The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-09-04

Inc DOaf lurcneu IOrWaIu iulo 'nc loih1iihS
sea Of waters. | looked back at DICK, and
for moment saw his rale, calm, resolute face
watching us from the window; in The next II
was swallowed 10 in the enshrouded dark
ness.
The current Of the river was now with US,
and our progress was more rapid than it had
previously been. But our course was more
dangerous, from the turbulent violence with
which the current was flowing, and from the
heavily laden condition of the boat. Steer
ing was extremely difficult and 1t was only
with the greatest effort that l could keep the
head of the boat straight. For that night, at
least, the only place in which my living
freight could be accommodated was our
rooms at the bank, and as soon as had seen
Mr. and Mrs. Blaxand. Ella and the rest as
comfortably provided for as possible, set OIL
again in the boat for the WillOugoby Arms.
OF my four rowers, one consented to return
with me; the other three, though they would
have been willing to go with me declared
themselves unable to work AT the hotel, by
offering sufficient money inducemen', l
was enabled to obtain three other men,
Back over the dark, eddying flood we made
our slow way. The rain was ialilng, II pos
slble, in heavier torrents, and the night had
grown thicker. Stormy masses OF CLOUDS
swept slowly across the lowering heavens,
looking as though they might tany moment
descend bodily and overwhelm US IN black
destruction. It was with heart beating with
anxiety that | sat strainng my eyes out INTO
the darkness as we approached the house at
Wyandra The water had risen high above
the windows OF the second floor, and was
level with the roof-more than level, the tur-
bid.colored tide was tapping over the stone
parapet IN front. l climed upon the roof; l
knew that Dick must have been driven from
the interior of the house long since. la
stopping posture, more often than not on my
hands and feet CROPPED my way in the rain
and darkness along the sloplng roof. FOR
some time was unable to discover any signs
of Weir; called his name again and again,
but there was no answer. A dread came up
on me that, wearied out as he was by the long
and unwonted exertlons of the day, he had
been overcome by exhaustion, and swept
by the remorseess waters. AT last, when
hope was fast sinking within me, | tumbled
and :rlppcd against something lying at my
feet. / stopped and found Weir lying with
his back propped against one OF the chin
neys OF the house. lifted him in my arms
and made my way as fast as possible TO the
boat Dick was quite insensible, and very
cold. | wrapped him in large rug which
Ilau Drought WIN INT, auNl NuIeh iaA hSP'
tolcrably dry in the locker Of the boat, pour
ed some brandy into his throat, and began
chatting his hands. For some minutes he
showed no signs of returning animation, and
| thought all was over with him. But in a
little while his lips moved nervously, his eyes
opened and Immediately closed, and he SEEM
ed to 20 off again, as it were IN swoon. he
assured, however, that lie was still alive,
babe the men push of, and wrapping the rug
closer about the rigid form of my friend, l
placed him at my feet, at the bottom Of the
boat, where | could watch him as l steered.
Again we were in the current of the river
the night had grown still darker, and by
straning my eyes to the utmost / could see
no further than half dozen yards beyond the
boats head. The current was rushing at
headlong speed, and with q deafenng roar,
like the crash Of vast waterfall The men
were using their oars more to steady the boat
than 10 propel her. while we were borne
along, with an unsteady, lurching motion on
the swoolen, eddying waters. Every few mo-
ments a dark objec! drifted past us-now a
dead horse or COW, now barrel, ladder or
a hen-coop, waits from many ruined house
hold. Once q haystack struck the boat side
ways, wheeled US around, and all but over
whelmed us in the surging flood From time
to time bent over Weir and applied the
spiritaask to his lips. 1t was all that could
do, for had TO give my undivided attention
to the work of steering. When We reached
the town the men were all but exhausted
Like the rest, they had been working with
the boats all day. One of the doctors in VIII
loughby lived close TO the bank, and babe
the men stop for moment at his house.
When he had heard my story, the doctor i'm
mediately accompanied me home.
We laid Dick in his bead. Besides the
doctor and myself, Mr.. and Mrs. Blaxland
and their daughter were the only others in
the room.
With anxious faces we bent over the bed
rs the doctor proceeded TO examine the still
insensible form of Weir. He laid open Dicks
waistcoat, tore aside his shirt, and placed his
hand on his heart AS he did SO, something
fell out from between the folds Of the wooden
small knot of blue ribbon. picked it up
and handed it to Ella Blsxland. As she took
lit, her face, that had been marble pale before,
changed to crimson; strange, startled look
came into her eyes, and she turned hastily
from the bedside and seated herself by the
fire. She, too, recognized the ribbon.
A few moments examination satisfied the
doctor that Dick was still alive, and we pro-
ceeded to apply such remedies for his restera-
ton as were within our power. These prov.
ed more successful than l had hoped for, and
soon we had the satisfaction OF seeing DICK
slowly returning TO consciousness and life.
Before the doctor left he had fallen into
sound sleep.
When he awoke next morning, Dick was
completely himself again. When the doctor
called and saw him, he pronounced that no
grave results had ensued from the previous
nights exposure.
On the day succeeding that of the events
above narrated, the rain ceased, and the wa
tiers receded from the earth almost as quickly
as they had risen. But what scene Of desols-
ton they had left behind! Far as the eye
could reach, the land, that few days before
had been green and smiling, lay dreary
waste of wilderness-farms and homesteads,
gardens, orchards, and vineyards, stripped
bare by the cruel waters, and ler shapeless
ruin. But on these things, familiar enough
to many colonist, II is not my intention here
to dwell 1t was some time, of course, be-
fore the pleasant homestead at Wyandra re-
,ra;ral ;tS oil shane AMI hpauty. lint the Aus