The Fourth Watch

Awak

ohn rippled and sparkled beneath the glowing sun. Over there amidst that long stretch of marshland, in many a cove and reedy creek, the wild ducks were securely hidden. What connection had a rugged, stirring lad with a brown sombre potato patch when the strong insistent voice of the wild was calling him to fields afar? There was no in

left it up for?

Wish to goodness he'd help with thes

istance, bearing steadily down-stream. He watched it carelessly for some time, but notici

ever, and sped gracefully forward. Again and again she dipped and careened under each successive squall, winning the lad's unstinted admiration. But even as he looked and wondered, a furious gust caught the white sail as it listed heavily, and drove it with one sweep to the water, overturning the boat as it did so. With a cry of fear the boy dropped his hoe, stared for

tiller with the other. Nobly the boat obeyed her little determined commander. The sail filled, she listed to the left and darted forward, bearing bravely up the wind. Straight ahead the boy could see the distressed boat sinking lower and lower in the water, with a man and a woman clinging desperately to the upturned side. The wind was now whistling around him, and at times threatening to rip away the patched sail. The wa

. Now, however, he cast a curious glance in their direction, as he let go the rudder and sheet-line, and thre

me out first. Be careful now," he continued as the c

s were rescued from their perilous position,

ked the boy, as once again he

ting to the opposite shore. "We can l

blowing her dark-brown hair about her face, which was white as death. But when she turned her large blue eyes filled with gratitude and fear upon her rescuer, a strange feeling of embarrassment swept suddenly over him. Women he had seen befor

at her side, who was looking thoughtfully out over the blue water? A feeling of jealousy stole into his heart. He had never known such a thing before. He knew what it was to be angry--to stamp and shout in his rage. He had engaged in several pitched battles with the boys in the neighbourhood who had made fun of him. But his life--a life of freedom--had satisfied him. To hunt, to trap, to wande

your name

y up. The woman was looking at him still, but

Dan," was

Dan

t old Ji

ed the woman. "Do you mean

that's

ou live o

up the valley, Dad an

an?" and the woman's v

ne

her, but noticing the look upo

lence. "I can never thank you enough for what you have done for us

when it's squally. I mayn't always be handy like I was to-day. But come, we're at the pint, so I'll

had stooped and was about to push the Scud from the beach

ded the man, some

u mean?" as

great service, saved us from death, and how muc

thi

on the man's face, flashed with anger, while his heart

n't take

N

why

've no right to ask

e felt the woman's eyes fixed upon him. What would she think, of him, Dan Flitter, taking money for saving people's lives? He gave one quick glance