Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-13

uy W SAVE tue BOY. MlnQ t08t YOt
get well out of danger, as soon as yor
have her.
A few moments more of rapid rid
ing, and Hudson bent low in the sad
die, and lifted the girl to seat upor
the horse, and turned back toward
the way from whence he came, while
Cornell endeavored to keep on. Bu
the waves were through with .theil
dallying. A binding gust of fire
and smoke swept down the hill, and
spurning all control, his horse wheeled
about and dashed after Hudson at q
maddening rate, and when again be
had obtained the mastery, the tall
grass, reeds and canes were enveloped
in q sheet of fame, and the boy was
nowhere to be seen. The utter hope
lessness of any further effort was only
too apparent, and Cornell allowed his
horse to return to the spot where
Hudson was waiting.
willie ! Oh, where is Willie p
shrieked the girl as he came up, and
the pallld face sank back against Hud-
sons shoulder in q deathlike swoon.
The howl Of dog, issuing appar-
emily from the very heart of the burn
ing reeds, dismally echoed above the
noise of the fire, and Cornell, with
cheek blanched to the very hue OF
death, groaned in agony, while Hud-
son fairly raved in the bitterness OF
his anguish and remorse for his
thoughtlessness.
Meanwhile, the fire was rapidly
changing the mass of vegetation to
black and lifeless ashes, and as it
burned away, small pond OF water,
which had been completely obscured
from view by the luxuriant growth
around it, became visible from where
they stood.
A sudden hope sprang up in Cor
nell's heart. III the boy had been
driven into the water, it had been but
a few moments and it was barely pos.
sible that he might be revived
lie suddenly dashed forward over
the blackened ground toward the
pond, and as he neared 1t he discov-
cred a dog, and what appeared to be
child's head just above the water.
He heard an impatient whine, and q
moment later the dog came limping
slowly and painfully to the shore, and
Cornell observed that he was carry,
ing trap upon one Of his feet.
'Git out, you ungrateful dog!' said
a voice from the water, and the head
rose higher, and the boy came wad-
ing toward the shore.
Cornell gazed in establishment.
How did you escape being burned
to death p he asked, as soon as he
could recover from his surprise.
Il waded till the water was deep
enough, and then sat down, with my
head just above it, replied the boy.
But what did you do, when the
flames passed over yon?' asked Cornell.
'Ducked my head under, and kept
it there as long as / could hold my
breath, and so wet that it couldn't
SINCE much, and ! could get breath
once in awhile-grass fire don't last
long, you know
But what in the world possessed
you to rush into this dangerous placer
asked Cornell.
1t was the dog. / had set trap
for wolf, and l heard Ponte howl
this afternoon, and l knew he was
there. When | saw you, l told Rose
to rnn to meet you, and went to take
the dog out, but he wouldn't hold still
for me to take the trap from his foot,
80 ! loosened the stake and took him
into the water with me, but he made
ME burn my hand in holding him, the
ungrateful creature =
He was not worth risking your life
to save said Cornell.
well, s'pose 'twould have hurt
him about as bad as it would me. l
tell you, stranger, it would he an aw-
fal thing to be held fast in a trap with
the reeds all a6re! I'm glad saved
him, if he don't appreciate it, poor
fellow. don't s'pose my hand hurts
any worse than his foot
We've seen prairie.fre, Hudson
said Cornell, as they rode thought
fully along the wsgon.road, after see.
ing the children safely home.
Yes replied his companion, with
a shudder. And God grant that we
may never see another
IsADoRE ROGERS.