The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1878-07-27

he would have drowned even then. Al
it was, however, 10 quickly mads use
Of this poor raft, and, throwing both
arms over il, allowed himself to drift
with It down the roaring river.
The journey was strange one. Fax
out into the woods, upon either hand,
the food extended, and the wash and
sound Of the water q it ran among the
standing trees came to the boys ears.
Tie main channe, itself was flied with
floating debris-logs, stumps, pieces Of
board, and entire trees, even, that had
been swept away. Charlie could form
no idea Of where he was, for his novel
craft shot forward with such rapidity
that he soon lost all track of the land.
marks, and he concluded that his only
chance was to cling to the log and drift
where he might, trusting to Providence
to find some shore at last.
And so the moments fed. Several
times, caught in some eddy, the voyager
was swept close to overhanging trees,
but although he made the effort he was
unable to seize their branches, and went
rushing on. Once the log became
damned in great mass of surrounding
Lockwood, and Charlie was in danger
of being injured by the floating timber,
but in few moments q fresh wave
came to his assistance and scattered the
drift about him.
It was long past midnight, and the
tired, wet boy was growing weak and
stiff, when suddenly his craft struck
sharply against the roots Of a great oak
standing all alone in widespread lake,
where the waters had flooded the low.
lying land upon either shore. The jar
shook Charlie from his position, and
finding the tree firm and solid he de.
termined to climb to its branches and
there remain until morning. 1t Ger.
tainly would be dryer than floating in
the river.
With no little labor and some pain the
boy accomplished his design, and was
at last securely seated ten feet above the
Ranistook between two great branches
of the mighty oak. And then, strange
as it may seem, with the storm still
raging about him, he fell asleep.
The hours passed. Slowly the night
died and morning dawned. As the first
gray light began to tinge the east the
wind fell and the rain ceased, and when
at last the sun arose the storm was ovel
and only its results remained. Still
Charlie slept on, propped between the
limbs of the oak, wet and weary.
The river had risen rapidly and rap.
idly it fell; and the flooded lands were
soon drained of the larger portion OF
the water which had covered them dur.
ing the night.
The sun was more than two hours
high when Charlie at last awoke. From
all the country thick mist was rising
after the rain, and at first the boy was
utterly unable to decide as to his where
abouts. After a time, however, he dis
cerned the far away spire of one of the
Riverdale churches, and he then knew
about his location. He was upon the
same side of the river with his own
home, and some four miles below it.
The fog slowly rising, he also saw that
the great lake which had surrounded
his tree when he first sought refuge
there had now dwindled down to q sim
pie pond with many muddy islands, and
feeling very hungry he determined at
length to descend and begin his home
ward journey, for he wanted his break
fast.
As he moved he found himself stiff
and lame with pains all over his body,
the result of his long chill bath; but he
only laughed and kicked out his legs to
drive the cramps away. As he did so
he slipped and fell a little way, one foot
striking just in the crotch Of the tree
where the two main branches separated.
What was his surprise to find q hol-
low there into which his foot sank some
five or six inches. As he withdrew it
and looked down at the place the CLEAN
of something metallic caught his eye,
and thrusting his hand into the hole he
drew from it long round tin box!
For moment he glared at the article
as though it were made Of gold instead
of tin, then with cry of joy he at
tempted to open it. But in this he
failed, and examining it more closely
he found the cover securely riveted on.
With little shock of disappointment,
but without losingmore time, he quickly
scrambled to the earth, and carefully
picking his way across the mud and
water that lay between the tree and
shore stood at length upon firm ground
again, and was soon hurrying north
ward through the woods toward home.
The four miles that separated him
from the little cabin fled rapidly beneath
his eager feet, and the day was yet
young when he struck into the path that
led to the door. As he approached he
saw the strangers horses standing
saddled and bridled in the yard and
heard voices issuing from the room
within.
81 will 60 toward the bridge, follow
ing the river closely, and search care
fully, if you gentlemen will ride down
the stream. 1t may be that he drifted
below here somewhere" It was Mr..
Currie who spoke, and Mr.. Allen
"All right, sir. And do not let us
despair. The boy was young and &C
tive, and even if he was caught in the
flood I have strong hopes that he has
escaped. God could watch over him
even in the darkness and Storm"
"And he did" cried q merry voice
in reply, and with a joyous shout Char
ley burst into the room waving his tin
box over his head.
Then what questionings, what loving
and what happy looks! The
BOY told his story quickly and simply,
the box to Mr.. Allen at the