St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-10-16
equally the dreadful work

of the fire.
The young squatter exclaimed
How dreadful /! Let me help you,
Fehan-let me take you home"
The man groaned again and, open
ing his distorted mouth with difficulty,
and with agony, said:
Il have no home-it is burnt"
"And your family ?"
"Dead-all dead !"
But are you sure--quite sure ?"--
said Robert, cXcitedly.
Il saw one--my eldest boy; he was
lying burnt near the house. | lifted
him, to carry him away, but he said,
Lay me down, father,-lay me down;
I cannot bear it, l laid him down,
and asked, Where are the rest I? Ali
fled into the bush,' he said, and then
he died. They are all burnt"
Robert Patterson flung the wretch
ed man linen handkerchief, bidding
him dip it in the creek and lay it on
his face to keep the air from it, and
turned his horse, saying he would look
for the family. He. soon found the
place where the hut had stood. 1t was
burnt to ashes. On the ground, not
far from it, lay the body of the dead
little boy. Patterson FASTENED along
the track of the old road to the Max
wells station, tracing it as well as he
could in the fire and the fallen flaming
branches. He felt sure the flying fam
lily would take that way. In few
minutes it brought him again upon the
creek by which the poor man safe, but
lower down.
There stood a hut ina damp swamp,
which had been used years ago for the
sheep washing, but had long been de-
serted. 1t was surrounded by thick
wattles, still burning. The hut was
on fire ; but its rotten timbcrs forcing
out far more smoke than flame. AS he
approached, he heard low cries and
lamentations. "The family has fed
thither," he said to himself, "and are
perishing of suffocation." He sprang
to the ground, and dashed forward
through columns of heavy smoke. 1t
was hopeless to breathe in it, for it's
pungent and singing strength seemed
to close his lungs, and water rushed
from his eyes in torrents.
But pushing in, he seized the first
living thing that he laid his hands on,
and bore it away. 1t was child
Again and again he made the despcr-
ate essay, and succeeded in bringing
out no less than four children and the
mother, who was sunk on the floor as
dead, but who soLn gave signs Of life
as she came into the air.
The young man was now in the ut
most perplexity with his charge. 1t
was heart-rending sight. The whole
group were more or less burnt but,
as it seemed to him, not so much burnt
as to affect their lives. Their station
was three miles distant, and he had
no alternative but to leave them here
till he rode on and sent cart for
them. With much labor, carrying the
children one after another in his arms
he conveyed the woful group to the
father.
AS the young man stood bewildcred
by the cries and lamentations of the
family on meeting the father, horse
ridden by a lady approached at gal
lop. This apparition contrasted strange
ly with the lamcntable group of SUI.
ferers. The young lady was tall and
of most beautiful figure, and was
mounted on a fine bay horse. A light
skirt, and broad felt hat were all the
deviations from her home costume that
haste had led her to assume. Her face,
fresh and roseate, full of youth, lowell
ness, and feeling, was at the same
time grave and anxious, as she gazed
in speechless wonder upon the scene.
Miss Maxwell !" Patterson ex-
claimed, :" in the name of Heaven what
news I? How is all at the Mount p
Yet, on this dreadful day what but i'll
can happen ?"
Nothing is amiss, that know Of"
said the young lady, Eve are safe at
home. The fire has not come near u.s."
"Thank God! !" said Robert. al
was going to your house, when l fell
in with this unfortunate family. Will
you ride back and send us cart ?"
But beg you will come with me,
for /, too, was going to you"
To me !" cried the young man in
the utmost establishment. "Then all
is not right. Is George we'll 2"
/ hope So" added the young lady,
recovering her selfpossession but
that is the point l want to ascertain.
Yesterday, he went with Turcen into
the hills to bring in cattle, and this
morning the fire surprised them when
they had taken two different sweeps
along the side of a range. Turcen
could not find George again, but made
his way home hoping his master had
done the same. George has not yet
come. and the fire is raging SO fiercely
in the hills, that could think of moth
ing but coming to you for advice and
assistance"
Thank you, Ellen" said Robert
with sad emotion. II will find him
if he be alive"
He sprung upon his horse and,
telling the unhappy family that he
would send them immediate assistance
both he and Miss Maxwell galloped
away.
TO BE CONCLUDED.