The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-08-23

it be as We say. This is no time for
words; and / can understand yer feel
ms; and it may be We be right. The lad
and me met at the pond of the beavers,
and it may be best we both 60 with him
to the end of the trail.'
In a moment the old man said sud-
denly: "Henry, if you could get one of
those water-pipes, and the pumps are
still a-goin', it may be We could save our
lives. But be careful where We 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
part of the boat.
By this time the forward half of the
vessel was almost one sheet of fame. A
column of fire rose out of the forward
hatch fiftyb 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
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 were
girdled with fire. The roof of the pilot
house had begun to burn. 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 a point which
would soon be the very centre of the con-
hagratiOn. But they never finched.
They stood in the exact position where
they were when Henry left them; the
trapper still holding 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 his trumpet to his
lips, and through the brazen tube his
voice poured steady and strong.
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"
Again the old man lifted the 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 cinders 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
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 blistered by
the awful heat, he stood heroically at his
post; but the garments of TIE lad were
on fire, and the hair of the trapper was
burnt to the scalp.
/ 'OoNatSIIN tilS Hall Oh IQe
per-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 sleeve of his coat, that was itself
smoking, wipe the cinders from his lips
as he lifted the trumpet to his mouth +;
and out of the black, eddying smoke, as
1T swept over the three and hid them
from sight, beloved the words strong as
trumpet could send them:
"The lad says, Tell them I see the
surf on the beach, Hold her
steady as she ISL Cod
The sentence was never completed.
The flat bottom of the vessel touched the
sand,-slid along it,-and was driven by
the momentum of her movement half
her length up the beach. Then she
rolled over with a great lurch; her
smoke-stacks went down with a crash.
carrying the upper deck on which they
stood with them, and the three men sank
from sight in the smoke and fire.