But as he paused, again that despairing cry
came to his ears, very near to him now, it seemed:
"Help!"
Forgetful of all save a desire to assist this unknown sufferer, Jack
sprang forward with an answering cry, and only halted when he found
himself upon the edge of a vast bog.
"Where are you?" he then shouted.
"Here!" answered a voice, and, looking down, Jack saw, a few feet
away, the head and shoulders of a man. He had walked into the bog and
sunk into its treacherous depths nearly to his waist, and, although he
struggled bravely, his efforts only seemed to draw him farther down
toward a frightful death.
For a moment, filled with horror and dismay, Jack stood looking at the
man. Then he remembered a story he had once heard of how a man had
been saved from the bog.
"Be quiet, sir!" he called to the unfortunate stranger; "save all your
strength, and I may yet be able to rescue you."
He then ran to a tall sapling that stood near and began chopping away
with his axe. The keen blade speedily cut through the young but tough
wood, and, then Jack dragged it to the edge of the bog, and, exerting
all his strength, pushed it out until the sapling was within reach of
the sinking man.
"Grab it, sir!" he called out, "and hold on tightly. It will keep you
from sinking farther into the mire, and when you have gained more
strength you may be able to pull yourself out.
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