The stout leather lace was handed to Jake, who bound it firmly round his father's arm above the wound, making a deep pressure, and explaining quietly to his mother, just as Dr. Barnes had to him, why this must be done. "And now, mother," said he, when Mr. Lawson had been helped into the house, "I must leave you and go for the doctor at once; but remember that the pressure must be kept up. I do not think that the bleeding will begin again, but if it does do not get frightened, but tie a fresh cord, bringing the knot just over the same place. Tilly," addressing his twelve-year-old sister, who had stood by, "help mother all you can. Keep up your courage, father. Good-by."
He snatched up his hat and hurried out. By the road it was six miles to the village, and a mile in an opposite direction to the nearest place where he might hope to get a horse. And there were many chances that the horse might be away at work. No, he must walk, and it would be over two hours before he could bring help to his father, whose situation he knew to be critical. But there was one other way. If he went by the river the swift current would land him at the doctor's door in half an hour. It must be by the river, and he resolutely took the side path leading down to the pool where the boats were kept. A thought struck him that for a moment stayed his feet. He might not get through, and then no help would reach his father. It might be his duty to take the road, after all, unless a messenger could also be sent that way. But at that moment he sighted a boy who could be sent. Benny Masters, a ten-year-old boy, and one of the swiftest runners in the village, sat idly rocking in one of the boats.
"Benny," said Jake, "will you do something for me? Father has cut himself very badly. He may bleed to death. So I am going down to the doctor's by the river; it is father's best chance, but some one ought to go by the road in case anything happens to me. Will you go right off? And if I have not reached there, bring the doctor at once, and be sure to tell him just what the trouble is. Don't wait one minute for anything."
"Be you goin' to run the Big Rapid, Jake?" said Benny, with eyes wider open than they had ever been before.
"Yes; but don't wait a moment. I'll give you my knife if I get back; now run."
Benny raced up the path, and Jake, who had meantime untied the canoe, jumped into it and pushed it from the shore. And now for a moment his courage failed him, and he made no effort to guide the canoe, but covered his face with his hands, trying vainly to shut out sight and sound. He did not fear death; he had often wished to die, and to die giving his life for another, but he feared the demon; he felt himself in the grasp of the horrible creation of his fancy, that had held him in thrall for so many years; but the boat swept round the curve that brought the Big Rapid in sight, and the deafening roar of the waters brought him to himself, and, grasping the paddle, he headed the boat for the centre of the river.
THE WATERS FOAMED AND ROARED ALL ROUND HIM.
Drawn by P. R. Goodwin, Winner of First Prize in Drawing Competition.
The Big Rapid was nearly half a mile in length, and not really dangerous to an experienced person except in one spot, about the middle of it, where an enormous bowlder rises from the river, and, dividing the current, sends it rushing to the shores, only to fall back from the rocky walls in a wave that would upset the largest boat likely to be found on the Strife. Jake had heard so much about the rapid all his life that he knew the one chance of safety lay in passing as close to the large bowlder as possible without striking on a little reef of jagged rocks that surrounded it, and he exerted all his strength to head the boat accordingly. The waters foamed and roared all round him, and the boat was tossed about like an egg-shell; but he managed to keep it right side up and headed for the rock. In a few moments he had reached it, and was being carried towards the shore by the mighty side sweep of the current. He did his best to pull across it, but his strength was as nothing against the fierce rush of the water. Once within the grasp of that foaming wave, he knew that he and the canoe would be rolling over and over, and all hope be lost, and he redoubled his efforts. It was no use; he shut his eyes, expecting all to be over in a moment, when a sudden shock almost threw him out of the canoe, and, opening his eyes, he found he was again in the centre of the river. Looking back he saw he must have been struck by a side wave from an almost sunken rock, whose head he could see just above the water a few feet from the shore, and so carried out into the river again.
How he finished the run he never quite knew, but seemed to waken from a dream to find himself floating round and round in an eddy of the pool in which the rapid ended. The river was in flood at the time, and he was doubtless safely carried over many dangers, which might have beset him at low water. Fearing he had lost time, he paddled out into the current as quickly as possible, and in a few moments he ran alongside the doctor's landing. He jumped ashore at once, and, entering the little front garden, was met by Dr. Barnes himself, who exclaimed: