, 1921-09-02

N4-LA ~ 10-4 1-[1 - $50
oheered too. as 1t promised more enter
tainnent for them Then they hauled
me over the side and went al the gate
again more carefully. 20 carefully. In
deed. that once. when Murray lost his
balance. he. sooner than let tie hammer
go. let himself go. and the result was
that the forcce OF the blow and the
hammers weight pulled him forward.
and he hung himself up over the bar
rier as a horse does over a fence. with
the important difference that all of the
upper part OF Murrays long body was
under water while his legs were kicking
wildly in the air We pulled him back
again. suffering and coughing and
with green moss and twigs and leaves
sticking in his ears and hair. so hat
he looked Ike agwater-nymph. We were
all fighting the gate now. for they had
given me n hammer that 1 might get
warm agaiI. and the lock was nearly
gone: then two chains fell to the bot
tom. and the lock broke and the gate
swung back. and with a triumphant
yell we pulled and pushed our boat
head-furward into the private water.
We were not a moment too soon, for
across the lawn came a gailoping cob
swinging n dog-cart behind him with
three men clinging TO its top. and
going at such a paco that the cart
rocked like a skin at sea. They were
the three largest men I had ever
seen. They were dressed in keepers
knickerbocxers and velveteen. and OF
course I. being an American. expected
they would begin to shoot as they
reached the bank I supposed from
what I had read OF game-keeperF IN
kfngsley's novels that they would prO.,-
ably carry shot4guns with sawed-o,f
barrels. such as poachers affect. and
while carefully steering the boat into
the private wafer I was wondering how
far a shotgun would carry, and
whether saving on the barrels would
not make the shot scatter over a very
large surface. Howard. being an Eng
hshman. knew perfectly well that no
one would shoot US. so ne s uled their
approach gayly.
Now it's getting exciting he said.
Shall we stop here and light 'em. or 20
on to Warwick n break down the
other barrier"
We admired his spirit very much. but
we pointed opt that we had established
our point by destroying the barrlcade
and entering the private water. and
that II was now a case for awye-s TO
settle. So. in spite of Towards remo..
strances, the boys pulled the boats head
around towards Stratford. The keepers
AAt hlAO a punt fQ
six Of the grooms and servants tumbled
In after them, and with n single oar
showed after Us in pursuit.
Let's stop and board them said
Howard. who was sitting impotently In
the bow. But Farmer said to go on.
but not to hurry. or they would think
we were running away. Keep the
stroke you ave got. and talk about the
weather" he said. But our dlgnifed
and leisurely departure went for moth
ing, for the first thing tho keepers went
for was the order in council. They
were evidently not going to attack any
until they had read n digested
this brief. and they judged that the
piece Of paper fiuttering on the tree was
ours. 1t served US ms the HID thrown
to the wolve served the men in the
sleigh. for by the time the keepers had
puzzled 1t out. and what possible bear
ing II had on our destruction Of their
barrier, we had lighted our pipes and
drifted gracefully out Of sight around
the bend.
Such a lot of nuns I never did see"
said Howard. who was in fun mutiny.
why didn't you row up alongside and
bang them with the oars7"
whats the good?' said Murray.
"The barriers down, isn't IL? There
were forty OF them, n they'd nave
thrown us in a horse-pond, most likely:
and that's not dignified. What's the
use OF rowing with keepers7 'Tisn't
their barrier
User said Howard. well. we'd
have been arrested for one thing. and
1 could have made a speech too"
We lay or our oars and let the boat
run with the rapid current. which was
now with us. and we felt like patriots
and heroes as the people in the occa-
sipnal villages hurried to the banks to
ask IL the barrier was down, and on
hearing that it was. started of with a
shout to tell their neighbors. Then the
boats of the Stratford Rowing Club be-
gan to appear. and the occupants asked
the same question. and said. That
good" n laughed at our muddy gar
msnts and dripping hair.
Wen have a grand reception when
we get to Stratford." said Howard. giee-
fully. 1T will be all over the town by
that time. Those orders of council we
threw out will ave stirred up their
curiosity"
There was a nice old gentleman fish,
Ling from a punt about a mile from
Stratford. and he regarded our DISNEY
elled and disreputabie appearance as
we drifted towards him. Are you the
gentlemen" he inquired, d%oubtfuliy,
<'who went up to Charlccote to destroy
the barrier"
We said that we were. He regarded
his bobbing float with interest. and then
called after US. without raising his head:
They're waiting to give you a recep-
ton at the bridge They will be glad
to see you"
d you hear that7" asked Howard.
triumphantly.
There was something about the nice
i l11 ro-f1--..-- 49,