Bert Wilson, Marathon Winner

Over

ay when one seems to find just sufficient energy to lounge in an easy chair under the pretense of reading a novel until a delig

ol, refreshing breeze. All was quiet, serene, peaceful, and among the passenger

y, hasn't it? Nothing to do but hang around on deck, alter

e have been on board that something exciting hasn

hing exciting to happen between this and midnight. For my part, I wouldn't much mind i

he dropped into a convenient chair and settled himself comfortably with his feet against the rail. "Sing us that song you used to sing

oo sweet nightmare," said Bert, wh

d that this apparent reluctance on your part is due entirely to sour grape

you won't sing, the least you can do is t

saying," he went on with a wink at Bert, "you are doubtless aware tha

ice, as he sprang for Dick. "You have dared disobey

covered from head to foot with soot and grime and running toward their end of the deck at full speed. At his h

ng but stare at the spectacle before them and wonder if they could be awake. In fact, Bert confessed

en as the three comrades threw out their hands to halt the flying madman, he paused, glared around him for an instant with the look of a hunted animal brought to bay, and

and, and then arose such an uproar that even the captain's great voic

ne crazy with the heat of th

der that we are all not crazy or dead this day, but that p

swim?" Bert demanded, while a l

he eyed Bert insolently from head to foot, "though d

sentence for he was busy untying h

for that madman," Tom pleaded. "The boat is stopping, now, a

he can't swim." Then there was a flash of white in the ai

had sighted from the deck of the steamer. Nor did it once occur to him that he could have acted otherwise. One of his

ugh he were being dragged backward. Surely he could not be making any progress at all at this speed. Then a fierce feel

de a country town in my life. I am making progress. I can

few feet of the spot where the madman was holding on to a slippery piece of driftwood, th

ut frantically, "Don't come near me! D

d not been for Bert's cat-like quickness. In a flash, he had grasped the stoker around the wa

ick, sinuous motion of a reptile he twisted about and met his fingers around Bert's throa

d the tighter grew that band of iron about his neck. They were under water now, but not even threatened suffocation could make the madman lo

college, his friends, his two dear comrades, was he to lose all these now, when his future was

ore, and again it seemed to give him exhaustless strength. He drew his arm back slowly, and then

heir hold. With great joy and exultation in his heart, Bert gras

eat breaths of the glorious air into his tortured lungs. Softly as in a dream he he

" it was saying. "We'll be

and makes up its mind to travel in the right direction," Tom sai

nkful to see Bert floating on the surface instead of being entertained in Da

. "If he hadn't come up again after we saw him go under I-well-I-Bert,"

voice that they neverthe

ands had lifted the stoker into the boat and Bert was half dragged, half pushed in after him. For the fierce, superhuman strength that had come to him in his extremity had passed as

ful. They showered him with praises and called him every endearing name they could think of, such as-

eamer's side. Her rails were crowded with passengers, waiting to w

eard for a mile around the ship. Bert flushed with pleasure and acknowledged the salut

fine of them to greet me so right royally, but I know I must look a

dical attention. As the sailors laid him on his bunk they muttered discontentedly of the

not sayin' as it wasn't a brave thing that that young feller has been afther doin', but jist the sam

e before the week's out, and 'tis my opinion that he's

neeling position beside the bunk. "He will do nicely, now, with

eared the stoker, who lay with his eyes closed

n, "how be ye feelin' afther

e big Irishman's ruddy face. When he spoke, the words came haltingly, as

at happened. Was I-did I"-and the fear and pleading in

hin' ye'll be up 'n aroun' as hale an' hearty as the skipper himself in a day or two." Then he added in an undertone to his companion,

t madder than a March hare and comes back after a dip in the briny and a

'Brien turned to him again, he asked eagerly, "Please tell me everything.

id, heartily, and he did, from b

rovement. "Why, at this rate we'll have you up and around by this time day after to-morrow," he cried. "What's that?" as the st

his patient to the enjoyment of

iedly below to the stokers' cabin. He had declined his friends' offer to accomp

r the stoker looked around inqui

tor gave me your message and I came a

ow. "You see, I wanted to thank you and tell you how sorry I am that I gave you-any-trouble in the water." His v

e put out his hand impulsively and said in that frank, open way that was peculiarly his own, "You and I have gone through great

to you, Bert," Tom said, as they were getting rea

lipped in between the cool, inviting s