Gordon Keith | Page 4

your toes, you are aall right," said Mr. Doherty;
"you're rigged for ivery braize. But, boy, remimber to be quick with
both, and don't forgit who taaught you."
Thus, it was that, while Gordon Keith was still a boy of about twelve or
thirteen, instead of being on the old plantation rimmed by the great
woods, where his life had hitherto been spent, except during the brief
period when he had been at Dr. Grammer's school, he found himself
one summer in a little watering-place on the shores of an English lake
as blue as a china plate, set amid ranges of high green hills, on which
nestled pretty white or brown villas surrounded by gardens and parks.
The water was a new element for Gordon. The home of the Keiths was
in the high country back from the great watercourses, and Gordon had
never had a pair of oars in his hands, nor did he know how to swim; but
he meant to learn. The sight of the boats rowed about by boys of his
own age filled him with envy. And one of them, when he first caught
sight of it, inspired him with a stronger feeling than envy. It was
painted white and was gay with blue and red stripes around the
gunwale. In it sat two boys. One, who sat in the stern, was about
Gordon's age; the other, a little larger than Gordon, was rowing and
used the oars like an adept. In the bow was a flag, and Gordon was
staring at it, when it came to him with a rush that it was a "Yankee"
flag. He was conscious for half a moment that he took some pride in
the superiority of the oarsman over the boys in the other boats. His next
thought was that he had a little Confederate flag in his trunk. He had
brought it from home among his other treasures. He would show his
colors and not let the Yankee boys have all of the honors. So away he
put as hard as his legs could carry him. When he got back to the
waterside he hired a boat from among those lying tied at the stairs, and
soon had his little flag rigged up, when, taking his seat, he picked up
the oars and pushed off. It was rather more difficult than it had looked.
The oars would not go together. However, after a little he was able to
move slowly, and was quite elated at his success when he found
himself out on the lake. Just then he heard a shout:

"Take down that flag!"
Gordon wished to turn his boat and look around, but could not do so.
However, one of the oars came out of the water, and as the boat veered
a little he saw the boys in the white boat with the Union flag bearing
down on him.
The oarsman was rowing with strong, swift strokes even while he
looked over his shoulder, and the boat was shooting along as straight as
an arrow, with the clear water curling about its prow. Gordon wished
for a moment that he had not been so daring, but the next second his
fighting--blood was up, as the other boy called imperiously:
"Strike that flag!"
Gordon could see his face now, for he was almost on him. It was round
and sunburnt, and the eyes were blue and clear and flashing with
excitement. His companion, who was cheering him on, was Ferdy
Wickersham.
"Strike that flag, I say," called the oarsman.
"I won't. Who are you? Strike your own flag."
"I am Norman Wentworth. That's who I am, and if you don't take that
flag down I will take it down for you, you little nigger-driving rebel."
Gordon Keith was not a boy to neglect the amenities of the occasion.
"Come and try it then, will you, you nigger-stealing Yankees!" he
called. "I will fight both of you." And he settled himself for defence.
"Well, I will," cried his assailant. "Drop the tiller, Ferdy, and sit tight. I
will fight fair." Then to Gordon again: "I have given you fair warning,
and I will have that flag or sink you."
Gordon's answer was to drop one oar as useless, seize the other, and
steadying himself as well as he could, raise it aloft as a weapon.

"I will kill you if you try it," he said between clinched teeth.
However, the boy rowing the other boat was not to be frightened. He
gave a vigorous stroke of his oars that sent his boat straight into the
side of Gordon's boat.
The shock of the two boats coming together pitched Gordon to his
knees, and came near flinging him into the water; but he was up again
in a