The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-07-24

"PoohI pooht Nonsense!" said
Wardle. dragging off his skates
with the impetuosity which char
acterized all his proceedings.
Here; I'll keep you company;
come along!" And away went
the good-tempered old fellow
down the slide, with q rapidity
which came very close upon Mr..
Weller, and beat the fat boy all
to nothing.
Mr.. Piokwick paused, consider
ed, pulled off his gloves and put
them in his hat; took two or
three short runs, banked him
self as often, and at last took an
other run, and went slowly and
gravely down the slide, with his
feet about a yard and a quarter
apart. amidst the gratified shouts
of all the spectators.
Keep the pot bilin', SIR"
said Sam: and down went Wardle
again, and then Mr.. Pickwick,
and then Sam, and then Mr.. Win
kle, and then Mr.. Bob Sawyer,
and then Mr.. Snodgrass, follow
ing closely upon each others
heels, and running after each
other with as much eagerness as
II all their future prospects in
life depended on their expedition.
The sport was at its height,
when a sharp smart crack was
heard. There was a quick rush
towards the bank, a wild scream
from the ladies, and shout from
Mr.. Tupman. A large mass of
ice disappeared; the water bub-
bled up over 1t; Mr.. Pickwick's
hat, gloves and handkerchief
were floating on the surface; and
this was all of Mr.. Pickwick that
anybody could see.
Dismay and anguish were de-
picted on every countenance, the
males turned pale, and the fe-
males tainted. Mr.. Snodgrass
and Mr.. Wrinkle grasped each
other by the hand, and gazed at
the spot where their leader had
gone down, with frenzied eager
ness; while Mr.. Tupman, by way
of rendering the promptest assis-
lance. and at the same time con-
veying to any person who might
be within hearing, the clearest
possible notion of the catastrophe,
ran off across the country at his
utmost speed, screaming, Fire."
with all his might.
1t was at this moment, when
old Wardle and Sam Weller were
approaching the hole with eau
tious steps, and Mr.. Benjamin
Allen was holding hurried con-
sultation with Mr.. Bob Sawyer,
on the advisability Of bleeding the
company generally, as an improv-
ing little bit of professional prac-
tice-it was at this very moment
that a face, head and shoulders
emerged from beneath the water,
and disclosed the features and
spectacles of Mr.. Pickwick.
Keep yourself up for an in
stant-for only one Instant"
bawled Mr.. Snodgrass.
Yes, do; let me implore you
for my sake" roared Mr.. Win
kle, deeply affected.
do you feel the bottom there,
old fellow?" said Wardle.
Yes, certainly" replied Mr..
Pickwick. gasping for breath. 81
! fell upon my back. / couldn' I
get on my feet at first"
The clay upon so much of Mr..
Pickwick's coat as was yet visible,
bore testimony to the accuracy
of this statement; and as the
fears of the spectators were still
further relieved by the fat boys
suddenly recollecting that the
water was nowhere more than
five feet deep, prodigies Of yalor
were performed to get him out.
After vast quantity OF splash
ing, Mr.. Pickwiek was at length
fairly extricated from his unpleas-
ant position, and once more stood
on dry land.
"Oh, he'll catch his death of
cold" said Emily.
Dear old thing!" said Ara
1 halIa ssI AZ mn ,,,rar thta oh a "a,