Omaha daily bee., 1920-12-15
The Way Madge and Dicky Arrived
at Their Destination.

I
"Gettin' cramped, miss?' jim
Pierce smiled genially down at me
mot a Bit" / said, too proud tc
admit that for several minutes / had
experienced no feeling at all in my
feet. But our guide evidently saw
through my words, for he spoke
cheeringly:
Its only paddle sweep or two
more now. You could walk it if il
wasn't so deep"
With which unconscious Hiber-
nianism he gave an extra strong
thrust of his paddle and our boat
| rounded what proved to be the last
curve of our tortuous but far from
tedious journey.
Before us the river widened into
a large cove, so enclosed by under
brush that at the first glimpse |
thought the stream must end unac-
countably enough in this miniature
lake and be drained by some under
ground passage. Then l saw one of
the canoes ahead of us, which had
already discharged its passengers,
being propelled by its guide into a
narrow passageway between over
hanging expresses. The depending
branches almost swept the craft as
it slipped through, and marvelled
anew at the skill of the guides navi-
eating this tortuous stream.
Nov, miss" Jim Pierce brought
his canoe up to the rustic pier. where
it was caught and firmly held by the
eager hands of two young negroes.
He held out his hands and grasped
my right one firmly. Take her
other hand" he directed Dicky, "and
hold her tight. We don't want her
tumbling into the Lumbee just as
she reaches her journeys end. And
I'll bet there amt mite of feeling
below her knees. I've seen women
come off these boats before. Don't
know why it don't seem to affect men
the same way. Guess they don't
wear their shoes so tight"
A Great Relief.
was too grateful for the proffered
aid to resent the aspersion against
the common sense of feminine foot
gear. For my legs were really SO
numb that I am sure I should have
fulfilled Jim Pierce's prediction and
have tumbled ANONYMOUSLY into the
Lumbee river had not the guide and
Dicky come to my aid.
They almost lifted me to the
wharf and then, leaning on Dicky s
arm, l managed to ascend short
flight of steps to the broad veranda
OF most curious but attractive log
cabin, or rather series of cabins, con-
nected by covered passageways with
each other, which extended along
the shore Of the river.
Here | sank down on rustic
bench, saved from ignominy by the
fact that almost every other woman
alighting from the canoes was under
going the same experience. And
then for few minutes all along the
veranda could be heard the soft
stamping of feminine feet as we tried
to restore the circulation to our
numbed feet and legs.
i'm Pierce, the man named Inn,
and the other guides were busy with
their canoes. Some were fastening
them in the cove where we had land
cd. others were taking them on
through the narrow passageway |
had noted /.
The river mrst go on past that
place through which some of the
guides took their Canoes" OBJ
served lazily, too content with the
return of sensation to my numbed
feet really to know what l was
saying.
Dicky Decides for Dinner.
"Of course, it goes on, goose"
Dick said laughing. at must, be-
cause it's perfectly good, normal
river, headed for the sea. 1t goes
on and on and gets wider and wider