Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-02-09

|
hundred voices Of men. women and
children, united in fearful, heart reudIng
'hrieks for help.
Fire! fire! fret
Ave, there was no mistake about it.
nor false alarm. No one could could
tell how ii had commenced, but there
it vas creeping along the roof OF the
upper cabin, with the deadly himes
grcedily tapping up every scrap OF avn
ing and curtain they could find upon
their way, ever and anon dariing long
tongues of fl lme dISn TO the door TO
clasp the light chairs and tables and
settecs in heir fiery embrace.
As well seek with a sieve to scoop
up the waters of the great river on which
The Mobila Il ated as TO try to subdue
the roaring. devou-iug enemy that had
seized upon the Inflated steamer.
The people dirted down from the
blazing upper cabin to the forward deck
below. where as set the foe bad made
but little Leadway, and tlere our brave
cap!aiu--who was that rGra dris The
right man in The right place
ID partially quelhng The panic.
Keep quiet y he ordered-keep quiet
and stay Just where you are, or Will
not answer Tor the lives OF any OF you =!
The seward viii provide every cue Of
you with liie-p?eseIves; bu, there is no
reason fer an, person TO 20 overboArd:
not yet awhile. Keep quiet, l SAY !
Pilot. head her straight iOr the land,
half a mile aheal.' I'VE were at least
tw ice that distance from the main hnd
On either shore.) Engineer. put on all
steam-cro sd her on We will run IA
race with the foul iend who has boar
ded the MoJiid.'
There was an instant pause, and then.
with a groan and surge, with the tim
bers creaking and slraining and The
windows ratlling as though IN morial
terror, the Mobiia gathered herself up.
10 run her last race.
Each passing moment the Hines
crepl on and on, never psusng in their
terrible march. Fortunately, the
leap, d upward rather than downward
% that there was as yet but little
danger to The panic-stricken croHd Oh
the lower deck.
But the plot.house was directly in
the track of the hAmes, aud already
their advance guard was beginning to
surround me, sinseiog my hair anu
eye.br0gs.
sud lenly there was a murnur among
the people below, and The next instant
a H. ht-iorm hsw up the ladder leading
to the little d. OK by the pilOt.house.and
before could say word, my precious
Mollie had thrown op-n the door, aud,
closing it again. stood at my side.
'Nlolie, Moll!e!' cried, for heay-
eu's sake, go back! DJn'L you see how
the fl mcs are creeping toward us ber'!
60, 20. my dearest, my own true vile
Don't unman me by making me fear
for YOU. Go down where | can feel
that YOU have chance OF safety
Bob Thornc :. she exclaimed. with
her eyes lroklag bravely into miae, am
[ Your wife :
Surely, surely, Ihauk God! l uttered.
Bat 20 so' a
Ny post Is here, just as much as
yours is she answered FIRMLY. L VIII
stay here, Rob, aud if ou die l will die,
TOO. We will make our wedding trip
together, my dear husband. even il il
be Into the next world. Keep to your
dGly and never mind me, Rob. Tbele
i. hope for US yet, aud if it comes t. the
worst. why'-aUd brave, sweet smile
crept round her lips-'we are still to-
.ether. dear love-
saw it was of no use TO urge her
any more, and besides, so nethilg
swelled in my throaL so that could
no, utter a word, 50 | gripped the vince
hard and looked rignt ahead, thongh
everything looked very dim st
then, and my devoted daring stood
calmly at my side, watching the fines
that were creeping closer and clos
upou US. leaping around the pilOt-house
ike hungry demons impatient for their
prey.
.rhorne,' shouted the captain, come
down. Lover her aud yOursel! over
the rail; wen catch you; you can not
STAY there any longer. We are Yer,
near the snore now, and the rest we Ii
lake our chances fOr.'
1t was iu awful te mptation. | knew
that did follow the captains advice
both Mollie and | would be safe, for |
was a good swimmer, and should the
boat not reach the shore, could save
her aud myself bat then, if l did this
would not deliberately expose every
one OF the three hundred souls on board
to destruction e! True, The boat might
Keep to hel coulse during the short
space remaining TO be passed merel,
from the rapli impetus Of her approach;
but. again, sue might not-and then!
looked at my dear wife inqu'rlrsly.
Stick TO your post, Bob she SAID.
No, sir shouted back, 1 shall
stick to my post /; | shall stay here Till
run her clear OH the shore, or die tirsl.'
Ny brave Rob-my noble Rob,
murmured Moliie.
But alas for my devoted Mollie! alas
lor mei Not the plot-hOnse only, but