The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-02-24

hold yawned the deep down abyss,
with the awful leap to the rocks he
low. seirlinTtre foam qnivering into
mid air, sounding to the ears of those
OH shore like mocking thunder of
very hell. And the iire.lght redden.
ing each surging. murderous wave
and the faces of the hurrying help
ers, and the dark. black, swayinp
woods up above frowning down up
on the scene!
"Men, hearken you to what I saw,
now said John Graham "the girl can
be saved yet, if the river don't rise
more and carry over the DRIFT. The
tree she's on is stranded heavilv.--
But we must lose no time. Quick.
some of you to Squire's stake above,
and bring his boat down"
1T went over two hours ago, John"
said S1nires the waters good
two foot over the dock"
"fhen quick to Fosters barn, and
dow. here with the big skiff. That's
the shape. come to think of it
Several started at the work. when
TX Bryson's ringing voice was heard,
"Stop--how can yon cross that
tumhling mass2 You forget, the
bridge is gone
What was to he done?
"lS there no boat on this side 2"
asked Graham
Not one, said Tx, hurredly--"we
must raft it."
"llow would IL do to try q floating
bridge to herr asked Deacon Faunce,
who, with coat of. was as active a.
the Youngest.
IL fear it's the only way lett" an.
swered Graham. Quick, lads, any.
thing in the way of plank and rope. ="
just below where the bridge had
crossed the river took bend before
it reached the dam, and a sharp point
of rock ran out into til, stream where
had once stood sort of wash. house,
from this point (where were heavy
holts o"nk in the rorks) all with a
will set to work.
'.Lash tirm--and some of Won keen
the fire bright and We may reach her
yet said Graham, who seemed the
'naster spirit OF them all. The plan,
AS my readers may have seen, was to
lash plank to plank down the stream
to reach the dam. The undertaking
would have been hazardous one IN
a smooth, swift stream, but here the
great heaving surges made the heavy
timber roll rs though but the tiniest
twigi, aud their hearts sunk within
them as they saw how fruitless this
rndeavor WIS.
Its no use, boys" sail TX Bryson.
standing with drenched clothes,
looking at the surges, "no one could
, go down on that crazy thing"
/ Look ont down there! By thu
gracious Go'l-- Poor Janie.' sud
;, denly calculated Squires; and born,
amidst SETTLING mass of foam ant
whirllng spray, Il giant tree cam,
laundering past them. Lapping over
the part OF their trembling bridge
that extended out into the maii
, course. the fastenings on shore snap
pei like q whip-cori. and bridge and
tree went plunging toward the dam
All held their breath in terror. IL
. Bryson. with straining eyes, sunk OF
a one knee, holding his clasped hand,
Deseecllingly toward the awful object
;. Inc women on the bank above wrun!
! thcir hands or hid their pale faces
|, JAMIE saw it coming, and covering
lower, grasped more firmly the poo
q support she clung to. One long mo
! ment--then. as though directed by
;, mercitul Providence, the plungin:
=, wreck shot by the stranded drift, ant
!, leaping high in air, went thunderin.
down upon the rocks below.
c All breathed freer; but what wa
, now to he done1 The fire burne,
a high, and through the curling smok
the early daybreak was now faintl,
|, glimmering. The brave girl shilte,
:. her position once and a while, a
times waving her scarf. 1t seemet
savagely cruel that You conld no
: even make your voice heard over tha
small intervening space from shor,
to where she clung, to tell her sh,
/, "'""'' wv Wv SNNt't ItilI rlItlns
: halt-clinging there, surrounded b,
the Kissing. seething, hungry waters
death staring her in her face, and ye
no help!
q Suddenly Tx Bryson strobe out be
fore us, and throwing off his QUITE
SHIRT, said, quite calmly,
"Men, haven't the heart to stanC
this longer. Something must b,
done, or she'll go over before oul
,, eyes, for think TIE stream rising
: Father, choose out the best coil o
rope"
AL started.
, "Why, Tx, what are you going t.
/, doY' anxiously asked old Bryson
= a strange light shone in Tx eyes
, as he answered,
! 81 am going down through TIL,
' hhod To her, father, want firm
, hands to pay ont, and strong ones u
drag back; and you'll need quick
, eyes. But we haven't minnit tc
, lose-the river Is rising fast!'
They all saw by the expression or
his face Iks mind was made up -
But it was as though he wss throwing
his life away ae you looked at the
angry river,
"Uuler my nrma md nyor tbo