VERY BRAVE MAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21360, 13 June 1931, Page 21

VERY BRAVE MAN

INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH HEROISM ON THE ZAMBESI. In the River Zambesi of Africa, near Livingstone, a pack of native children were splashing and playing as if there were no such things as crocodiles. But there were, and the wire enoloure round the pool where they were bathing had been broken down. One poor little boy suddenly disappeared with a' shout of terror. A man on the bank, Mr Leonard Pemberton, heard the cry as he rested there. The man wms fully clothed. He was, in fact, only fust recovering from a severe illness. Also he* knew quite well what had happened. A crocodile had dragged; the terrified boy under water. But the man did not hesitate a moment In he plunged, and tried to save the boy. At any moment the man-eating crocodile might have turned on him. That, too, he perfectly realised. But he persisted in his efforts, and the crocodile fled. The man’s heroism was not rewarded by the saving of the boy’s life, but it was a great deed, such as many brave men might well shudder to contemplate. It was right : that the King should recognise such bravery by conferring the Albert Medal on Mr Pemberton.