In the present case Bill was doing some fancy strokes by himself
over near the Pennsy shore, while the rest of us were watching Uncle Ed
give Dutchy a lesson in swimming. All of a sudden Bill threw up his hands
and sank. I happened to glance up as he did it. We thought he was fooling
at first, but soon made out that he was in genuine trouble. Uncle Ed
dropped Dutchy to my tender care, and raced over with a powerful stroke to
the spot where he had last seen his nephew. He failed to find him on the
first dive, but the second time was successful and he carried the lifeless
body to the Pennsylvania shore. In the meantime I had landed Dutchy and
with the rest of the boys had crossed the lake. Uncle Ed first laid Bill
on his back and hastily wiped dry the mouth and nostrils. Then he pried
his jaws apart, holding them open with a piece of wood wedged in between
the teeth. After which he turned him on his face over a log which was
placed under his stomach. By stomach I do not mean the bowels, but the
real stomach, which lies just under the ribs in front. Then he pressed
with a good weight on the back directly over the log for nearly a minute,
causing the water to flow out of the mouth. Dutchy had by this time rowed
across in the scow, in which fortunately there happened to be some of
Uncle Ed's clothing.
Pages:
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84