF ooyhood the country over, is
known as "chawing raw beef"
Even Roland himself had to laugh:
and he waved a hand at them in
acknowledgment of the fact that the
Joke was on him. Then he turned
and started for his clothes-to "chaw
raw beef But as he turned. Bud
called cut:
Hey, you sissy. watch me, Watch
Where | go. you make believe swim
mer, and see if you can do it some
day when you haven't got a cold-in
your feeti''
| And with that he struck out toward
mid mid-stream-slowly and with a sort
OF sinking sensation in the region of
his stomach.
/ The boys watched him in silence.
They knew the dangers OF the current
and they always kept well within the
confines of the hole. Bud himself had
never ventured out before: but then.
/ you know. from his standpoint his
reputation was :. stake
Out and out Bud went. Several
times he turned and looked back; but
they were all watching him. so he
kept on. Presently 1t was noticeable
that he was in the current, for instead
of going straight ahead he was being
carried downstream.
Come back, Bud' cried one of
them. Come back" echoed the 9TH
/ ers.
Suddenly Bud threw up his hands
and yelled: Help! Help! l got
cramp! Help. Helpl" Then he dis
appeared under the water.
The boys stood panic-stricken. They
had forgotten all about Roland "chaw-
/ ing raw beef" at the foot of the tree.
Help! Help. Help!" they. too.
cried. Buds drowning! Buds
drowning. Buds drowning."
Suddenly q slim form. wearing only
a shirt, flashed past them. 1t was
Roland, and in his hands he carried
the rest of his clothes, still knotted
! together. Straight for. the sunken
tree he made-the tree, you remem-
ber, that had fallen across the creek.
Buds head appeared again above
the surface. His face was distorted
by fear and his arms were thrashing
about wildly. And down. down, down
the current was carrying him. nearer
and nearer the half-submerged tree
| Out on the tree, with the agility of
tight-rope walker. Roland had sped,
Swiftly and in perfect GOODNESS he
worked his way out to the farthest
branch that was not submerged.
Nearer and nearer came Bud to the
tree. And there. hanging on to
branch with one hand, the other
swinging free with the rope he was go
ing to hurl to Bud. hung the new
kid in town, the sissy"
Bud disappeared for a moment and
then-praise became up just before
he passed under the over-arching tree.
Quick as a flash Roland let fly with
| the rope. And. true as a die, 1t flew