Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-08-30

over as S1e met tne msRnty wave .
square amid ship till her iarboard rail |
Jay deep in the Kissing water, strug-I
gled up, righted herself laboriCusly, |
and, as she Strengthened her course
with the gale square astern, and with
her team-gauge standing at seventy
five, shot toward the shore like an ar
row from the bow.
sCap'n,' said the trapper, as he low
cred the trumpet from bis lips, give US
the insterment, and do ye run back
there and keep the poor creeturs from
throwing themselves ovsrboard-fOr
they be gittin' wild. ! can talk thro'
the horn as we'll as you can-and the
lad will tell me the Words
Il can't leave you, old man. it shall
never be said that Charles Stearns left
two brave men to die while he saved
his own life.'
'Cap'n,' returned the trapper, !
know your feelins; for l see the stun
ye be made OF; but the Lord appints
duty unto man, and it's not of his
choosin;' and it's yer duty to 60, and
ourn to stay. Don't yer worry about US,
fer be old, and few days more or
less on the 'arth don't matter, and |
can see by the look in the lads eye
that he be ready. So give me the horn
and you go where you oughter GO, ,and
wen stay where we oughter to stay
The old man uttered these words
with such solemn majesty, and the
truth they expressed was 30 evident,
that the Captain did as commanded.
He passed the trumpet to the trapper
aid started aft, where his presence and
words soon communicated new hope
to the terried thrOng. In q few mo-
ments the shouting and screaming
ceased, and not sound was heard
save the roar of the wind, and the
waves, and tie fl mes.
Henry said the trapper, it's time
to be goin', for the fire is gettin' hot.
It's not likely that me and the lad will
come out at this; and there sartinly
isn't much time for rleave-takin'. Yell
go, / know, and get the pups, and the
rifle and the fiddle. You know where
they be-. And If there be any
other things in the shanty ye would
like, remember they are yourn. This
sartinly isn't the way thought things
would eend; but the Lord knows when
to call, and l dare say it's the best as it
is. So, boy, just take my hand a min
Q AOC0n olSt6l " ttlc buO t6og iOt
he is busy. No, jest give me yer hand
for a mint, and then go. Ye be faith
ful and true, and may yer days be hap
| py and yer life long on the 'arth.'
I am not going, John Norton said
the young man. av
st be well said, boy,' returned the
trapper. 'Yis, ii be we'll said; or would
be if things was different. But things
be as they be, and you must co.
Il shall not co. said Herbert.
'HenryI'exclaimed the old man earn
estly, this is downright fOolishness.
Ye can't help US by stayin'; and two'll
be enough if wust comes to wusi.'
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
together, for i will not leave you.'
BE it as ye say, then, boy; yis, let it
be as you say. This is no time for
words; but can understand yer feel
ms; and it may be ye be right. The
lad and we met at the pond of the
beavers, and it may be best We 60 with
him to the eend of the trail.'
In a moment the old man said, sud-
denly: Henry, if ye could git one OF
of them water pipes, and the pumps
are still a-goin' it may be ye could save
our lives. But be careful where ye 60,
boy, for it's hct there ahead
Lightning is scarce quicker than was
the motion of Herbert, as he darted for
ward into the smoke, which was roll
ing up in great volumes from the front
part of the boat.
By this time the forward half 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
mercifully 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 wasbeing burnt through, and
sections were falling into the hole. The
stanchiOns and the timbers of the bull
Warks were already in full blaze-the
outer edges of the upper deck girdled
with fire. The roof of the pilot house
had begun to kindle. The flames were
already eating their way toward the
stern and would soon be in the rear of
the two meR who were standing half
hidden in the smoke at point which
would soon be the very centre of the
confiagration. But they never finch
ed. They stood in the exact position
them; the trapper still holding the
trumpet in his hand, and the lad still
gazing steadtastly ahesd. . 81
Tell them to port two points, said
the lad, quietly. -.t
The old man placed the trumpet to
his lips, and through the brazen
tube his voice poured steady and
strong: s.~-
The boy says, Tell 'em to port two
pints.'
The vessel swayed suddenly to port;
and, as she leapt away, the lad said:
Tell them to hold her steady as she
is.' s,.- 4.
Again the old man lifted the trum-
pet, and called: .l. -. l.i...
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 Gin
ders hid the two men from the sight of
those who, with prayers 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
tive standing on the deck. The trap
per 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. Bnt what
could thespower of man do against the
rush of such flames? The young man
did his best, With bands .blistered by
the heat, he stood heroically at his
post; but the,garments of the lad were
on on fire. and the hair of the trapper
was burnt to the scalp,