St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-06-18


artiticially colored or natural could
not say.
IF YOU don't want to get burned up,
you'd better get ont of here - he said,
gruffly "Ten minutes more and the
hut will he ahlaze."
needed no second bidding. found
that his words were true his warnir =
timely. On three sides of the cabin
the hungry flames were greedily lick
ing up everything combustible. aud ut
one point We're only Il few rods from
where stood. The smoke was sitting,
the heat WAS scorching. | had no time
to waste. The stranger was already
on the move, lis knew by the sound
of his horses footballs. WAS not far
behind, | assilIc Nou, for my faithful
horse seemed to realize that we were in
peril.
The smoke was so dense that could
not see II rod ahead. but | struck out
boldly, and Il ride of half II mile took
me out of danger Then, for the first
time since my awakening. | thought of
my money. quickly clapped my
hand to my breast pocket-it was
empty
Can you guess my first wish 1t
was that | had been lcfl to my fate in
that rude hut, for death seemed prctcra-
bile to dishonor. These thoughts did
not remain with me any length of time,
however. for somewhat in advance of
me, fleeing from his victim, and from
the deVouring element, WAS the robbcr.
My only desire then, WAS to ovcrtake
him, and wrcak out my vengeance ON
his worthless CARCASS.
Putting the whip to my horse.
dashed on. making but little progress,
however, for the way had never been
travelled before, unless 10y some foot
man. Toward day light the WAY i'm
proved, and soon after sunrise | struck
Il road. ! now moved on more rapidly.
BY frequent inquiries i learned that |
was on the track of the villain. but
some hours behind him. | WAS gaining
ON him. however. As the day waned,
| heard of him nearer and nearer. |
hoped to overtake him before dark. but
failed.
did not despair. | kept on. and
somewhere between : and . o'clock
reached il village situated on the hor-
der of Il bay, or the lake itself. could
not tell which. | rode down to the
bay to give my thirsty horse IL drink,
but he had only touched his lips to the
water. when he lifted up his head.
| turned square round, and, with dilated
eyes. swelling nostlils and elevated
ears. gaZcd towards the woods which
nearly surrounded the village. And,
! | too, turned i'll the same direction, for
Il low. rnmbling sound, ineXplicable to
me broke the sabbath >tillue>S. Loud
er and louder ii grew as we gaZed, un
/ I'll it was like the noise ot mighty,
| irresistible waters sweeping towards
lis. The inhabitants of the village
were aroused. Though conscious of
some terrible danger, they were yet
/ ignorant of their awful doom. Even
| the domestic animals took the alarm
and and fled, helter-skelter, trampling
many Il poor unfortunate under foot i'll
| then mad flight.
But the worse WAS Vet to come.
Dumb with awe rather than fear,
stood faci = the my y>teriouS roar-stood
alone. for my frightened horse had
broken away and fled while the tiercer
and more terrible hccame the holrid
mystery.
/ But the worst WAS not Yet.
/ Suddenly y-swift as the lightniug's
/ iiash-hurst upon lis with Il deatcming
crash. like the uprooting and downfall
ing of ten thousand forest giants. and
with a sheet of flame one wide lurid
sheet OF srorrhimg. mercicsS. devouI-
/ ing fire. enveloping the village and
everything therein sickening holo-
caust. Pc>htiJo Wds doOmcdt ;
/ Only when the tornado of wind and
flame struck the village, did realize
my danger. Fortunately | was close
/ 10y the waters edge, else should have
never told the story. With Il few 9th
/ cr> is fortunate as myself. rushed into
/ the cooling element waist deep.
Joe Joe save me For Gods
sake don't leave me here -
Those were the words that smote my
ear. Shrill above the roar of the d"vas
tating tre. turned in my flight. 1t
was light rs uoonday ii hot. Sickeming
| light. If | may )" term it, and lying on
| the bank but Il step from the water,
SAW John Richards, begging for me to
come To him.
"Oh. Joe just tIN once to save me
only once, Joe I'll ask H., molc."
Could Nnm have refused, even though
! il seemed like death to venture back
into the burning heat? y" more could
One noble man God prosper him III
this life and hereafter returned with
me, and together We dragged poor john
through the water to comparative
safety.
God bless N"u." murmer-d Johm Us
he felt the cool watcr euvclupimg him.
"luu have saved me irnm IA horrible
/ Il 4
down your head, Joe. The money is
all right, joe"
Nv hat Tell me that again ~ | de
maudcd, forgetting everything but the
hope of saving my honor umstaincd.
Il took it, Joe. ! knew Belle loved
You. and couldn't bear it. That let
carry out my plan. might nave left
Nou in the hut, but Belle would always
remember YOU then, while Il shadow of
suspicion upon Nou would have ended
it all. But give her up to you, Joe.
| am not good enough for her, even if
she wanted me but if | live, I'll do
better You'll not tell Belle or father ?"
mo. Jnhn, | said.
BY this time the heat was 50 intense
that we were forced To wade deeper in
t" the water, aud keep our heads wet
to save them from bllstcring. All, sir.
it was terrible! Many Il poor being fled
down into the water that night and
never returned fled from one death to
another. and perhaps an easier one.
Well, hardly know how We lived
through that awful night but here
am, us you See, considerably scorched
and somewhat stiff and soIe, but quite
Il man after all There is John, too
| L. ID L. Al