Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-01-16


ems IL keep his body in motion. So
Stuart gave him an oar and ordered
him to yet on his knees and help shove
her ahead tie knew it was impossible
for him to keep his feet.
Riven> tried to do us he was told
and made a meSS of it. He merely sue
ceeded in showing the boat around.
Stuart saw they could never make
Roadway by that method. turned and
shot back into the marsh.
Get OUT he shouted Sternly. you
can walk along the edge. can shove
her alone"
Bivens grumbled. but did as he was
ordered.
Don't you leave the edge of that
marsh ten feet" Stuart shouted cheer
fully. Il think We'll make it now"
1t was question whether one man
had the strength to shove the little
boat through the icy, roaring waters
and keep her off the shore He did 1t
successfully for Il hundred yards. and
the wind and sea became SO fierce he
was driven in and could make no
Roadway. He called Rirens, 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,
Ting to make half Il mile through the
white, binding. freezing. roaring wa.
tiers. The yacht now lay but 800 feet
away from the edge of the marsh.
Say. why do we stop SO much?'
BivcnS 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." Bvens said con.
temptuouSly. Il can throw Il stone to
her from here"
Get in" Stuart commanded, land
lie down again Hat on your back"
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 II with crash. A wave
swept over the little craft
Stuart grasped Bivens' hand and
found Il cake of ice on his wrist He
showed the boats nose again into the
wind and pulled on his oars with n
steady. desperate stroke, and she shot
ahead. For five minutes he held her
head into the sea and gained few
yards. He set his feet firmly against
the oak timbers in the boats side and
began to lengthen his quick, powerful
stroke. He found to his JOY he was
making Roadway. He looked over his
shoulder and saw that he was half
way. He couldn't be more than $50
feet and yet he didn't seem to be
getting any nearer. 1t was now or
never. He bent to his oars with the
last ounce of reserve power in his
tall sinewy frame, and the next mo-
ment an oar snapped. the boat spun
round like top and in a minute was
hurled back helpless on the marsh.
AS the sea dashed over her again
Bivens looked up stupidity and
growled:
why don't you keep her straight?"
Stuart sprang out and pulled the
numbed man to his feet, half dragged
and lifted him ashore
Here. here, wake up"' he shouted
In his ear Get move on you, or
you're goner." He began to rub
Bivens' ice clad wrists and hands. and
the little man snatched them away
angrily.
stop it, he snared. MY hands
are not cold now"
mo, they're freezing" he answered
as he started across the marsh in a
dog trot, pulling Bivens after him.
The little man stood 1t for hundred
yards, suddenly tore himself loose and
angrily faced his companion.
Say. suppose you attend to your
own hide-I can take care of my
self"
II tell you, you're freeing. You're
getting numb. AS soon as | can get
your blood little warm we've got to
wade through that water for a hun
dred yards and make the yacht"
''Tll do nothing of the sort" Bivens
said. an stay here till the next tide
and walk out when the waters ebbed
off. I'm not half as cold as | was"
You're losing the power to feel.
You've got to plunge into that water
with me now, and we can fight our
way to safety in five minutes The
water is only three feet deep, and |
can lift you over the big waves, Wen
be there in jiify. Come on
He seized his arm again and dragged
him to the edge of the water BiVens
stopped short and tore himself from
Stuart's grip.
III see you to the bottomless pit be-
fore I'll move another inch" he yelled
savagely. 60 to the devil and lot me
alone. I'll take care of myself"
"All right" Stuart said cOntemptu-
ously as he turned and left him
He began to walk briskly along the
marsh TO keep warm. All he had TO do
tonight was to apply the law of self
L.. Il