The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-01-11

not be forded, unless he was willing
to plunge above his waist.
He hurried along the edge, looking
Tor shallower place, but found none.
AT last he reached the point of the
fiat he was on and saw, to his dismay,
that here was the deepest spot yet,
hole, secured out by a current like
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 off.
lie was in for a wetting, that was
| sure. However. there was no help for
IL, so he waded in. The water filed
his boots there, it gurgled about his
hips. and beyond, as he could see. it
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 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 its hoofs The driver waved
to him.
Hold on, mate" he called. Delay
there. Stay where you 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 it,
and emerged dripping. The driver
pulled the animal into a 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 ducking, If nothing worse
The horse, 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.
II amt so sure about that duckin',"
commented the rescuer. Hum! guess
likely We'll be out Of soundin's If we
tackle that sink hole you was under
takin' to navigate. Let's try 1t a lit
tie further down"
Ellery looked his companion over.
WELL" 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. l was tryin'
to locate you, but amt been able
to. You amt Trumetite, I'll bet on
that"
yes, l 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 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 l did. Everybody knows
the man that brought the packet
home"
The cart was af1oat. The horse, find
ing wading more difficult than swim
ming, began to swim.
Now I'm skipper again, sure
enough" remarked Hammond. "Ain't
gettin' seasick, are your"
The minister laughed.
NO." he said.
Good! she keeps on a fairly even
keel, considerin' her build. There she
strikes! That1l do, January; you
needn't try for a record voyage Walk
ms more In your line than playin'
We're over the worst of
it now. Say! you and didn't head for
port any too soon, did WEI"
mo, l should say not. I ought to |
have known better than to wait out |
there so long. I've been warned about |
this tide. /"
"S-sh-sh! that's all right. Always |
glad to pick up derelict, may be a |
chance for salvage, you know. Here's |
the last channel ard 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
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
bit hurt. though he tried not to show
It.
You mustn't mind my laughin'," ex-
planned Nat, still chuckling. 1T amt
at you. It's just because l was won
ierin' what you'd look like IL I should |
meet you and now Ho! no! You
see, Mr.. Ellery, I've heard Of you,