New-York tribune., 1915-03-07

making the Eagle IN llllcf TIC lpph w "'''
dcring how long it takes TO ircczc inafoollcd
reporter to the marrow OF his bones. lie
almost missed the hoOtlng oi the MOB. At
least that kept him warm with angry shame.
DUT harl,l What hubbub was that borne
- acro,, the water from the deck OF the
newly launched and now ignored propeller;
\ dense knot Of gcsticulating people crowded
in the bow. staring wildly over the SIDE. ~
the confused murmurs and occasional hoarsc
shouting. Southwick made no doubt OF some
catastrophe. But what All his eyes could
find was "A singular commotiOn IN the red,
white. and blue bunting tcstoonlng the pro-
pcllcr's black hull. y few feet below the
deck the gay bunting punched out and hung
heavy. like hammock with a sleeper in 1t:
only the sleeper must have been afflicted
with nightmare; for nightly did he squlrm.
In a moment the truth came home. Flung
off his feet when the ship took her ilrst
mighty roll. some lucllcss wight had pitched
through the fimsy temporary rail into the
decorations below, and now hung suspended
over the water, out of reach OF his trends:
He must have been stunned for time, and
now had come to life. If the fool would but
lie still till rope could be got.
That instant the bunting hammock
dropped one end, and out pitched headtore-
most the struggling figure Of boy. For an
instant he glarcd at the Susquehanna, ex-
pccting TO see someone dive. But no, there
was frantic shouting and rushing about, and
now they were throwing rope, and throw
ing it clumsily, 50 that it fell short. Small
help was likely to come from that quarter:
Unstcadily on his ice-island the congealed
reporter got to his feet, his heart humping.
Its up to mel" he said. One thought for
the precious star assignment, and then the
blade Of his penknifc severed the wet strings
of his wet shoes. Jerking them of and
stripping away coat and clinging vest, he
raised both arms above his head to signal
the shore boat. and sent toward it a mighty
below for help Then he dived.
The bitter shock Of the water took his
breath. He struck out in a fury Of haste, a
horror upon him lest before he could reach
his goal he should stiffen into a mere figure
of ice. He threw his whole desperate soul
into each strainng stroke.
Soon sense came 10 him. He saw he
could do nothing in such hysterlcal fashion.
His blood warmed with the work, his brain
cleared. he fell into long, even, over-arm
stroke that did not waste his strength.
And it was soon clear he would need the
last ounce Of his strength. He was a vigor-
ous swimmer, having had plenty Of practice
in the little home river. the CaniStcO, though
not in ice water nor yet with such burden
of clothing. and ne had but a bare three hun
drcd feet to 90. But, alas! his late exploit,
the shock OF his fall, had taken 1t out OF him.
Dsmav seized him Is the distance TO the
Susquehanna appeared scarcely TO lessen.
And now, the sun coming out. he swan
in sea Of broken sparkles teasing to the
eve. That little black head bobbing on the
surface vas it still therc2 Il waycrel mad
dcninglv before his sight. One moment he
thought it gone, the next that the boy was
ahoat and swimming fcebly. Then vision
went out in a rain Of dancing glintS of light.
As he held his head well back-for he was
loath to swallow more than he must Of the
foul water Of the Blackwell he could hear
the commotion, the puzzled shouts that fol-
lowed his dive, the roar that went up when
once the stragglcrs ashore made out his cr-
rand. There succeeded q curious tense hush,
broken only by confused voices from the
SusQuchanna, hoarsc voices with the note
Of terror in them. And once he heard
woman's historical laugh, more uuncrving
than any Shrek. Meanwhile the rattle Of
rowlockS, the hurried dip Of oars, and an
occasional excited hail told him that the
clumsy, fat-bottomcd boat was aiioat and