The Fourth Watch | Page 3

the reply.
"Dan, Dan what?"
"Oh, just old Jim's boy."
"Old Jim, Old Jim!" repeated the woman. "Do you mean Jim Flitter, the
trapper?"
"Yep, that's him."
"And do you live over there?"
"Yep. In that shanty up the valley, Dad and I live there alone."
"Have you no mother, Dan?" and the woman's voice was soft and low.
"None now."
She was about to question further, but noticing the look upon the boy's
face she desisted.
"Do you know you've saved our lives?" she remarked after a short
silence. "I can never thank you enough for what you have done for us
to-day. I don't think I could have clung to that boat much longer."
"I ain't done nuthin'," Dan replied. "But next time you go out don't
carry so much sail, specially 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 land you
here." Saying which, Dan let the sail go free, and ran the boat gently up
the pebbly shore.
"Now, my boy," asked the man, "how much do I owe you?" Dan had
stooped and was about to push the Scud from the beach. He looked up
quickly at the question, but made no reply.
"How much?" demanded the man, somewhat impatiently.
"What do you mean?" asked the boy.
"What do I mean? Simply this. You've done us a great service, saved us
from death, and how much money do you want? How much shall I pay
you?"
"Nuthin'."
Dan was standing erect now. His dark eyes fixed full upon the man's
face, flashed with anger, while his heart thumped tumultuously beneath
his little checkered shirt.
"What! won't take any pay!"
"No!"
"And why not?"
"Cause I won't. You've no right to ask me. It ain't fair!"
That was all Dan could utter. He could not express his feelings;
repugnance filled his heart at the thought of taking money for what he
had done. He 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 in her direction, turned, and pushing the boat
from the shore, sprang in, leaving the man and the woman upon the
beach gazing wonderingly after him.

Chapter II
The Vision
"Danny, what's the meaning of this?"
Mr. Flitter laid down his paper, took his pipe from his mouth, and
looked inquiringly at his son.
Dan was seated at the farther end of the table, cleaning his beloved
shot-gun. It had done good work that day, and a fine string of
partridges hung in an outer room, ready to go to the store early the next
morning. A week had now passed since the rescue on the river, and
during the whole of that time he had said nothing about it to his father.
There was a reason for this. The latter had been much away from home
during the day, only coming in late at night when his son was in bed, so
they had little chance for conversation. It was a busy season, and they
must make the most of it. So while the one scoured the forest for
partridges, the other searched the river for ducks and geese. But Dan
did not feel inclined to say anything to his father about what he had
done. To him it was not worth mentioning. That he had picked up two
shipwrecked people, and set them ashore, in his eyes was a very simple
thing. It was made less so by the thought of that woman with the large
eyes, beautiful face and sunny smile. How could he describe to his
father the new feeling which had come into his breast, the longing for
something more than the life he was leading, and the desire to show
that woman what he really could do?
His father's sudden question startled him. The mail was carried but
once a week to this place, and by the time the paper arrived from the
post office it was several days old. Mr. Flitter had come home earlier
than usual, having had a fine day's shooting on the river, and was in
excellent spirits. Game was in great demand, and he looked hopefully
for good sales on the morrow. After their scanty meal he picked up the
paper and began to read. Silence reigned in the little dingy shanty for
some time, broken only by the short, sharp question.
"Don't you know anything about it, Danny?" insisted Mr. Flitter,

noticing the startled and puzzled look upon his son's face.
"What do you mean, dad?"
"Why, about that wreck on the river. This paper says that you saved
two people from drowning right off here over a week ago."
Dan's face flushed and his