The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-09-06

and fiddle. Ye know where they be.
And if there be any other things in the
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 best as it is. So boy, jist take my
hand a mint Ye needn't distarb the
lad, for he is busy. No, jest give me yer |
hand for mint, and then 60. 4e be
faithful and true, and may yer days
be happy and yer life long on the 'arth."
" l am not going, John Norton" said
the young man.
at be well said, boy" returned
the trapper. "Yis, it be we'll said; CT
would be if things was different. But
thing be as they be, and We must 60"
L 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 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
them water-pipes, and the pumps are still
agoin', it may be ye could save our
- 4 how
| 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
we're 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 kindle. The flames
were already eating their way toward
the stern and would soon be in the real
of the two men who were standing hall
hidden in the smoke at point which
would soon be the very center of the con
fagration. But they never finched
They stood in the exact position where
they were when Henry left them; the
trapper still holding the trumpet in hi
hand, and the lad still gazing steadfastly
ahead.
"Tell them to port two points," sale
the lad, quietly.
The old man placed the trumpet to hi
> lips, and through the brazen tube hi
. voice poured steady and strong:
"The boy says, Tell 'em to port tw'
!, pint"
E The vessel swayed suddenly to port
and, as she leaped away, the lad said:
= "Tell them to hold her steady as sh
is
Again the old man lifted his trumpet
and called:
"The boy says, Tell them to hold he
q steady as she is"
q For a minute not a word was spoken
e The steamer tore on through the gloom
e lighting her path with the flames. Th
[ roof of the pilot-house dropped in, an
the smoke and cinders hid the two me
!. from the sight of those who, with pray
v ers on their lips and with agonized face:
t were gazing at them from behind.
Suddenly out of the smoke and fir
came the tones of the trumpet:
$ "The lad says, Tell 'em / hear tn
surf on the beach,"
t Then the smoke suddenly lifted, spl
il by gust that tore through the air, an
# those behind saw three men instead {
h two standing on the deck. The trappe
$ and the lad still at their station, an
,s thirty feet farther aft Herbert, hose
It hand, flooding with water the blazir
n deck on which they stood. But VIII;
d could the power of man do against tt
W rush of such flames? The young ma
il did his best. With hands blistered /
to the awful heat, he stood heroically at h
d post; but the garments of the lad we
on fire, and the hair of the trapper w
r burnt to the scalp.
I'd Suddenly the starboard half of tt
err upper deck fell with crash. AS it fe
+. those behind saw the lad turn to Il
If trapper-saw him totter-saw him stea(
,e himself-saw his companion catch hi
es by the arm-saw the old hero, with t
r. sleeve of his coat, that was itself smo
ly ing, wipe the cinders from his lips as
in lifted the trumpet to his mouth; and o
ct of the black, eddying smoke, as it swe
er ever the three and hid them from sigl
hallooed the words, strong as the trul
,u pet couldsen them:
1g "The lad says, Tell them see t
es surf on the beach! Hold her steady
she is. Cod"
Mt The sentence was never complete
d The fiat bottom of the vessel touched t
er sand-slid along it-and was driven
the momentum of her movement half h
IT length up the beach. Then she roll
er over with greatlurch; the smoke STAG
went down with a crash, carrying
lis upper deck on which they stood wi
ld them, and the three men sank from sig
of in the smoke and fire.