Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-09-22

""u'u oc II lhlngS was different. Bn
things be as they be aud YOU mus
60"
IL shall not 60" said Herbert.
"Iienry ~ exclaimed the old man
earnestly, This is downright foolish
ness, fc can't help us by stayih'
ana twoIl he enough if wust comes
10 wust."
John Norton" returned the Young
man solemnly, SAY no more. [ shall
stay with YOU and the lad. II We
live, all will live. If we die, we will
die together will not leave vou."
BE 1t as you say then, boy; viz.
lei 1t be as YOU say. This is no time
Ior words and can understand vcr
'cci:nS; aud it NAV he vc be rigbt.
he lad an we met at the pond Of the
beavers, and it may Ire best we 90.
with him TO the ecnd Of the trail"
III moment The old man said sud.
denly: "llenry, if We could git ono
oi Them wa'er-pipcs, and the pumps
are Siili goin', it may be We could save
our lives. But be careful where Won
go, boy, for It's hot there ahead"
Tightening is scarce quicker than
was the motion of Herbert. as bo
darted forward into the smoke. which
was rolling up in great volumes from
The iront part Of The boat.
By this time the forward half of the
vessel was one sheet of flame 4
column o. fire rose out Of the forward
hatch fiiy feet into the air. but wos
mercIfulIy blown OF ward by the force
OF the gale. From the trapper and
the lad were at least safe, but the
iiames were now breaking over all
restraint. The deck itself was heinz
burnt through, and sections werr.
falling into the hole. The stanchions.
aud limbers Of the bulwarks wero
already in full blaze. The outer edges
OF the upper deck were girdled with
Iire. The roof Of the pilo,-house had
began TO kindle The flames were
already eating their way toward the
stern and would soon be in the rear
)i The two men who wsre standing.
nall hidden in the smoGe Of \ point
FhIeh woUh. soon be the centre Of tho.
'on'iaSration. But they never finch
d.
They stood iG the exact position
where they wsre when Henry lef.
mem the frapper still holding the
rumpet in his hand; and the lad still
'azlng steadfastly ahcod.
"TeIl them to port two points,
aid the lad quietly.
The old man placed the trumpe, TO
is lips, and through the brazen tube
is voice poured steady and strong:
"lhe boy says, tell 'em to port two
ints."
The vessel swayed suddenly to
ort and as She lcaped away the lad
aid
he is" 80
Again The old man lifted the trum.
ct, and called:
The boy says. tell EN- to Did her
eady as she is
For minute not word wac
'oken. The steamer tore on through
ie gloom, lighting her path with the
aines. The roof of the pilot house
fopped IN, and the smoke and einders
III The two men from the sight Of
rose who, with prayers on their lin,
sd with agonized faces, were gazing
them from behind.
SudceaIy cut Of the smoke and
e came the tones Of the trumpet
" The lad says. tell 'em | hear the
lrf on tie beach"
Then the smoke suddenly lined
'IIt by gust that tore through tho
r, and those behind saw three mon
stead of two standing on the deck
be irapper and the lad still at their
alton, aad thirty feet farther aft
erbert, hose in hand, flooding with
ater the blazing deck on which they
ood. But what could the power Of
an do against the rush of such
mes The young man did his
st. With hands blis,ered by the
vfCl heat he stood heroicly at his
'st; but the garments of the lad
ere on fire, and the hair of the tran.
r was burnt to the scalp.
Suddenly the starboard hal; of III,
'per-deck fell with a crash. Asi,
u those behind saw the lad turn "a
e trappcr-saw him to,ter-saw him
eady himself-saw his companion
tch him by the arm-saw the old
no, with the sleeve of his coat ,bo,
rs itself smoking. wipe the cindcrs
'm his lips as he lifted the trumne,
his mouth; and ont OF the blacL
dying smoke as it swept over the
rec and bid them from sight, bel.
wed the words strong as trumne,
uld send them:
The lad says, tell EN- T 500 ,bo
RI on the beach! Hold her steady
she is.' God-u