The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-06-05
blackness to a distant shore.

TO n Instant SnOre.
He dragged her up on the bank at
last, the man who had saved her out
OF the chaos OF peril and brought her
with him at the expense Of his own
almost exhausted strength. He was
gasping and all but finished himself,
when he dropped beside her among
the tall reeds that served to shelter
them from the night, and for a few
moments they lay quiet, passive; the
girl unconscious, the man painting for
breath and unable as yet to think what
to do next :two stranger souls in
common peril, knowing naught OF each
other or Of what was before them.
In q moment, however, the chill of
the nigh reused the man and he shiv-
cred and sat up. Whoever 1t was that
he had sayed-a woman-her long
hair and trammeling garments had al
ready told him that-she would die IL
she lay long in that condition. What
could he do?
He shivered again and got up. He
shook the water from himself. His
splendid strength reasserted itself and
his breath was steady now. He was
surprised that even q swim like that,
encountered as he was with heavy
clothing and shoes, and bearing an
other helpless creature, should have
knocked him out so completely. Then
he reflected that he had lost much
sleep during the past few days; still,
that was not cough to make him feel
so worthless. He shook himself again
and stretched his muscles, as he used
to do on the football field in his near
by boyhood days, after a knockout,
when he heard the call back into the
game. II yer there was a call to
come back into the game it was now,
for this woman would die II he did not
do something at once.
The night was wild and chill. Across
the river, farther away than he
dreamed they had come, the sky was
lurid with the fire that Jared gro
tesquely against the darkness. The
current must have carried them down
stream as they crossed. He had
thought to go back and help a v 9TH
ers so soon as he had this one safe,
but the way was far and this woman
was apparently helpless, perhaps un-
conscious, or at least exhausted. If
she lay here In her wet garments she
would die ( rom the cold. He must
get hert to her feet and keep her warm
somehow.
STOPPING, he lifed her light weight
and bore her farther up the bank into
the woods, then laid her down on the
ground and knelt to listen to her
heart. It was beating weakly. II
only he had fire or stimulant or both!
Perhaps there was a house somewhere
near. He would carry her a little
way and see. So he picked her up
again, holding her close to keep her
warm, and struggled on through the
thick underground in the darkness.
That night was an experience to be
remembered through a lifetime. The
young strength OF the man seemed to
revive with the necessity, and he car
ried the woman a long distance be-
fore, with the warmth of his body and
the motion of the going, the girl came
to her. senses and was able to walk
for herself.
For the first instant of her waking
to consciousness her soul seemed to
stand still with horror. Where was
she and who was carrying her? What
would happen to her? Would she
ever see her home and friends again ?
The questions rushed madly through
her mind and almost paralyzed her
thoughts for an instant. Then mem.
DRY ,reasserted itself. - All the facts OF
the disaster as she had seer them,
came back. She knew that whoever
was carrying her must have saved her
out OF kindness. She knew that he
must have had to swim alone during
at least a par tot the way through the
water. for she could distinctly re.
member, now, the horror of being un.
able to keep up any longer. Then
there was something else, a kindly,
strong, impersdnal clasp that made
her unafraid.s Aftersa minute she sig
nifed her ability to walk and he sci
her down at once. yet held her arm
and put his own about her for sup
port.
rIf you can walk it will keep you
warm" he said briefiyst and with nc
apology for his arm about ner he hur
ried her OIL. 1t was all she could dc
to keep up with. his pace, and wher
her feet. falfereI he. seemed to. almost
lift her from the ground as he still
we must keep going" he, sale
again, ass IL he had no more breath tx
waste III words. on and onfhey went
but still they did uotscome to any hu
man h~abitation. frinaify, when heesaV
that she could go no further, and tina
She needed rest, he made her sat dowr
IN n sheltered place behind some
trees. Later, wNen she was almos
asleep, sheaknew ser head was restin,
against his shoulder. Once in tn,
night she awoke and saw q fire blaz
ing near her. and realized that
mans, coat was spread over her an
she Was warm ana comparatively dry
There was no one IN sight, but sh
!. heard a step not fer away and tn
cracking Of breaking branches. Sh