The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-22

to carry a child and lead a woman upon
a similar journey.
But Joe Lambert was quick-witted and
''long headed" as we'll as brave, and he
meant to do all that he could to save
these poor creatures for WHEN he had
risked his life so heroically. Taking out
his knife he made the womn cut her
skirts off at the knees, so thd she might
walk and leap more freely. Then plac-
ing the baby in the basket which was
strapped upon his back, IL cautioned
the woman against giving way to fright,
and instructed her carefully about the
method of crossing.
On the return journey Je was able to
avoid one great risk. AS Twas not nee
essary to land at any particular point,
time was of little consequence, and
hence, when no large tieldof ice was at
hand, he could wait for orr to approach
without attempting to mah use of the
smaller ones. Leading thew oman where
ever that was necessary, Ii slowly made
his way toward shore, drifting down
the river, of course, vile all the
people of the town marchi along the
bank.
When at last Joe leapedashore in COM
pany with the woman AMI bearing her
babe in the basket Oh his iack, the peo.
pie seemed ready to trarPle upon each
other in their eagerness t. shake hands
with their hero.
The hero was barely able to stand,
however. Drenched as IL had been in
the icy water, the sharp March wind had
chilled him to the marrow and one of the
village doctors speedily lifted him into
his carriage, which he lad brought for
that purpose. and drov, rapidly away,
while the other physician took charge of
Mrs Martin and the bab,.
Joe was strong, healthy fellow, and
and under the Doctors treatment of hot
brandy and vigorous rubbing with
corse towels, he soon warned. Then he
wanted to saw enough wOd for the Doc.
tor to pay for his treatment, and there.
upon the Doctor threatened to poison
him if he should ever venture to men
ton pay to him again.
Naturally enough the people talked
of nothing but Joe Lambert's heroic
deed, and the feeling was general that
they had never done tleir duty toward
the poor orphan boy. There was an
eager wish to help hin now, and many
offers were made to HIM; but these all
took the form of charity, and Joe would
not accept charity at all. Four years
earlier, as l have alreacy said, he had
refused to go to the po-rhouse or to be
bound OUT declaring that he could
take care of himself /; and when some
thoughtless person had said i'll his hear
ing that he would have to live on charity,
Joe's reply had been
iii never eat a mouthful in this
town that ] haven't worked for, if l
starve." And he kept his word. Now
that he was fifteen years old he was not
willing to receive charity, even in the
form of reward for his good deed.
One day when some of the most prom
;nent men in tho village were talking to
II don't want anything except a
chance to work, but I'll tell you what
you may do for me if you will. Now
that poor Martin is dead, the ferry priv
ilege will be to lease again, and I'd like
to get it for good long term. Maybe
I can make something out of it by being
always ready to row people across, and l
may be able to put on something better
after a while. I'll pay the village what
Martin paid"
The gentlemen were glad enough of a
chance to do Joe even this small favor,
and there was no difficulty in the way
The authorities gladly granted Joe a
lease Of the ferry privilege for twenty
years, at twenty dollars a year rent,
which was the rate Mar in had paid.
At first Joe rowed people back and
forth, saving very carefully what money
he got. This was all that could be re-
quired, but it occurred to Joe that if he
had ferry-boat big enough, a good
many horses and cattle and a good deal
of freight would be sent across the river.
for he was ''long headed" fellow a.
have said.
One day a chance offered, and he
bought for S25 large old wood boat
which was simply a square barge forty
feet long and fifteen feet wide, with bev.
eled bow and stern, made TO hold cord
wood for the steamboats,. With his own
hands he laid a stout deck on this, and
with the assistance of a man whom he
hired for that purpose, he constructed "A
pair of paddle wheels. BY that time Joe
was out Of money, and work on the boat
was suspended for a while. When he
had accumulated little more money, he
bought horsepower and placed it in
the middle Of his boat, connecting il
with the shaft of his wheels. Then he
made rudder and helm. and his horse
boat WAS ready for use. 1t had cost him
500, besides his own labor upon it, but
it would carry live stock and freight as
we'll as uassenpers and so the business