The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-07-18

Bivens asked fretfully. eve can fire
a gun, and the doctor can help US on
board"
ave can't go without the boat. The
marsh is string Of islands cut by
,hree creeks. The doctor has no way
10 get to us. Both tenders are gone"
Stuart kept Bivens moving just fast
enough to maintain the warmth of his
body without dangerous exhaustion.
The wait was shorter than expected.
The tide suddenly ceased to run ebb
and began to come in. The reason was
an ominous one. The wind had hauled
squarey into the north and increased
its velocity to forty miles an hour, and
each moment the cold grew more ter
rible. Stuart found the little boat
afoat on the food tide, jumped in
without delay and began his desperate
battle against wind and tide.
1t was absolutely necessary for Biv-
ems to keep his body in motion, SO
Stuart gave him an oar and ordered
him to get on his knees and help shove
her ahead. He knew it was impossible
for him to keep his feet.
Bivens tried to do as he was told
and made mess of it. He merely sue
ceeded in showing the boat around.
Stuart saw they could never make
headway by that method, turned and
shot back into the marsh.
Get out!' he shouted sternly. "You
can walk along the edge l can shove
her alone"
Bivens grumbed. but did as he was
ordered.
Don't you leave the edge Of that
marsh ten feet"' Stuart shouted cheer
fully. II think Wen make it now"
1t was a question whether one man
had the strength to shove the little
boat through the icy, rearing waters
and keep her off the shore. He did it
successfully for hundred yards, and
the wind and sea became so fierce he
was driven in and could make no
headway. He called Bivens, gave him
an oar and made him walk in the
edge of the water and hold the boat
off while he placed his oar on the
mud bottom and pushed.
1t took two hours of desperate bat
tling to make half mile through the
white. binding, freezing, roaring wa
ters. The yacht now lay but 300 feet
away from the edge Of the marsh.
Say. why do we stop so muchT'
Bivens growled. "I'm freezing to
death. Let's get to that yacht"
wen do our best" Stuart answer
ed gravely, "and if you know how to
pray now's your time"
"Oh, tommyrot" Bivens said con-
temptuously. 81 can throw a stone to
her from here"
Get in," Stuart commanded, "and
lie down again fat on your backw
Bivens obeyed. and the desperate
fight began
Stuart made the first few strokes
with his oars successfully and cleared
the shore, only TO be driven back
, against 1t with a crash. A wave
swept over the little craft.
Stuart grasped Bivens' hand and
found a cake of ice on his wrist He
showed the boats nose again into the
, wind and pulled on his oars with a
steady. desperate stroke, and she shot
ahead. For five minutes he held her
head into the sea and gained a few
yards. He set his feet firmly against
the oak dmbers In the boats side and
> began to lengthen his quick, powerful
stroke. He found to his Joy he was
making headway. He looked over his
shoulder and saw that he was halt
, way. He couldn't be more than 15C
feet and yet he didn't seem to be
, getting any nearer. 1t was now OF
never. He bent to his oars with the
last ounce of reserve power in his
+ tall sinewy frame, and the next mo
n ment an oar snapped, the boat spun
round like top and In minute was
hurled back helpless on the marsh
4 AS the sea dashed over her agaiI
n Bivens looked up stupidity and
a growled:
: "Why don't you Keep her straightT
n Stuart sprang out and pulled the
L Dumbed man to his feet, half dragged
e and lifted him ashore
Here, here, wake up!" he shouted
a in his ear. Get a move ON you, ol
+ you're a goner." He began to rul
Blvens' Toe clad wrists and hands, an(
4 the little man snatched them away
angr1ly.
n "Stop ftT' he snarIed. "My hands
q are not cold now"
o "No, they're freezing" he answered
O as he started across the marsh in |
a dog trot, pulling Bivens after him
% The little man stood it for hundred
q yards, suddenly tore himself loose ant
o angrily faced his companion
a Say, suppose you attend TO you
d own hide-I can take care of my
SELF"
II tell you, you're frezing. Your
r getting numb. AS soon as 1 can ge
your blood a little warm we've got +
q wade through that water for a hun
dred yards and make the yacht"
:. 'I'Il do nothing of the sort" BiYen