Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-09
Suddenly the storm seemed to be swept


river was now terrific. The water was al
most black, but covered with foam as it
rushed along The bridge was swept
away; corn sheaves, dead sheep, loose hay,
and trees were being whired along, and if
ii went on swelling | could see that the
mill would be in danger.
"Ah, Nelly, dcarest,' said voice
Give come to see if can be of any help;"
and, turning, there stood John Fleming,
well dressed, dry and unrutiled as he threw
off a macintosh.
Just then out from the mill came
uncle and Oliver Murray, grimy, soaked
and with their hair clinging to their fore
heads.
"Ah, Fleming come to helps" said
uncle grimly;" better stand aside, my lad :;
we shall soil you"
He laughed and whispered something
to me about Oliver Murray's appearance;
but turned away Indignantly, as Murray
smiled pleasantly and said
All, | don't look much of lady's man
now"
ooh, good heavens, forgot that boy
cried my uncle, and he ran down few
yards to the edge of the stream, waving his
hand frantically; for there on the other
side of the swift current now a hundred
yards broad, came our boy Phil, cantering
on his pony to where should have been the
| ford but which was now a fierce torrent
fifteen feet deep.
Back, Phil, backr' cried my uncle;
and we all waved our hands to him; but
the reckless boy, who heard nothing tor
the roar of the waters, made our blood run
| cold, for without moments hesitation
he gave the pony the whip, dashed down
the road and plunged in to swim across.
| | uttered a shrek, think for the first
| time in my life; uncle gave a groan and
staggered back. Oliver Murray stood as
| if turned to stone; and John Fleming
caught me in his arms and tried to turn
me away from the dreadful sight; but
struggled from him to see our darling
wave his hand for help as the torrent
swept him and his pony out farther into
| the stream
Once the gall ant boy tried hard to turn
the pony's head to swim back, but he was
in the power of a torrent that would have
mastered hundred times the little Shet-
lands strength and | knew that there
was not Il particle of hope
We all ran down by the side OF the
rushing stream and could now see the
| boys desparng look, as he waved his
hand TO us, while John Fleming ran
about crying:
"A boat, a boat! Go back, Philip Go
back"
| oh, uncle" | cried, catching his arm,
"you must not--you cannot!'' for he was
taking off his coat
| "Oh, my boy! my boyr" he eroaned.
" God help me, can't swim a strokcr
AT that moment my eyes fell on Oliver
| I al, lat
words, even in that horrible time of trial
The man was noble-handsome now in
the wondrous look that came over him !;
for while the speck-and-span well-dressed
rival ran calling for help the other bad
| thrown Off his coat, vest and boots and
| rolled up the dripping shirt over his great
muscular arms,
One moment he was at my side, 10 catch
my hand, as his bright gray eyes looked
into mine, saying plainly, for read them
Good -byw
The next moment he was running from
rs twenty yards down the rushing stream,
where with a dash and aplunge, he forced
his way in and swan boldly out 10 try and
meet the drowning boy.
pray Heaven | may never again sec
such "A sight as that, though my heart
throbbed with joy the while as | saw my
hero struggle on, now swept away and
whirled round in an eddy, now borne
under in a whirlpool, while the pony
| batted bravely on in mid-stream, but
without Philip, who was now swimming
| alone, but sinking-sinking as | watched
| him, unable TO Heiuoye my eyes from tn
horrible sight.
1t was like hideous nightmare. ! re-
| member Fleming coming to me to draw
me away and | believe | struck at him
with my hands to keep him back. | re
member seeing uncle running along, far
out in the water that threatened to sweep
him, too, away; and | remember seeing
our darling sink while Oliver was swim
ming far below. Then all seemed to be
misty, dreamy and confused, till ! woke
like one from a trance to hear the shouting
Of those by my side, for | could not have
been insensible Il minute.
eyes ,''--'' Mop He'll never do itr'--
Hes gothim ,''--'' No, no, it's all overt
"Ohin
There was one deep groan in chorus
then, and dashed lower down the stream
TO see low down in the rushing water
dark head and a pair Of staring eyes not
twenty yards away from the edge. Then
! saw the strong swimmer was spent, was
beng swept away, and that ali was over,
when the stream bore him against stand
ing tree, to which he chung till brave
fellow swan to him with rope, and
saw what seemed to De three bodies
dragged ashore.
1t was a hard fight for life even then,
for both Murray and our darling were in
sensible when carried up to the :"iil cot
tage; but willing hands were about the
doctor, and Mr.. Wilson helped; and that
evening knelt by Oliver Murray's bed
| side hollinr his hand rs | wont over il