The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-11
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difficulty in securing volunteers to
go with them, and he was consid.
erably heartencd ut finding lie was
not greatly different from the rest
who's soin' hep us?' the
Frenc,.man was shouting. Come
now, YOU stout fcllers. Dere's
lady Gu dat scow. Amt nobody
got nerve -. -
1t was a tribute to the manhood
of the North that after q brief
hesitation several men offered
themselves At tic last moment,
however. Broad and Bridges e.
bowed the others aside, saying:
Here. YOU! That's Our boat and
we know how she handles"
Into the skiff they piled and hur-
riedly stripped down; then, in obedi-
ence to Doret's command. they set
tied themselves at the forward oars,
leaving Pierce to set the stroke.
'Poleon stood braced in the stern,
like a gondolicr, and when willing
hands had shot the boat out into the
current he leaned hi, weight upon
the after oars; beneath his and
Pierce's efforts the asl, blades bent
Out into the hurrying flood the four
men sent their craft; then, with a
mighty heave. the pilot swung its
bow downstream and helped to
drive it directly at the throat of the
cataract.
There came breath-taking plunge
during which the rescuiug skiff and
its crew were hidden from the view
Of those on shore; out into sight
they lunged again md, in cloud Of
spray, went gallo ing through the
stampeding waves At risk of cap.
sizing they turned around and, bat
Ting furiously against the current,
were swept down, stern first, upon
the stranded barge. Dore.'s face
was turned back over his shoulder,
he vas measuring distance, eaugins
with practissd eye the whirn. and
vagaries OF the tumbling torrent
when he fiuns himself upon the oars
Pierce Phillips felt his own strength,
completely dwarfed by that Of The
big pilot. 'Polcon's hands inclosed
his in a visclilsc grasp; he welded
the sweeps as if they were reeds
and with them he welded Phillips.
| Two people only were left upor
the Roulctta. that sidcwisc plung.
having carried the crew away. Ono,
again Sam ki-by's artificial hant
had proved its usefulness, and with
out its aid it is doubtful if either II,
or his daughter could have with
stood the dc!uge. For 4 second time
he had sunk that sharp steel hool
into the solid wood and had man
aged by virtue of that advantage. &c
save himself and his girl. Both o.
them were half drowned; they were
well-nigh frozen, too; now, however
finding themselves i'll temporary Sc
curity, Kirby had preached one O
the few remaining cases OF bot,lct
!: goods. As the rowboat came close
its occupants saw him press drinl
upo, his daughter, then gulp on,
himself.
1t was impossible either toYay tn,
. skiff alongside the wreck with an,
degree OF care or to hold her there
as matter OF fact, tho two hull
collided with crash, Kid Bridges
; oar snapped off short and the sid,
OF the lighter boat was smashed il,
Water poured over the rescue7s
. For an instant it seemed that the,
were doomed, but, clawing fcrccl,
at whatever they could lay hand
upon. they checked their progress
long enough for tho castaways t
. obey Dorct's shout of command
The girl flung herself into Pierce
arms; her father followed, landing
. in heap amidsh;ps. Even as tho,
jumped the skiff was torn away ant
'! hurried onward by the food.
Sam Kirby raised himself to hi
knees and turned his ashcn face K
Roulctta.
Hurt you any, kid" he inquired
The girl shook her head. She wa
. very white. her teeth were chatter
ing, her wet dress chung tightly t.
her figure.
Staring fxcdly at the retrcatinl
barge the old man cried: "All gone
All gone" Then, bracing himsel
!, with his good hand, he brandishc.
his steel hook at the rapids All,
! hcaped CURSES upon them.
. A half-nlile below the wrccl
'Polcon Doret brought his cripple,
; skif into an eddy, and there TIL
crowd, which had kept pace with j
, down the rivcr-bank, lent willing
assistance in eHcctin. a landing.
As Kirby stepped ashore he shoot
hands with the men who had jcop
ardized their lives for him and hi
daughter. i'll a cherries, colorles
voice he said, 1T looks to me lik'
you boys had a drink coming.
From his coat pocket he drew /;
bottle of whisky; with a blow o
that artificial hand he struck off it!
neck and then proffered it to Doret