The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-11-29

the dock the situation would become
very serious for both Of us.
Now, TIM fresh water man, hailins
from one of the inland states where
puddle Of water up to the ankles is
considered a lake and q stream three
feet deep, river of mighty volume.
Therefore, I confess with shame,
hadn't learned the gentle art OF swim
ming.
I pushed the boat toward the eh1
of the pier, humping my head repeated
" against the boards overhead. There,
ten feet below the surface, could see
a path Of light which showed me where
the entrance to our prison was located
A good diver and swimmer could easily
reach it 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. I smiled
with chagril and shook my head.
/ was not kind to die easily, and
while I had few minutes Of respite
l exhausted every possible study Of the
situation. l 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 l 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 l
should have nearly an hour before the
climax could be reached. l tried to
console myself with the thought that
was safe. The water would force the
boat up toward the roof, but by lying
down in it we could wait fer the turn
Of the tide. / took measurements an!
found that with six inches of space We
could escape IL we took care not to
I rock the beat.
On the ether hand, if the water crept
up beyond that point the boat would
he swamped, and l would have no
choice other than to sink like log.
Jock might swim around and eventual
" escape, but for me there was no
escape.
The thought Of such an end sent the
cold shivers down my spine. It was
difficult to sit there and wait for the
end. lit my pipe and tried to smoke,
but my courage Oozed out slowly, and
twice the pipe went out. Then l put it
! away and took another measurement.
turned pale with apprehension. Tho
tide had gained foot and a half. By
aid of the dim light looked at my
watch. The time for high tide was still
half an hour off.
I realized then that my fate was
sealed. The water would reach to o
level with the floor Of the dock, and
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 tlis
same thing. for he suddenly grew nerv
Gus and excited. He whined aud whim
pered and chased up and down the
boat. I tried to grab him to stife hi.
cries, but he avoided. me and finall.
ieaped overheard.
That splash in the water brOugh
more alarm to me than anything else
Jock was deserving me, and, like :
drowning man clinging to his supper
of straw, grabbed for the dog to hau
him back.
must have leaned heavily on thu
side of the boat, for it suddenly tippes
and relied straight over, turning turtl
so quickly that was In the water be
fore could think. Fortunately | hat
presence Of mind enough to grasp th
sides. chung to this support an
easped for breath.
I tried in vain to turn the boat over
It would have been a stupendcas jo
in that narrow space for an cxper
swimmer; for me 1t was absolutely in
possible.
The top of the boat was within fey
inches Of the dock overhead, and
Il could not climb upon it. simpl
4 chung to it aud shivered. Jock swar
around and around the overturne
craft, whining and begging me to leav
\ it, but there was no alternative, and
chung desperately to the slippery bot
tom.
The water rose inch by inch. Firs
the bottom OF the boat bumped agains
the boards overhead; then it was hel
/ firmly in position, and the tide climbe
j higher, marking the rise Oh the sides.
4 When there was only six inches {
space in which to breathe I began I
lose all hope. At five inches the lal
ping waves frequently slapped Il
briny water in my mouth. / crane
my head backward, forcing my mout
and nose as near the boards Of tt
roof as possible. Jock was by my sic
doing the same.
: But he took it less silently and calr
". He spluttered and whined III
made frantic efforts to bore his no
y through the obdurate boards. ! ";
q fast losing control Of my muscles {,
g horrible fear was paralyzing my wi
The frantic terror of the drownir
i. man was taking possession OF me.
d The water was now filling my mou
g and nostrils with every gentle undul
ton Of the surface. I spluttered al
Il gasped and made more frantic stru
sr giles than Jock.
lie My senses were deserving me VIII
n Jock suddenly slipped from my si
$. and disappeared. Ny first thong
,e was that the poor dog had succnmls
ut and was dead. Then concluded tn
a he had made a strike for life and Il
" erty at the final moment.
O. This impression was apparently We
| fled moment later. l heard Joel
bark in the distance. The sound W
to far away and mufiled, but it seemed
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