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

beside this hunterY'
"Sartin he has," said the old m an, an
swering the question for the lad, there
be Henry there, who has boated with
him and camped with him off and on,
and the lad saved his life once, and
that's a sacrifice that man isn't apt to
forgit. Yis, you may set it down,
Cap'n, that Henry and me be the lads
friends"
Call him here" said the Captain,
hoarsely, "and then follow me to the
pilot-house."
It was with the greatest effort that the
four were able to reach the point desig-
mated, for the gale was blowing with in
creased violence, and the iron rod and
the ropes they grasped to steady them
selves were already hot; and even as
they reached the upper deck the flames
broke fiercely out from the hatchway,
and the fire began to run in wavering
lines along the inner timbers of the
bulwarks and the ornamental edgings Of
the upper deck.
~ have called you here" said the
Captain, "to ask you in the presence of
my officers if there is any safe spot, any
cove or bay, into which the steamer can
be run along the coast abreast of u.s."
"Do you mean to beach her, Captain p
asked the lad.
Yes" he responded, ait is our only
chance. We must beach her. Can you
do it?"
" can" said the lad, simply.
You camp exclaimed the Captain
do you mean to say, young man, that
you can beach this steamer? Gentle
men," he continued, as he turned to his
officers, :" If this young man can do
what he says, every soul can be saved.'
" | can do just what | tell you can
do" said the lad; that is, if the
engines work, and we can fetch her
around in the sea. and the flames don't
get ahead of us; for there is little bay
nearly abraost Of us, and the water is
deep in it, and the beach is free from
rocks and stones, and can tell the pilot
! just where to steer to get into it,"
But" said the Captain, and he spoke
with hurried utterance, as one who feels
there isn't a moment to lose, you
ought to know, and your friends here
ought to know, the danger you run, for
the flames will break out in few mo-
ments. You can hear them roaring
under deck already. The flames will
break out in a moment, l say; this pilot
house will be ON fire, and he who stands
beside it will stand in the center of
flames, and it will be through Gods
mercy if he comes out with his life. ]
feel It to be my solemn duty to state
these things to you, young man, and in
| the presence of your friends who are
interested in your life. Now, knowing
your danger, knowing that you will
| probably lose your life, | ask you again,
will you pilot this steamer to that beach ?
There are six hundred souls on board,
and if you do it you will be their savior.
VIII you do itT'
The lads face never changed muscle.
The light in his eyes may possibly have
darkened a little, and the old trapper
noted that his long, awkward fingers
shut into their palms with a slightly
tinged grip, but his voice was quiet as
ever as he said:
:" | will help you beach her, Captain"
The Captain hesitated yet moment.
He knew himself that the lad was going
to his death-going with aquietness that
could have only ignorance or the finest
heroism for its cause. 1t was not to be
wondered at, that, accepting as he was
the sacrifice of life, he was touched.
He gazed at the singular being before
him, observed the simple guilessness of
his countenance, and, dashing tear
from his eye, he turned to the trapper
and said
cold man, this boy is your companion,
and you love him %
g Yis; the lad and me have slept to-
gether and we've eaten from the same
bark, and he and me has done little
sarvices for each other that men in the
woods don't forgit, and guess you're
about right, Cap'n, when we say that
love the lad"
" God forbid p exclaimed the Captain,
God forbid that | take the responsibility
of the sacritice-for that's Just what il
is, old man. Ought the boy to stay?'
"SartiD, sartin, said the old trapper
If the lad can save the wimmen folks
and leetle uns, not to speak of the men
by stayin' here, then he sartinly ought
to stay. even if he starts on his last trail
from the deck of vessel instead OF
from the shadder of the pine; for death
never comes too quick to one who meets
it at the post of duty, and it never comes
slow enough to one who shirks. Yis, let
the lad stay where he is, and an old man
who has faced death on many a field
where bullets was thick will stand by
his side, and the Lord of Marcy shall
do with him as he will. | should like to
have seed the pups again; but the Lord
will take care of the dogs"
While this conversation had been car.
rled on, the officers of the steamer had
made arrangements necessary to steer
the craft from the stern; for the pilot
house was already so hot as to make il
unsafe for the four men stationed at the
wheel to remain in it longer. The ropes
and blocks had been adjusted, the pur.
chase tested, and the steamer was already
being directed from behind. The Captain
still stood by the side of the lad, trumpet
hand, ready to give the order to veel
her around.
Young man." said the Captain, "you
are pilot now. When shall we swing
| about? It's rough sea but the flames
give us no choice"
The lad looked steadfastly moment
at the beacon light they had passed
asked the Captain question as to heI
course, and then said:
"We are passing the cove We mustn't
go a rod father! Quick! Swing hel
roundw
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
l. Il