Snell

“ Permitting no one to share his confidence he awaited patiently an opportunity for successfully eluding those who had so recently had his care-taking. There were days when he felt the time had come, yet some unexpected obstacle presented itself, causing him to postpone his running away. Not until Virgie had established her little household, taking Landy and Martin and Gyp, did the real opportunity occur. Martin had forgotten and left behind some small thing that Kent thought she might urgently need, and, expressing this belief in Snellins' presence, Snell at once grasped the possibility. ”

“ Booth threw the circle of his flash-light out to sea.
"Stop that!" cried Hugh, in alarm. "They might take a shot at us."
"Let 'em," growled Booth, now thoroughly out of humor. "What's it all about, anyway?"
"Boys, look!" cried Lucile, suddenly; "Our boat's gone!"
Hastening down the beach, they found it was all too true; the row-boat had disappeared.
"There weren't any men!" exclaimed Hugh, with sudden conviction; "That chap's taken our boat and skipped!"
"Yes, there were men," insisted Lucile. "We saw their tracks in the sand, didn't we, Marion?" ”

“ Nevertheless, the air of mystery hung about him like a dark cloud. He could not sleep. And not being able to sleep, he meditated.
He had already begun the eternal round of thoughts that will revolve through a fellow's brain at night, when he heard a sound—the soft crush of a skin boot in the snow it seemed. He listened and thought he heard it again, this time more distinctly, as if the person were approaching his igloo. A chill crept up and down his spine. ”

“ No white man has ever been over—over—” she caught herself to stammer on, “has been—been across this great bush to the beyond. There may be—there must be just one city, one gorgeous city left.” Standing upon the rock, she threw her arms wide as she exclaimed: “There must be! There must!”
Would they go on over that trail to the great beyond? What call could be stronger? What fear could hinder? In vain Johnny told himself he must go back, back to Pant and the red lure, back to fight the treacherous Daego. All in vain. He owed it to this magnificent girl’s father to take her back. ”

“ Now there be somethin' worth livin' fer, old boy. We'll have th' kinks outen you in no time, mark my word!" he said affectionately, shaking his big finger positively before Snell's face. "I didn't listen t' all thet talk about insane people down there on the Ohio fer nothin'," he soliloquized. "I've wisht many's th' time sence I knowed you thet I'd listened with my ears wider open then I did, but 'Susan Ann, man t' man, I think I've got th' idee.' Thet's po'try, Snell, good po'try. You'll be up t' sayin' them things fust thing you know." ”

“ With an eagerness candid and child-like, she sought safety at his side.
“I want you to understand that though I’m a widder I ain’t without friends and protectors,” said Mrs. Snell. “The bill for damages will be sent to Cap’n Nymphus Bodfish, at P’lermo, and he’ll have full power to act for me. ”

“ Then I was angry, and said I, 'What! are you not glad that poor child is found?' and I called to Thomas Snell and said, 'If the Squire will not let me, do you open the door and call her in.' So Thomas Snell went and opened the door, and the wind setting that way blew in and overset the two candles that was all we had lighted: and Esquire Martin fell away from holding me ”

“ It lay not a quarter of a mile from the spot where she stood.
"He's across and can never recross to us!" she moaned in despair. "No creature could brave that undercurrent and live. And there is no other way."
Then, as the full terror of their situation flashed upon her, she sank down in a heap and buried her face in her hands.
They were two girls, ten miles from any land, on the bosom of a vast ice-floe, which was slowly but surely sweeping toward the unknown northern sea. They had no chart, no compass, no trail to follow, and no guide. To move would seem futile. ”

“ SNELL, JOHN (1629–1679) , founder of the Snell exhibitions in Balliol College, Oxford, born in 1629, was the son of Andrew Snell, smith at McCalanstone in the parish of Colmonell, Ayrshire, by Margaret, daughter of John Carnahan. ”

“ Ranged round the wall, with the benches for seats, were some thirty men and perhaps half as many hard-faced native women. On every face was an expression of gloating expectancy.
Now and again, a hand holding a small wooden cup would steal out toward the keg to be instantly knocked aside by a husky young fellow whose duty it appeared to be to guard the hooch.
Johnny tried to imagine what the result would be were he suddenly to enter the place. He would not risk that. He would wait. He counted the moments as the sound of the dripping liquid grew fainter and fainter. ”

“ They awoke to a world unknown. The first glimpse outside the cabin brought surprised exclamations to their lips. The "white line" was gone. So, too, was the ocean. Before them, as far as the eye could see, lay a mass of yellow lights and purple shadows, ice-fields that had buried the sea. Only one object stood out black and bare before them—the hull of the wrecked ship.
"Look!" said Lucile, suddenly. "We can go out to the ship over the ice-floe!"
"'THE WHITE LINE!' EXCLAIMED MARION, GRIPPING HER ARM"
"Let's do it," said Marion, eagerly. ”

“ Disregarding the two short stretches of sidewalk that bordered the street, Snellins stepped out into the road, facing toward the east. The light fell upon his back and cast a short shadow before him that he saw without observing, and, as it moved along with jerky motion, he tried to uproot the doubt of the parson's friendship, which grieved him sorely. Times without number a smile spread over his face only to be driven off by a doubt insubordinate to his heart's good inclinations. ”

“ The story of these fresh adventures in a land far from tropical wilds will be found in our next book, “Johnny Long-Bow.”
The Roy J. Snell Books
Mr. Snell is a versatile writer who knows how to write stories that will please boys and girls. He has traveled widely, visited many out-of-the-way corners of the earth, and being a keen observer has found material for many thrilling stories. His stories are full of adventure and mystery, yet in the weaving of the story there are little threads upon which are hung lessons in loyalty, honesty, patriotism and right living. ”

“ If it widened too rapidly, if the drawbridge fell too slowly, or ceased to fall at all, hope would die.
Moment by moment he measured the two distances with his eye. Rover, sitting by his side, now and again peered up into his eyes as if to say, "What's it all about?" ”

“ Petite Jeanne could scarcely await their departure. Hardly had the door closed when, in true French fashion, she threw her arms about the old trouper and kissed him on both cheeks. Nor was Angelo neglected.
“We’re made!” she cried joyously. “The footlights, oh, the blessed footlights!” She walked the young composer about the room until she was dizzy. Then, springing like a top, she landed in a corner by the fire and demanded a demi-tasse of coffee. ”

“ She made her way into a square alcove where an electric light shining brightly from the ceiling brought out a gleam of real gold from the backs of thousands of books done in fine bindings.
Bending over a desk telephone was the form of a tall, slender-shouldered man.
“Are—are you Roderick Vining?” she faltered, at the same time drawing “The Compleat Angler” half out of her pocket. ”

“ A large fireplace, built of channel rocks, was just before him. As if they had been expected, the fire was laid, and a box of safety matches lay on the rustic mantel.
A match flared, a slow yellow flame mounted higher and higher and filled the room with light.
“Oh!” the girl cried suddenly. “You are the Red Rover? I—I’m glad!”
“That’s what they call me.” Red did not smile. “I—I’m sorry.”
“Sorry! Why are you sorry?”
[94]
“Sorry that you know. I’d rather be plain Red Rodgers who works in a steel mill and has ambitions of his own to become a foreman or a steel tester, or something like that.” ”

“ Marian smiled as the brown boy ran ahead to free his own deer and prepare to continue the journey. "Surely," she thought, "physical fitness is a great thing. The boy has paid us well for fighting his battles for him on Puget Sound."
No further adventures befell them on their journey, but it was with thankful hearts that they saw the familiar outlines of the village at East Cape. As the reindeer came to a stop they sprang from their sled, but Ad-loo-at made no move to follow them. "Me—I go back," he said gravely. "You safe—I no stay."
"But you must rest—and eat," remonstrated Lucile. ”

“ You have seen. It is truly beautiful. But it is not I who have made it. It is you, my friends, Mr. Soloman, Pietro, Anthony, Scott Ramsey and all the rest. It is the spirit of those so beautiful mountains. It is the soul of that so great American, Mr. Lincoln. It is every one. It is everything. It is not I.
[251]
“And now,” she murmured after the applause had died away, “I am very tired. Will you please take me home, not to that so grand hotel but to the little rooms where my good Florence and I have lived so happily. No longer am I Lorena LeMar. I am only Petite Jeanne, the gypsy.” ”

“ Her father, William Snell, a hosier, was the son of a ‘Lieutenant Snell,’ alleged to have been at the taking of Namur and to have been killed at Malplaquet. In 1740 she lost father and mother, but found a home in London with a married sister, Susannah, the wife of James Gray, a carpenter, at Wapping. Three years later she was married by a Fleet parson to a Dutch seaman, named James Summs, who, after ill-treating her for seven months, disappeared. Having given birth to a child, Hannah borrowed a suit of her brother-in-law's clothes, and went in search of the missing husband (23 Nov. 1745) . ”

“ Johnny laughed in spite of himself. “That’s what I went over to see about.”
“Yes,” Felix grinned. “But now they’ve found us. All the honest people in that great city will want to save us. Isn’t it wonderful when you think of it?” he marveled. “So many good people in the world! So many willing to give a fellow a lift when he’s in trouble. If only we could all pull together all the time, what a world this would be!”
After that, each occupied with his own thoughts, they drifted on into the night.
A half hour later a dark bulk came stealing toward them. ”

“ When the days had become permanently warm the whole community was in the happy humor of occupation. Snellins' return was but the wonder of an hour, as busy minds had little time to question his going or coming. ”

“ He laughed and chatted gaily over his sour-dough pancakes.
"Now you know," he said, as he shoved back his stool, "I like your company awfully well, and I'd like to keep this up indefinitely; but I've got to get across the straits."
"We'll be sorry to lose you," laughed Marion; "but just you run along. And when you get there, tell the missionary that breakfast is ready. Ask him to step over and eat with us."
"No, but I'm serious."
"Then you're crazy. No white man has ever crossed thirty-five miles of floeing ice."
"There's always to be a first. Natives do it, don't they?" ”

“ Then, with the suddenness of one who has received a terrible revelation, he exclaimed:
“It’s Pearl and Ruth and your sister in the Flyaway. Their mast is gone. They are powerless. In five minutes it will be dark. Soon the sea will be white with foam. They are out there, your sister and mine, out there! Just think!”
Lester did think. One instant his mind sped, the next his hand was on the dory.
“Yes,” said Don, “but you must go alone.” ”

“ Jagged rocks and ice-like snow, slippery as glass, awaited him; yet he dared to try it.
Here was a task fit for the youngest and the strongest; yet there he stood, the spirit of a hero flowing in his veins—age serving youth. The gallantry of a great and perfect gentleman bowing to fair ladies and daring all. How Marian would have thrilled at sight of this daring act.
[145]
With a swift turn he tightened the rope, then with the “de—de—dum” of his symphony upon his lips, strained every muscle until he felt the rope slack, then eased away as he saw the raft tilt for the glide. ”

“ Then, I confess, I forgot. In these days one is likely to forget his choicest treasures.”
He turned to the girl. “Beth, who was at the door just now?”
“Two men.” She trembled slightly. “They carried knives, so I opened the door on the outside. They—they hurried away.”
[23]
“I dare say!” The professor chuckled dryly.
“Press the button, Beth,” the professor said, nodding his head toward the right wall. “Our guest will stay for cocoa and cakes, I am sure. That right?” he asked, turning to Johnny.
“I will, yes,” Johnny agreed.
The girl pressed a button like a lamp switch in the wall. ”

“ Snell’s sentiment, that when a man had deserved his good luck, it was the part of his neighbours to wish him joy. ”

“ You must struggle or you'll freeze."
Lucile did try. She strove as she had never done before—against the stiffening garments, the aching lungs and muscles, but most of all against the almost unconquerable desire to sleep.
Foot by foot, yard by yard, they made their way across the treacherous tangle of ice-piles, which was still in restless motion.
Now they had covered a quarter of the distance, now half; now three quarters; and now, with an exultant cry, Marion dragged her half-unconscious companion upon the deck.
"There's a cabin aft," she whispered, "a warm cabin. We'll soon be there." ”