The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? 27 Apparently it proceeded from a part of the river, a couple of hundred yards above the boat-house. Frank instantly changed his course, and hurried towards that part of the river from which the cries seemed to come. As soon as he reached the brink of tthe stream the cause of the commotion became apparent. In the middle of the water was a boat, keel upwards, to which clung an old man, A few yards from him, and being gradually carried away by the current, was a young girl struggling violently to reach the bank, and uttering from time to time the piercing shrieks that had alarmed him, One glance was sufficient to enable him to comprehend the state of affairs. In an instant Frank threw off his jacket. “ Keep yourself afloat a minute longer,” said he. Then in he plunged. It was easy enough to reach the girl, but to rescue her was a more difScult matter. The poor creature, in her extreme ‘terror, grasped wildly at his arms as he approached. “Tf you do that, we shall both be drowned,” he said. ‘“ You must wait till I turn my back towards you; then put a hand on each shoulder; but if you cling close to me I shall not be able to swim.’ The girl made no reply, but it was evident from her look that she under- stood. Five seconds afterwards, Frank was swimming with her towards shore, a matter of some difficulty, as, in spite of ihnis exhortations, she kept so close as to oreatly impede his movements. At length, however, he had the satis- faction of landing her upon the bank. Though much exhausted, the girl was not unconscious. ‘¢ My father !” she exclaimed, point- ing piteously towards the old man, who still clung to the boat. ‘Oh, save him, sir! Save him if you can! Pray save him!” “T mean to,” was Frank’s simple response, as he again dashed into the stream. “ Hold fast!’ he exclaimed, and commenced pushing the boat before him towards shore. The gallant deed was done. Two lives had been rescued by the King of the School! As the weather was tolerably warm, neither the man nor his daughter re- ceived much injury from their im- mersion, beyond the fright, and in a few minutes they were able to walk away towards the town. Frank cut short the profuse thanks they showered upon him, and hurried off to Lexicon College to change his clothes, The Rev. John Whackley was walk- ing up and down in front of the build- ing as our hero approached. “Why, Egerton,” he exclaimed, ‘‘what have you been doing ?” ‘T_T have been in the water, sir, replied Frank. “So I perceive. with your clothes on.” Frank blushed, but did not reply for a few seconds. ‘“‘T always look upon hesitation as a symptom of fear or guilt. You have been doing something I should not approve of, I suppose?” _ ‘No, sir, indeed! I id Again Frank hesitated, feeling bash- ful at having to tell the story of his own heroic actions, “I must insist upon an explanation,” continued the doctor, growing stern. “What have you been doing ?” “Well, sir, I was walking by the river, when I heard a scream, and saw that a boat had been overturned, and that a little girl was being carried away by the stream; so I swam out and brought her to shore.” “ Bravo, Egerton! that was indeed an heroic action. But how came thig little girl to be in a boat by herself ?” “Her father was with her, sir.” “ What! then he is drowned?” But why bathe Go NOC (CO mn