The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-02-23


have been signs Of the breaking upof the
ice above us.
8 But that was far up the river; and
as for the clouds, they do look pretty
squally, that s a fact; but we shall be
back long before the storm breaks"
- Louise knows what TO tell the doc
tor. If he shouldn't be home, leave
word for him to come as soon as posi-
bic, and then hurry to the drugstore and
get the powder, and be sure and buy a
double portion for Mother Barbet. She
is coming to stay with me while you
are away. Yes, suppose it is best to
CO."
In few moments Jean and Louise
were snugly tucked inside the little
sledge under the warm wolf-skins, and
the black pony with his head down, go
ing at his best pace, brought them in n
short time to the rivers edge. The
ice was soon crossed, and, after short
drive up the main street of the large
town, Jean pulled up in front of the
doctors office. Finding him out, he
scrawled message on the slate, and,
stopping at the drugstore, he bought
two bottles of the white powder, which
he carefully placed in his inside coat
pocket and then they started for
home.
How dark it has grownr' ex-
claimed Louise, as they reached the
crossing-place and saw crowd of men
standing looking out on the frozen
river and gesticulating earnestly; "and
that sky, Jean! it frightens me to look
at it. " She pointed to a writhing mass
of huge inky clouds rapidly climbing
up from the horizon. The wind, which
had been blowing steadily all day, had
entirely died away, leaving a stiffness
which was almost oppressive. This
ominous silence was broken only by an
occasional moaning which seemed to
vibrate along the frozen surface of the
river.
AS the black pony stepped out upon
the ice, some men motioned Jean back;
and, finding him determined to 60 on,
two or three of them sprang forward
and seized the bride. you're young,
my master, but you're old enough to
know better than to venture across in
the face of such sky as that. And
haven't you heard the news from up the
river? the ice has already weakened in
spotsw
LET gor' said Jean, tightening his
hold on the reins. ''Weak ice or not,
must cross. "
But several other men had gathered
in front of the pony. ''Back, back, l
sayr' shouted one. eve have had
orders to stop people from crossing;
but in truth, 1 didn't think there wouR
be man or boy fool enough to attempt
it. Don't you know the meaning OF
those clouds? The tornado may be on
us at any time-eyen now while we are
talking"
But tell you l must cross, and you
have no right to keep me here losing
time" returned Jean, flushing angrily,
while Louise turned her face imploring.
tly toward the men.
eve must try to cross" she said,
with trembling lips. ''My little brother
is sick-perhaps dying; we have been
for the doctor and are taking back the
medicine. Father is away, and mother
is waiting for us"
The men looked irresolute. s'BetteI
to lose one child than hree,'' said the
first speaker, still keeping hold of the
bride.
''Let the youngsters go, neighbol
Tyrrel," exclaimed q newcomer. g II
is Pierre LavaPs pony, the best traveller
about N. Perhaps he can get them
across before the storm bursts. Think
of your own wife left alone with dying
baby, and waiting for medicine. Spare
not the whip, my boy, and may the
good God put such speed in your pOny's
legs as never was there beforer'
Jet, glad to be released, darted for.
ward on his way. The same oppressive
stiffness continued, still the black clouds
mounted higher and higher, and there
was the same peculiar moaning in the
ice beneath. The children had already
crossed more than two-thirds of the dis.
lance, when there came little puff of
wind, followed by two or three violent
gusts which caused the light sledge to
swerve to one side. The next moment,
there was a heavy boom in the ice di-
rectly underneath them, and the air was
filed with a succession of sharp reports
like the rattling of musketry.
Louise, too frightened to speak, turn,
ed and looked in her brothers face, but
she found little there to re-assure her.
His eyes were riveted on a large crack
in the ice before them through which
could be seen the dark waters of the
swiftly moving current. Obeying the
sudden sting of the whip, the pony
gathered himself for a spring and clear
ed the crack just as it widened to an
impossible chasm behind them. A sec.
ner, and then Jean saw that their float
ing platform was surrounded on all
sides by water. 1--WE must leave the
sleigh, Louise" he said. g 1t will be
safer lying fat on the ice.' He took
his knife and cut the pony loose from
the sledge. cit is only fair to give
poor Jet a chance for his life," he NUT
tered; and then Selling his sister by the
hand, he dragged her to the strongest
part of the foe just as it parted in the
middle with a sudden snap.
The little red sledge slipped into the
water, and the pony, neighing piteously,
drifted rapidly from their sight. Jean
heard the shouting of voices, and
through the driving rain he was able tc
make out the figures of men on shore
running to and fro. - Hold fast to me,
Louise he said, as sire gave little
gasp when the foe tilted to one side and
the icy waves dashed over their faces
a. we are nearing the stationary ice by
the shore. If you can but hold out fol
a moment longerr'
The next instant the huge blocks of
ice, rs they came crashing down the
river, forced the little foe on the firm
ice, and strong arms carried the children
to a place of safety.
The doctor was not able to cross the
river for some time; but the white pow.
der saved the baby's life, and the little
fellow was growing and laughing as
usual several days before Jean and
Louise recovered from the effects of the
cold and the fright.
The morning after the rescue of the
two children, the black pony, with his
shaggy name and tai fringed with
icicles, was found alive and well on
little cape where he had safely dTifted
ashore Vide Quake.
.