WHEN THE ICE BROKE

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1913, Page 61

WHEN THE ICE BROKE

Of all the boys in Longmont, Harry Kingford was the quietest and least given to rough sports. That is why it came about that the other boys called him Sissy. It was a name that he did not deserve, and one day something happened that made him lose it. It happened all in a moment on the mill-pond above the dam one Saturday afternoon in December. Some of the boys set out with their skates, and as they passed Harry's home, they saw him in the yard, and called to him to join them. ‘ They say the ice isn’t safe at the lower end of the pond,’ said Harry. Oh, well, don t come if you are afraid ! ’ retorted Ben Flagg, the biggest of the group, and he laughed in a sneering way. J ° But Harry ran in for his skates, and soon joined the others on the shores of the pond. The skaters kept well to the upper end of the long pond, for it was known that the ice at the lower end, near the dam, was thin and weak. But in their races and games some of the boys became careless, and before they realised their danger, half a dozen of them were well down toward the dam. There were warning shouts from men on the bank, and the boys swung in sharp curves away from the. dangerous place. But Ben Flagg had gone too far and was flying over the ice too fast. There was a sudden bending and cracking of the black ice beneath him, and then a splash and a scream for help. Suddenly, coming from the head of the pond, they saw . the slight figure of Harry Kingford. ‘ Form a chain !’ he called. ‘ Join hands and hold tiHit I I’ll go ahead!’ & _ y coolness and leadership were all that were needed. uncle r nis direction, a dozen boys quickly formed a chain. Harry thrust himself into the place of responsibility and danger nearest the spot where Ben fought to keep a hold on the edge of the ice.

'Hold on! Hold on ! J cried Harry. '.We'll have you in a second!' ;;•_.,- • '■'■'. ■ v "• He tore off his coat, took a firm hold on one sleeve himself, and gave the other sleeve to the next boy to him, who in turn grasped the hand of another boy farther back, and so on to the length of the chain. Then over the thin ice Harry made his way carefully and quickly toward the open place. Just as he stretched out his free hand to clasp the exhausted Ben, the ice bent and broke beneath him, and he, too, plunged into icy water. But he did not let go his grip on the coat, and: the boy who held the sleeve was still■■>: on sound ice. In'an instant Harry had: seized Ben by- the collar, A moment more would have been- too. late. ' - . The boys at the other end of the chain pulled their hardest, and Harry, although it felt as if they were pulling off his right arm, clung tight to Ben with his left hand until they were both dragged to safety on the firm ice. \ Then the crowd on the ice and on the shore shouted with joy, and as Harry and Ben were hurried home to get dry and warm there were many cheers >for Harry and much praise for his quick wits and bravery. From that day nobody in Longmont has given Harry Kingford his old nickname, and if any boy should do so, he would have to reckon with Ben Flag*.