The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-15


around"
The Captain lifted the trumpet to his
lips, and, in tones that rang strong and
clear above the roar of the storm and of
the flame, shouted; Hard-a-port with
your helm! Hard-a-port, tell you! Jam
her down for your lives~
The men in control of the helm obeyed
with an energy born of the peril of the
moment. The mighty fabric swayed for
n moment, but tore on as if unwilling
to yield. But the next instant the inn
mense pressure of the helm hard a port
began to tell, and the mOnstrous bulk
swung slowly about, rolled downward
into the trough of the sea as if she would
never rise, reeled over as she met the
mighty wave square amid-ship till her
larboard rail lay deep in the kissing
water, struggled up, righted herself
laboriously; and as she Strengthened her
course, with the gale square astern,
and with her steam gauge standing at
seventy-five, shot toward the shore like
an arrow from the bow.
Cap'n," said the trapper, as he low
cred the trumpet from his lips, "give US
the instrument, and do We run back there
and keep the poor creeturs from THROWN
themselves overboard-for they be gittin
wild. can talk through the horn as
well as We can-and the lad will tell me
the words"
81 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, 81
know yer feelin's, for l see the stuff We
be made of; but the Lord appints duty
onto man, and It's not of his CHOOSING
and it's yer duty to 60, and ourn to stay
Don't ye worry about us, for | be old,
and few days more or less on the 'arth
don't matter, and can see 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
municated 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 isn't much
time for leave-takin'. Yell go, know,
and get the pups, and the rifle, and the
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 l thought
things would eend; but the Lord knows
when to call, and daresay it's best as it
is. So, boy, jest take my hand a mint.
4e needn't distarb the lad, for he is busy
No, jest give me yer hand for mint,
and then go. Ye be faithful and true,
and may yer days be happy and yer life
long on the 'arth."
81 am not going, John Norton" said
the young man.
cit be well said, boy" returned the
trapper. "Yis, it be well said; or would
be if things was different. But things be
as they be, and ye must go.
Il shall not CO." said Herbert.
"Henry" exclaimed the old man ear
nestly, this is downright foolishness.
Ye can't help US by stayin'; and twoll be
enough if wust comes to wust."
John Norton" returned the young
man solemnly, "say no more. l 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 we say, then, boy; yis, let it
be as you say, This is no time for
words; and can understand yer feelin's;
and it may be We be right The lad and
we met at the trail of the beavers, and it
may be best we both go with him to the
eend of the trail"
In moment the old man said, sud
denly: Henry, if ye could git one of
them water-pipes, and the pumps are
still a-goin, it may be we could save our
lives. But be careful where you 60, 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 YES
sci was almost one sheet of flame. A col
umn 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
itself was being burnt through, and Sec
lions were falling into the hole. The
stanchlons and timbers of the bulwarks
were already in full blaze. The outer
edges 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 rear of the two
men, who were standing half hidden in
smoke at II point which would soon be
the very center of the confagration. But
they never flinched. They stood in the
exact position where they were when
Henry left them; the trapper still hold
ing the trumpet in 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 DOured steady and strono.