The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-03-16

|
level, and / remembered that series
OF unusually high tides had been run
ming into the bay. II the water rose
up to level with the lower floor OF
the dock the situation would become
| very serious Tor both of Us.
| Now, I'm fresh water man, hailing
| from one OF .hc inland states where
Il puddle OF water up to the ankles Is
considered lake ana stream three
feet Cecp. river Of mighty volume
| Therefore, l confess with shame,
hadn't learned the gentle art of swim
| ming
1 pushed the boat toward the end
Of the pier, humping my head repeated.
ly against the boards overhead. There
ten feet below the surface, could sec
path OF light which showed me where
the entrance to our prison was located
A good diver and swimmer could easily
reach 1t and come up on the other side.
Jock looked down and wagged his
tail, inviting me to dive. 1t was dog
talk, just as plain as day. 1 smiled
with chagrin and shook my head.
1 was not kind to die easily, and
while 1 had few minutes Of respite
exhausted every possible study Of the
situation. 1 pushed around the piles
and shook the boards, hoping to find
one loose, but the contractors had per-
formed their work well.
There was no use calling for help,
for there was no possibility of any one
being within five miles OF the place.
So I didn't waste much strength in
that way.
There was only three feet of space
between the boat and the boards over
head. At the rate the tide was rising
should have nearly an hour before the
climax could be reached. 1 tried to
console myself with the thought that
was safe. The water would force the
down In 1t we could wait for the turn
Of the tide. l took measurements and
found that with six inches of space We
could escape If we took care not to
rock the boat.
On the other hand, if the water crept
up beyond that point the boat would
be swamped, and l would have no
choice other than, to sink like log.
Jock might swim around and eventual
ly escape, but for me there was no
escape.
The thought of such an end sent the
cold shivers down my spine. 1t was
difficult to sit there and wait for the
end. l lit my pipe and tried to smoke,
but my courage oozed out slowly, and
twice the pipe went out. Then put it
away and took another measurement.
i turned pale with apprehension. The
tide had gained foot and a palf. By
hid of the dim light l looked Mt my
watch. The time for high tide was still
half an hour off.
realized then that my fate was
sealed. The water would reach to q
level with the floor Of the dock. and l
would drown. l tried to picture the
scene OF the final struggle. In fancy
experienced all the sensations Of death.
Jock must have been thinking Of the
same thing, for he suddenly grew nerv-
Gus and excited. He wh.ned and whim-
pered and chased up and down the
boat. tried to grab him TO stife his
cries, but he avoided me and finally
lcaped overheard.
That splash In the water brought
more alarm to me than anything else.
Jock was deserving me, and, like
drowning man clinging to his support
Of straw, grabbed for the dog to haul
him back.
must have leaned heavily on the
side Of the boat, for it suddenly tipped
and rolled straight over, turning turtle
so quickly that was I'm the water be-
fore could think. Fortunately had
presence of mind enough to grasp the
sides. clung to this support and
easpcd for breath.
tried in vain to turn tho boat over.
1t would have been a stupendous job
in that narrow space for an expert
swimmer; for me it was absolutely i'm
possible.
The top of the boat was within few
inches of the dock overhead, and I
could not climb upon it. l simply
chung to IL and shivered. Jock swan
around and around the overturned
craft, whining and begging me to leave
it, but there was no alternative, and i
chung desperately to the slippery bot
tom.
The water rose inch by inch. First
the bottom OF the boat bumped against
thc boards overhead; then il was held
firmly in position, and tho tide climbed
higher, marking the rise OH the sides.
When there was only six inches Of
space in which to breathe l began to
lose all hoIc. AT five inches the lap
ping waves Frequently slapped the
byiDy water in my mouth. l craned
my head backward, forcing my mouth
and nose as near the boards of the
roof as possible. Jock was by my side
doing the same.
But he took it less silently and calm
ly. He sputtered and whined and
made frantic efforts to bore his nose
through the obdurate boards. I was
fast losing control of my muscles, for
horrible fear was Da living my will