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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1899)
the cou;.t. 11 MY NEPHEW, WILLIE TANNER. Uort Tnnnor stood on tho bill among tho group of men who had gathernd about tbo one store of the fishing settle mont. It was early spring on the Maine coast, and tho ice was still Id the Reach, Tbo group wore watching tho movements of a coot-hunter on an island a mile from tbo mainland. There was a look of un easiness on Bert's faco aa he watched tho figure crawling among tho rocks, and ho occasionally co.6t furtive glances at tho faces of the others, as though expecting them to hear something that he could not, for Bert was quite deaf. Bert was said to be only "half-bright" by the natives. He was a silent fellow who never in any way showed resent ment at the rude practical jokes played upon him or the broad jests made at his expense. He refused to fish or to lob ster, but spent his time prowling over the islands after coot, wild duck, and other sea-birds that came in. On tbe rare occasions when he spoke it was either of his shot-gun or "my nephew, Willi Tanner," as he proudly called him . "What seems to be ailin' on you, Bert?" someone Bhouted in Bert's ear, noting his restlessness. Bert only look ed foolish and shook biB bead. A tharp explanation broke from one of the men. Bert heard it, and a look of fear camo into bis vacant blue eyes as he stared into their faces. A cracking sound of several seconds' duration was heard. This was followed by shorter, sharper sounds. The broad expanse of glitter ing ice between the island and the main land began to move slowly, ripping and tearing itself loose from the Bhore with a noise like a succession of pistol-shots. Tbe hunter on the island had grasped the situation as quickly as tbe group on the hill. The watchers saw him, gun in hand, bound over tbe rocks to the shore. They saw him hesitate, and then jump from the shore upon a cake of ice that was drifting slowly by. The men watched breathlessly. There was a silly grin of terror on Bert's face. The hunter jumped from cake to cake, drifting a lit tle, then gatheriug himself for another leap when the opportuLity came. "Bf be slips off one o them chunks he's done for," said one of the group. Slowly the hunter was making bis perilous way to the main sheet of ice; a leap or two more and he would reach it, The maBB was moving swifter, for the wind had freshened from the west, driv ing it out to sea.' The hunter had been drifting upon one cake for a minute or bo, watching his chance to get on tbe main ice. They saw the gap widen in stead of close. . The hunter threw bis gun ahead of him, where it fell upon tbe main ice; then they saw him remove his coat and throw it after the guo.- They watched him gather himself together for a mighty leap, and their hearts stood still. He ros3 in the air and apparently landed upon tbe ice in safety. A ring ing shout went up from tbe lusty lungs of the fishermen. It was followed by a shrill cry of despair from over the ice. A chunk of the main ice had broken a way and tbe hunter had fallen through the Assure, disappearing in the black water beneath. Bert gave a frenzied cry like that of an animal in pain. "It's my nephew, Willie Tanner!" he shrieked. They ran down the steep hill to the shore, but Bert outstripped them all. His thick-Boled, clumsy boots, run over at both heels and hard from Bait water, seemed to have wings. At( the watet's edge tbe others stopped and looked hesi tatingly in each other's faces. Bert did not stop. Muttering between his teeth, "My nephew, Willie Tanner," bis eyes grown dark with a desperate purpose, be leaped upon the nearest cake, and with one high bound after another reached the broad sheet of Mid ice. The boy struggling in the water had managed to get his Sogers over the edge f tho main ice. Numb with cold and half unconscious, be clung to tho ico with the desporation of a drowning man. The ico wbb pounding and grind ing about him, threatening oach moment to crush him and carry him uodor tho great mass. When Bert had gained bis footing upon the Bolld ico he ran swiftly to the dark object clinging to tbo edgo. Ho pulled him out of the water and tried to stand him on his feet, but be sank down in a limp hup. Willio Tannor was only a half-grown boy, but he was not a light load at any time; now bo was a dead weight. Bert seemed to havo suprrbuman strength given him, for ho picked Willie up as if bo had boon a child and ran with him to tbootbor odgo Tho weather beaten faces of the mon on the shore blanched as they saw Bert steady himself for tbe first jump on tbe moving ice cakes. He fell with bis burden as he landed, for his old boots and tbe weight he wa9 carrying made it almost impossible for him to keep his footing. The cako tipped and sank deeper into the water. Tbe process was repeated, and then, as tbe space between the cakes grew wider, Bert jumped with reckless desperation, At last there was only water between tbe man crouching with his burden on tho ice and the shore. Tbe men looking on were help less, for there waB not a boat within two miles, They knew Bert could not swim, and the whole mass was moving so rapidly out to sea that they had to walk quickly to keep abreast of the two on the ice. Bert looked around helplessly; then he began to pull off his boots. He drew the unconscious boy to the edge nearest the shore and let himself down into the water on the opposite side, clinging to the edge with hiB fingers. After a few gasps from the first shock, he began to tread water. Slowly, incb by inch, the strange raft with it passenger neared the shore. Once Bert wbb able to touch bottom, hands were eagerly stretched nut to help him, but he did not let go until tbe cake grated upon tbo beach. He dropped weakly to his knees at the water's edge. Some started to lift bira but he shook them off. " Tend to my nephew, Willie Tanner,' be gasped. More than one pair of eyes filled with'tears as after a moment's rest the fool i6h hero, wearing his usual fool ish grin, staggered up the bill towards home, as though to escape the ridicule he felt must surely follow his action. Caroline Lockhart in December Lippin cotta. TIME IS MONEY. Wbnuyou are traveling, due con. Bideration unould -be given to the amount of time spent in making your journey. The Union Pacific is the best line and makes the fastest time by many hourb to Salt Lake City, Portland and OH fornis points. For time tables, folders, illustrated books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter ritory traversed, call at City Office, 1044 O st. E. B. Slosson Qen. Agent ".! 4; i& ' Easily and Hon- E estly Won by tbe n vV ? 4? Jj '43 43 s 5 4h M $ 4k 4k 4k 4k 4k 4k 4k 4k JM t - i iJ ft i t - V l(g Rotable Victory . . f WEBER MAN ?D. 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