Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-07-10

hiiShS "O dhy NlVHfSiI Culne CIuSll-
ing down in oIta mass OF ruin.
Even in that sheltered spot the
jackets Of the men and the long hair
of the women flapped in the wipd
like torn canvass but out in the
open ground the fury of the storm
was fearful to look at. Tall trees
were bending like whips, huge
stones rolling down the surrounding
ridges. twies, and even large branch.
es flying through the air like strLws;
while on tire unshellered uplands,
more than one shepherds hut had
peen literally blown to pieces, and
lay strewn far and wide over the
hillside, helpless wreck Of shatter-
ed tim6ers.
But even more fearful was the
sight Of the flooded river below,
which, swollen by weeks Of rain,
and laShCd into fury by the tremeu-
dous gale, went foaming down the
narrow valley with a roar that SEEM
cd TO shake the very rocks that wall.
ed it in and as the peasants stood
gazing at it, one Of them a stalwart
herdsman Of the upland pastures,
pointed with sudden paleness on
his sunburned features, to the little
cottage that stood on an island in
the centre of the stream, at the win
dow of which a human face had just
shown itself.
Its the ferryman and his family
whispered one. "They haven't had
time to escape"
"God help them, then!" muttered
another ''it's all over with them
now -
At that moment tie clatter Of
hoOfs was heard along the stony
road, and single horseman came
tearing down toward the bank, his
white hair and the horse's name
streaming on the wind like a pen
non. A murmur ran through the
crowd as he approached Its our
master-it's the Count of Hides
hiem !"
Even before lie reached the spot,
the Count had evidently seen the
danger of the island family for his
first words were:
"Two hundred thalers to the man
who saves them. Who will go ?''
The men looked at each other in
silence. There were no faint hearts
among them but the bravest man
might well Lave shrunben from that
whirl of foam, in whose grasp the
strongest boats would have been
nothing. More than one eye kindled,
more than one hand clenched itself
hut nobody stepped forward. At
that momsnt a huge wave went
roaring up over the island, and
striking the C ttage wall, tore it
away like paper, While the shrieks
of the children and their mother,
who were now plainly visible. were
heard even above the bowling Of the
storm.
'Will you let them perish before
your eyes ?'' roared the Count. elf
I were ten years younger I'd 60 my
SELF"
Just then solitary figure. which
seemed to Lave risen through the
earth so suddenly did it appear,
was seen on the very brink of the
river, launching a small boat. In
another instant boat and man van
ished together into the whirlwind of
spray that filled the. air. The Count
clutChed his horse's name, and his
lips moved as if in PRAYER, while
more than one stihed cry broke fl ON
the peasants as the little bark reap
peared close to the isIet, dancing
like feather amid the roaring
waves that surged up around. But
the ferryman had seen the coming
help aud prepared for it. In an in
stant his wife was lowered down,
with her baby in her arms. The
other two children followed but
alas there was no place for the
father in the tiny skiff already oyer
loaded. ~ .
The two brave men exchanged q
look, and understood each other.
Off went the boat, shooting down
the foaming current like an arrow.
More than once all seemed over; but
the oarman's hand was true, and at
last far down the stream he brought |
his charge safe to land. Then, with
out halting a moment, he seized a
tow rope, and dragging his boat to
the point whence he had started,
shot out into the raging flood once
more.
"God be with him - cried the
Count, fervently ; no other man in
would have cared such a
deed 70
Stoutly old the gallant man strain
at his task but he came only just
in time. The ferryman had barely
leaped into the boat when the whole
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