The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-09-15

| never be SAID tnat 1ndriey otedTnS le1t
two brave men to die while he saved his
own life"
"Cap'n," returned the trapper, 81
know yer feelin's; for | see the stuff We
be made of but the Lord appints duty
unto man, and its not of his choosin' (;
and it's yer duty to go, and ourn to stay.
Don't yer worry. about us, for ] be old,
and few days more or less on 'arth
don't matter, and ] can say by the look
in the lads face that he be ready. So
give me the horn and you go where you
oughter go, and we'll stay where we
oughter stay"
The old man uttered these words with
such solemn majesty, and the truth they
expressed was so evident, that the Cap
tain did as commanded. He passed the
trumpet to the trapper and started aft,
where his presence and words soon com
municatcd new hope TO the terrified
throng. In few moments the shouting
and screaming ceased, and not sound
was heard save the roar of the wind, and
the waves, and the flames.
Henry" said the trapper, /" it's time
we be goin', for the fire is gettin' hot.
It's not likely that me and the lad will
come out of this and there sartinly ism t
much time for leave-takin'. Yell go, |
and fiddle. Ye know where they be.
shanty we would like, remember they are
yourn. This sartinly isn't the way
thought things would eend; but the Lord
knows when to call and ! dare say it's
the bcsS as it is. So boy, jist take my
hand mint. Ye needn't distarb the
lad, for he is busy. No, jest give me yer
hand for mint, and then go. Yc be
faithful and true, and may yer days
be happy and yer life long on the 'arth."
g am not going, John Norton" said
the young man.
" 1t be well said, boy returned
the trapper. " Yis, it be well said or
would be if things was different. But
thing be as they be, and we must GO"
I" shall not" said Herbert.
Henry" exclaimed the old man
earnestly, this is downright foolish
ness. Ye can't help us by stayin' and
two'll be enough if wust comes to wust."
John Norton" returned the young
man solemnly, say no more shall
stay with you and the lad. If we live,
all will live. If we die, we will die to-
gether, for will not leave you"
" Be it as you say, then, boy; yis,
let it be as we say This is no time for
words; and | understand yer feelin's,
and it may be we be right. The lad and
we met at the pond of the beavers, and
it may be best we both 90 with him to
the eend of the trail"
In moment the old man said, sud-
denly: "Henry, if We could git one of
them water-pipes, and the pumps are still
agoin, it may be we could save our
lives. But be careful where you go, boy
for it's hot there ahead"
Lightning is scarce quicker than was
the motion of Herbert, as he darted for
ward into the smoke, which was rolling
up in great volumes from the front part
of the boat. =
BY this time the forward half of the
vessel was almost one sheet of flame A
column of fire rose out of the forward
hatch fifty feet into the air, but was mer-
cifully blown onward by the force of the
gale. From this the trapper and the
lad were at least safe, but the flames
were now breaking over all restraint.
The deck itself was being burnt through,
and sections were falling into the hold.
The stanchions and the timbers of the
bulwarks were already in full blaze
The outer edge of the upper deck were
girdled With fire. The roof of the pilot
house had begun to kindIe. The flames
were already eating their way toward
the stern and would soon be in the rear
of the two men who were standing half
hidden in the smoke at point which
would soon be the very center of the CON
flagration. But they never finched.
They stood in the exact position where
they were when Henry left them; the
trapper still holding the trumpetin his
hand, and the lad still gazing steadfastly
ahead
"Tell them to port two points," said
the lad, quietly.
The old man placed the trumpet to his
lips, and through the brazen tube his
voice poured steady and strong:
The boy says, Tell 'em to port two
pint"
The vessel swayed suddenly to port !;
and, az she leaped away, the lad said
"Tell them to hold her steady as she
is
Again the old man lifted his trumpet,
and called:
"The boy says, Tell them to hold her
steady as she is"
For minute not word was spoken.
The steamer tore ON through the gloom,
lighting her path with the flames The
roof of the pilot-house dropped in, and
the smoke and cihders hid the two men
from the sight of those who, with pray
ers on their lips and with agonized faces,
were gazing at them from behind
Suddenly out of the smoke and fire
came the tones of the trumpet:
"The lad says, Tell 'em | hear the
surf on the beach,"
Then the smoke suddenly lifted, split
by gust that tore through the air, and
those behind saw three men instead of
two standing on the deck. The trapper
and the lad still at their station, and
thirty feet farther aft Herbert, hose in
hand, flooding with water the blazing
deck on which they stood. But what
could the power of man do against the
rush of such flames? The young man
did his best. With hands blstered by
the awful heat, he stood heroically at his
post; but the garments of the lad were
on fire, and the hair of the trapper was
burnt to the scalp.
Suddenly the starbOard half of the
upper deck fell with a crash. As it fell,
those behind saw the lad turn to the
trapper-saw him totter.-saw him steady
himself-saw his companion catch him
by the arm-saw the old hero, with the