The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-02-04
"A WATER
RESCUE
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

ed some sort Of boat. The first he
owned was a skiff with leg-o'-mutton
sail; the second was dory. rugged in
the same way; the third twenty foot
single sticker, and when he reached
the age of twenty his father gave him
q yacht, capable Of sleeping half
dozen persons comfortably.
George found it all he could do to
run his yacht on his limited income.
Indeed, he could not have done so ut
all had he not been his own captain.
quartermaster, cabin boy and cook for
l5he greater part Of the time. Once
while laying up near New York he was
attacked and robbed by river pirates.
He at once provided himself with
arms, including a couple Of small can
non for'ard and a single gun of great
er caliber astern. which he called
Long Tom. After getting aboard this
armament he felt easier. Unless sur
prised he felt that he could stand off
any ordinary gang. But to avoid lone
illness he took into his service Cyrus
Barker, a boy Of fifteen. who was at
home on the water and i'll at ease on
land.
One hot July day, when there was
no wind, George was moving under the
power Of his motor engine, making to-
ward Portland, Me-, from the south.
He had the lighthouses on his port
quarter standing out white in the sun,
but he was rather interested in a
yacht to the westward of him. She
was some seventy tons burden and
very trim. No one but a rich person
could have afforded to run her. While
MacElroy was looking at her the flag
flying from her stern was lowered and
raised again, union down, which is a
signal of distress. 1t remained flying
for about a minute, when it was hauled
down and replaced as it had been be-
fore.
George was puzzled. The yacht was
moving along at a steady rate Of about
eight knots and did not seem in any
way crippled. There was no likelihood
Of illness aboard or want of supplies,
for Portland was within an hours sail.
The signal seemed to be for the Hope
Georges yacht-for he was much
nearer than any other vessel to the
boat that had signaled. Something
must be wrong aboard OF her.
George pointed the Hope to incline
toward the signaling yacht. When the
flag was righted it had been done in
hurry, as though some one was offend
ed that it had been put up union down.
Perhaps persons were aboard who
needed assistance. If so it behooved
the skipper Of the Hope to keep o
the same time.
In the course of an hour the Hope
was sailing directly astern Of the yacht
and about mile distant. Cy Barker
was on the forecastle and sang out
that there was wOman's sunshade
floating on the water ahead. George
put the Hope on line with it, and OH
reaching it Cy picked it up. 1t had
been used to buoy bottle containing
q note written in a woman's hand:
Help! I am kidnapped by my guardian.
who is taking me to an insane asylum.
EMMA BORLAND.
Here's an adventure and no mis-
take" said George to Cy. I've count
ed three men on the yacht, and we
don't know how many more there
are, but we've got guns and ammuni-
ton enough to sink her, and we must
effect rescue. She's evidently not
going into Portland; she'll probably
lose herself among the islands to the
eastward-that is. If she's trying to
throw any one of the track. We must
catch her before dark or lose her, Get
up the ammunition for the two fore
ward bankers and load them"
George put on all his power and
gained rapidly on the yacht, whose
SwallOw-n0w appeared on
her stern. She did not seem to fear
the Hope till George sent shot after
her, which he aimed to go a cables
length to the starboard. and then so
great was the surprise of her crew
that they didn't seem to know what
to do. But presently another shot.
still nearer. caused them to shut off
their power. George when he came
within hailing distance did the same.
What do you want?'' was called
from the Swallow.
1.-THE person Of Emma Borland."
ION what authority? ?"
ION the authority Of myself. Send
her to me in boat or Ill rake you
fore and aft. I've three big gums
aboard"
There was evidently prolonged con-
sultation on the Swallow. What was
said, whatever their reasons for as
senting to his demand, George did not
know. but presently boat put out
and was pulled for the Hope. George
and Cy kept 1t covered with rifles.
When it came alongside there sat
very pretty girl and her maid. George
helped them aboard, the boat pulled
back to the Swallow. and she sailed
away.
Miss Borland had got one Of the
crew. who was at the wheel, on her
side, and he permitted her to hoist q.
.aSck,,<.ue .sr,r