The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-24
right place'-succeeded infpartially quell-

either shore.} Engineer, put on all steam
crowd her on! Wewil run a race with
| the foul fiend who has boarded the Mobilia. ;"
There was an instants pause, and then,
with groan and a surge, with the timbers
creaking and straining, and the windows
rattling, and as though in mortal terror,
Mobilia: gathered herself up to run her last
race.
Each passing moment the flames crept on
and on and on, never Pausing in their terri
BILE march. Fortunately they leaped up
ward rather than downward, so that there
was as yet but little danger to the panic
stricken crowd on the lower deck.
But the pilot house was directly in the
track of the flames and already their adj
vance guard was beginning to surround me,
singeing my hair and eyebrows.
| Suddenly, there was murmur among
the people below and the next instant
light form few up the ladder leading to the
little deck by the pilot house, and
before could say! q word, my precious
Mollie had thrown open the: door, and,
closing it again. stood at my side
"Mollie, Mollie!" cried. "For heavens
sake go back, go back! Don't you see how
the flames are creeping toward us here? Go,
go, my dearest, my own true wife! Don't
unman me by making me fear for you.
Go down where can feel you have a
chance of safety
Rob Thorne!" she exclaimed, with her
eyes looking straight into mine, Am I
your wife,"
Surely, surely, thank God" muttered.
..But go, go!'
my post is here, just as much as yours
is" she answered firmly. twill stay here,
Rob, and if you die, I will die, too. We
%,,:~
dear husband, even if it be into the next
world Keep to your duty, and never mind
me, Rob-. There is hope for us yet, and if
it comes to the worst why, and a grave,
sweet smile crept round her Gps-"we are
still together, dear love-"
l saw it was no use to urge her any more,
and besides something swelled in my throat
so that could not utter word, just
gripped the wheel hard and looked right
ahead, though everything looked very dim
just then, and my devoted darling stood
calmly at my side, watching the flames that
were creeping closer and closer upon us,
leaping around the pilot house like hungry
demons impatient for their prey.
''Thorne,' shouted the captain, come
down. Lower her and yourself over the
rail. Wen catch you. You cannot stay
there any longer. We are very near the
SuOfe uUW, auu tue resi- we IL Jake our
chances on"
1t was an awful temptation Iknew that,
did I follow the captains advice, both Mol
lie and would be safe, for was good
swimmer, and should the boat not reach
the shore, could save her and myself; but
then if did this, would not deliberately
expose every one of the three hundred
souls on board to destruction? True, the
boat might keep to her course during the
short space remaining to be passed merely
from the impetus of her approach, but
again she might not-and then?
looked at my dear wife inquiringly.
Stick to your post, Rob-" she said.
''No, sir" shouted. II shall stick to
my post; shall stay here till run her clear
on the shore or ole frstv'
MY brave Rob-my noble Rob-. muir
INJURED Mollie ;
But alas for my devoted Mollie alas for
me! Not the pilot house only but the entire
deck around it was now surrounded by
flames. It was too late to lower ourselves
to the deck below! The railing was all ablaze
My arms, released from their guardian
ship over the wheel, clasped Mollie close to
my heart; but my eyes and brain were busy
seeking for some mode of escape from death
that seemed each instant more certain.
All at once my eyes rested on the paddle
box. It had not taken fire yet; the flying
spray had saved it. had only to dash across
the flame swept deck and fling open little
door in it's side, which afforded read, access
to the wheel, to lower my precious charge to
the water beneath in safety. No sooner
thought of than done. .
Take my hand, Mollie," said, ''and
run with me. We shall be saved, after all.
Wrap your shawl across your mouth. Now,
now-runi"
Leaping down on the deck, we sped. hand
in hand, to the paddle box. dashed open
the little door, and pushing Mollie inside,
passed in myself, and drew the door close
again, shutting out tina eager flames whose
angry roar pursued us as we dropped gently
down into the shallow. water and crept from
beneath the wheel.
Our appearance was hailed with a shout
of delight and, for all had given us up as
lost, and we must have been but for the
heaven inspired thought of the wheel house.
Now that the danger was over, poor little
Mollie tainted; and no wonder. But. soon
she came out all right; and as the people
began to find out that the "brave little girl, >"
as they called her, was really bride of only
few hours, and that we were on our we'd
ding trip, there was regular ovation, fol-
lowed up by nine deafening cheers.
The island upon which the Mobilia had
been beached was low, sandy and uninhab-
tied, altogether not an inviting place for 800
people without particle of shelter to pass
half day upon. yet even in this plight there
were few grumblefs in our midst. - -
There was no room in our hearts for any
feeling but that of thankfulness for our
preservation from fearful death, and after
the peril Of the last hour or two it seemed a
small matter to wait patiently for the COM
ing of the relief boats that we knew were
sure to arrive before many hours went past.
Though some miles from any large city,
we knew that the burning steamer must have
been seen from the farm houses scattered
sparsely along the river bank, and that from
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