The McArthur enquirer. (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1873-1884, 1873-06-25

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read the pages. Undeniably it
was the nipping cold that gave
to the end Of his nose q rosy
hue, but it was not that alone
which sent the color flying all
over his face. What if Shag
left to himself, did take the
wheels over ever stone, and
bump him around considerable.
He, as he read, seemed to be in
the land Of the Saracens, in the
midst Of the Crusaders, side by
side with Richard "Coeur de
Lion" All about him was the
din and turmoil Of battle; gilt
tering armor flashed in the sun
light; horses and men we're
falling together; but every
where, stately, proud and vic
torious, went the black horse
and his rider. 80 4urrah! Hur..
rah! Hurrah !" escaped inyolun-
tarily from the boyish lips
i" Whinnyl Whinny! Whinny!'
responded Shag, approaching
the curve rounding which they
would obtain the first glimpse
of home, yet half a mile distant
Reluctantly James closed the
book and caught up his lines
for now a deep ravine bordered
the way, and mother had beg
ged him always to be careful
The curve of the road, rounding
with the track, was safely
passed, when James eye rested
on something that sent tbe blooC
surging through his heart.
A huge tree had fallen from
the bank above, directly across
the track. The strength o.
many men would be required tt
lift it from its lodging place
and with a sickening tremor i
flashed across his mind that the
eastern express passing through
the village he had left, was ever
now due, and might any mo
ment round the curve prompt
ly. And, then James saw, al
once he had in a dream, thu
locomotive and cars rolling owe
and over, and away down at tht
bottom of the ravine, the faces
of the wounded and dying
Even with this vision before hin
he was carefully turning Shas
about. Yet what could he do
If he only had a lantern HI
might swing it around his head
and thus warn the engineer
But he hadn't one, nor anything
to make a light with. Yet hi
had a solitary match, pickec
carefully up from the floor, hi
book--his precious book-an,
the pine wagon box.
| In an instant his plans wer'
laid. Shack was urged back a
his best speed a few rods. Ev
cry second was precious. Gu
sprang James, jerked the tail
board from the wagon, and, il
less time than | can write it
had, with the aid of a jack-knif
made it into kindling wood
This with quick fingers he pilet
dollhouse fashion, on the mid
die of the track, filling up tn
interstices with leaves ruthless
ly torn by the handful from tn
new history, until nothing of i
was left in his possession bu
the strong leather cover, The
with eager haste he crosse
carefully over the top the lon
side pieces of the wagon box
and, kneeling down, drew tn
solitary match across his roug
boot. A pale, blue light flick
cred in an instant, and then
gust of wind and it was out. N
matter, the paper had taken firC
and up through the little quair
pine tower sped the flames. Th
boards, dry as pine, could b.
now ignited, but not a momer
too soon; for the earth trembleC
the rails were Jared by a lo'
rumbling, and nearer and neal
er comes the train.
Hard down upon tho brake
and the cars laden with huma
: beings, were alta sudden stan(
still. Open flew windows, OF
{ popped heads. Several me
Jumped down into the snow.
| "What's the matter, what
the matter ?" they cried inqu
!, ringly, of the little figure ere'
by the bonfire.