Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-07-28


hard, while dark shadow fell on his coun-
tenance.
saw your boy there, skipping about the
head gate with as little concern as if he had
been on level floor
Oh! isn't that too much And | posi-
lively forbade him going near the dam p
Mr.. Lloyd's excitement was sudden and in
tense.
If it was my boy, I'd take the hide off
him. said Maxwell
He'll be sorry for this to the latest dav
of his lifer And with these threatening
words on his lips; Mr.. Lloyd turned away,
and disappeared in the woods. Only once he
paused. and that was to cut thick strong,
little birch rod--then he strobe forward with
long reaching steps in the direction of the
mill-dam,
Near the place where Jacob had propped
his line, the decayed trunk of fallen tree
was projected several feet into the water-
Soon growing impatient for want of success
in his post, the boy in something of spirit
of desperation, walked out to the end of this
trunk and threw his line as far up the stream
as he could fling it. Then he watched the
cork as it fioated rapidly down with the cur
rent. hoping that some fish would seize the
bait and drag 1t under. But no denizcn of
the turbid stream saw the tempting morsel,
or, seeing, was lured to take the treacherous
food. Excited now, by the real danger of
the little boy, Frank started up, and was
about calling to him to come back upon the
shore, when the sharp crack of fallen limb,
broken by heavy tread. caused him to turn
suddenlp, and there stood his father, with
face made dark with anger. one hundred cuts
stretched to seize him. and the other uplftnd
and grasping heavy rod.
Oh, father, don't! = exclaimed the fright
ened boy. Don't! Ask mother p
Didn't I tell you nvt to come here ? was
the stern response aud the fathers grip tight
cned on the rod as he seized the boys arm.
The hand was already descending, freightei
with fearful blow, when Will cry of ter
ror swept NO from the waters, aud arrested
the arm midway in its course The eyes of
the father and son both turned 70 the direc-
ton from which the cry came. Jacob had
already fallen into the dam, and was already
gliding away in the rapid current. Making
a sudden spring, Frank freed himself from
the grasp of his father, aud then went leap
ing down the hill with windlikc speed. 1t
was some moments before Mr.. Lloyd recover
ed sufficient presence Of mind to follow. But
ere he was half way 10 the water, Frauk had
reached point below the boy, and was creep
d
that bent low over the water, in the hope of
grasping him as he was borne onward by
the strong current. But the brave lad saw
at a glance; on gaining the utmost point of
the tree, that Jacob would float few feet
beyond his arm. So, with singular decision
and presence of mind he dropped into the
water grasping slender. extreme branch
of the tree, and throwing his freed hand still
farther out In the stream, But, alas the
rush of water against his body commenced
bearing both him and the tree-top downward
and inward toward the shore. Conscious of
this, at moment when jacob was only few
feet above him, Frank let 90 OF the tree-top,
and pushed himself out with the stroke of his
feet far enough to be able to grasp the drown
ing boy. As he ID so, 10th went gliding
on toward the dam, only hundred feet be-
low, equally rowerless In the strong current
For some moments Mr. Lloyd stood par
alysed upon the shore. The struggling boys
were beyond his reach, and wholly beyond
his skill to save. Then he commenced run
ming along the bank, his mind in an agony
OF terrible suspense keeping opposite to them
as they went quickly down the swollen flood
In less than two minutes they were within a
few feet of the dam, yet still, if the eyes OF
| Mr.. Lloyd did not receive him, in a line
!
within his mind that they might strike against
the pier, and glide inward toward the head
! gates, instead of outward in the current, and
over the deadly waterfall.
Mr.. Lloyd stood still in fearful suspense
his lips apart, his arms reaching out i'm potent
/ ly, an1 his face as pale as ashes Suddenly
! he struck his hands together and sprang for
ward with an eager bound The drowning
/ boys had swept agains: the pier, and passed
under instantly from sight Throwing off his
coat as he ran, ana drawing off mis- boots as
he reached the head gate, Mr. Lloyd leaped
into the water, and disappeared a few feet in
side OF the spot where he had seen them GO
down In moment or two he came to the sur
face, grasping tightly the two boys, now in
sensible, struck out with one hand vigorously
for the shore, and succeeded, though not
without difficulty; reaching spot just above
/ the heavy stone wall, where he could Chamber
up the bank. In striking the abutment, the
pressure of the current against the lads had
borne them inward into the quiet eddy above
the head gate, instead of outward into the
leaping cataract,
The first care of Lloyd was TO restore, if
possible, animation to the apparently dead
bodies of the two boys. Frank earliest show
ed signs of recovery; then thero was u feeble
play of the pulse, and slight flushing of the
cheek in Jacob but to neither did life come
back, at the time, in full vigor. A neigbbor,
who happened to come by, assisted Mr. Lloyd
to carry the Toys home. where under the at
tendance of physician, full activity was soon
restored to the vital organs.
Il positively forbade bis going to the MILL
! Jam, said Mr.. Lloyd to his wife after all fear
was past, something of his old sternness and
anger showing itself in tone and countenance,
He did not disobey you IN spirit replied
the mother, with moist eyes and voice that
had not yet regaiued an even tone;5