James Oliver Curwood, Disciple of the Wilds

by Hobart Donald Swiggett

With the first streak of dawn Jimmie slipped out of the manger with all the cautiousness of an Indian scout and looked carefully about.

Feeling that perhaps someone had lain in wait for him during the night he took no unnecessary chances. Seeing that no one was in sight he hurried down to the spot along the river where his pal Skinny and he had their log raft cached. He soon found it and without a moment’s hesitation he climbed aboard and with the aid of a long pole pushed himself out into the river’s current. All the terror which had possessed him the night before seemed to have vanished and he once again began to feel very much like a grown man.

The wind was now beginning to churn the river’s waters into a lather, and was actually carrying the small, frail raft out into Lake Erie. Jimmie was yards away from shore and was still going out. He frantically attempted to pole himself back to the bank, but it was useless. Minutes grew into hours and still Jimmie Curwood was seeking some way in which to get back to the fading, distant shore. He was being tossed about upon the little raft just like a piece of cork upon the ocean. Half afraid, he eagerly scanned the fastly fading shoreline in all directions until his eyes fell upon the dim outline of a sailing ship.

“No words in any language could have properly expressed my relief when a sloop with snowy sails appeared on the horizon.”

Instantly the youngster began to yell, scream and wave his arms long before anyone could have possibly heard him. Eventually the ship spotted the drifting raft and picked the boy up. When taken aboard he drew one long sigh of relief, started crying and then collapsed upon the deck.

It was the good ship Sandusky whose white sails Jimmie had seen. Upon being revived the Captain of the sloop began questioning the lad, asking who he was, from where he had come and just what he was doing out on the lake.

It was some time after he had been taken aboard that the Captain could get any information from him. When at last he succeeded they were several miles from shore and could not possibly return to the spot from which Jimmie had embarked. Later on when he had unfolded his story and had answered all the Captain’s questions, the Captain and his men all enjoyed a hearty laugh. He, too, was forced to laugh in a timid manner for it seemed amusing to him now that he had seriously stopped to think about it.

For the next two hours Jimmie leaned over the railing of the ship taking in of the broad expanse of water and the white caps which topped each wave. This was his first experience at sea and the youngster was enjoying every minute of it now that he was safely aboard a ship. This to him was truly thrilling adventure.

Far ahead over the rolling waves Jimmie could see the mainland lined by tall buildings and rows of stately trees. The storm was now beginning to subside and the violent rocking of the ship soon came to an end. He thanked his stars above for this, for he was nearly seasick.

Later in the day when they neared the port of Sandusky, the Captain called Jimmie aside and explained to him in a fatherly manner that the good people of Joppa and Vermillion would neither hang him nor imprison him and that he had nothing whatsoever to fear upon his return as long as he behaved himself. As for his parents, they were surely worried over his absence, and they would without a doubt welcome him back with open arms and warm hearts. After Jimmie had listened to all this talk from the aged Captain the old world began to look bright and rosy once again and he expressed the desire to return as soon as possible.