Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-04-17
VOL. XIV.

mind, you have your choice, fire or water"
And then [ thought of the danger, and |
ketches myself such thump in the chest,
and rolls up my sleeves, and goes up to the
captain was busy giving orders
. What shall do p | says
:. Pump - he shouts g and fetch a doz-
en- more up
Lord bless you had 'eln up i'll no
time from amongst the crying women ; and
| found time, too, to get the women and
children up on deck in the poop, which was
furthest from the matches, where the smoke
kept pouring out, besides which the wind
took it away from them.
There was plenty Of >hriekine and
screaming at first ; but they had cot the
right man i'll the right place, when they
chose that captain, for he runs to the poop.
where all the shivering things were stand
ing, and with few words he quicts them.
Then he runs to the men a. was Scutfiin9
about here, there, and everywhere, and
gets them altogether and then at last
he gets line of fellows with buckets, a
lot more at the pumps, and some more at
the little engine "a was there and then
when all was ready, and every man stand
ing at his post, he goes with some more To
the matches and drags up couple, when
up rose regular pillar Of fire and smoke,
with >nakey and quiet movement and in
moment, every face was lit up, and there
was quite glare spreading far ont to sea.
Sails, cordaee, mast~, everything seemed
turned into gold. For moment | couldn't
help forgetting the danger, aud thinking
what a beautiful sight il was when di-
thn
cheer the engine and pumps went clang-
clang,' and the water waS tcemcd into
the burning hold from bucket and engine
nozzle
How the water hiSsed and sputtered
while volumes Of smoke and steam rushed
up where it had been all flame but a mo-
ment before. and a. we saw this we cheer
ed E; but we had nothing To cheer for it
was only the fire gathering strength and
then, a. though laughing at the water We
poured iii, it came da>hing. and crawling,
and running up, licking the edges of the
hatchway, and setting on fire the tarpau-
lins at the sides, and then it began to shoot
and leap up as if to catch at the cordaee
and sails
. Pour it in, my Lads, shouted the cap
tain
4" Don't be afraid we >han't run short
of water. like they do at your London
fires"
No" says chap on my side and
there amt no running away into the next
street.
Then | saw the captain run to the man
at the wheel, and he changed the course of
the ship, 80 that all the smoke and flame
went over the side and then at il we
went. sending in the water at q trcmendu-
Gus rate, but to all appearance it aid no
good-not bit.
Now, my lads" says the captain
with Il Will :" and then we checred again
and that noble fellow -toodwith the engine
nozzle in his hand, leaning right over the
fiery hole, where the flames darted out
scorching him, and there he stood battling
with them, and aiming the water where he
thought best
You see | stood close aside him 80 that
| could see all a. he did brave fellow
and it was hot. too You know was
taking the buckets as they were passed TO
me. and sending the water in with regu-
lar splash as far a. | could every time :
and the captain nodded at me every now
and then, and :. Well done =" he say,
when it was him a. ought to have had the
praise.
II was like looking down into the mouth
of furnace and, a. far as | could see,
we might Just a. we'll have been playing
with couple Of boys squirt, but |
knew enough of duty to feel what ought
to do and though I'd have liked to have
been beside the wife to comfort her my
duty was to stand there and pouring in
that there water till couldn't do it no
longer and the more it didn't seem no
good the more | warmed up-ob~tinate
like-and meant to try for didn't see
any fun in being beaten off by few flames
and sparks, while the look a. | rot now
and then from the captain went right
through me, and in went the water.
All at once Il lot of sailors stopped pump
ing and one shouts out
Tain't no good, mates Boats out =.
But he hadn't hardly said it, before [
saw the captain dart back and then there
was a bright light as the copper branch-ot
the hose-pipe flashed through the air, and
/ then down came the sailor on the deck
Back to your work. men, Sang out
the captain and let Il man 90 to the
boat if he dares - And then they stood
hanging about, muttering, and one Dutch
: chap pulls out knife Just at the same
| minute. too. couple of the sailors a. had
/ been handing me the buckets, strikeS
work too, a-saying they'd be hanged II
they'd stop there and be frizzled.
felt that if the men did as they liked
I il would be all over with Us and that
/ meant regular rush to the boats, while
&, the poor women and children were left tc
burn so what did | DO but | ups with
the leather bucket had in my hand-l'v'
t often laughed since-and brings II dowi
like 'stnguisher right on the top OF mum
: Der ones head as to t'other-he was I
y little chap. and I'm six foot and pretty
e strong-I gets hold of him by the scrui
| of the trousers, and afore he knew where
a he was. | had him up i'll the air and over
? the hole where the flames were pouring up
a and so close, too, that he could feel th'
r scorchine and then-I amt much givei
to swearing, but | raped out somethin:
r fierce. that if he didn't work I'd hur
, him III.
s Lord. YOU should have heard what ;
4 shrek there was as the old fellow twlsteC
: about like an eel to get away and then
l nut him little nearer when he beggeC
| and prayed to be put down, and he'd worl
4 ,till he dropped and then up comes thu
p captain. for he'd bolted off into the cabin
e but now rushed out again with revolver
Y in each hand.
< We'll done, my man. he shouts to me
( for he saw what did and then he give
d mo one of the pistols, and swore he'd shoe