The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-02-06

him. He sprang upon the front OF
the engine, and pulling off his coat,
| covered the headlight with 1t; took 1t
off and then put It back again. The
star flashed and went out in reply.
"What-the-matter?
'L-a-n-d-s-l-i-p. W-e-l-l?'
"Y-e-s."
The passengers began to come sleep
| lily out OF the cars There was a ru-
NOR that something was going on.
| There was indeed. Just in front OF
| the engine stood two men, weary with
| tremendous toll, stained with mud
and holding between them the nozzle
OF fire engine hose. The hose itself
| lay limp and fiat, and led off up the
mountain side among the trees. The
nozzle was aimed at the wild tangle OF
trees, gravel and mud that covered
the track.
1t came The hose shook and quiv-
cred and seemed ready to burst while
from the nozzle sprang a white rod OF
water. 1t struck the barrier like a
stroke of lightning. Trees shot up in
to the air, stones flew as if from an
explosion. White fountains OF water
| leaped into the air. Clouds of muddy
spray burst from every side. There
was rivulet of mud, stones, trees
and gravel pouring down the steep
side of the embankment.
With a cheer the hose was dragged
| forward and the white rush of water
went deeper into the tangle. Henry
MastersOn held the hose himself. 1t
required skillful guiding or the road
itself would be plowed up and swept
away. He soon learned how to aim
his fearful weapon. Strike below.
Send the terrific blast of water into
the land slip below the enbankment
and then the mass above slipped and
slipped over the road-bed and plunged
into the ravine below. Already the
shape of the road was visible for fifty
| feet into the barrier.
The trackmen saw the chance and
began to shovel away the loose sand
and uncover the rails. Ahead stood
the man. He worked with a sort OF
fury, aiming his terrible white weapon
at the wild tangle. As the laborers
became exhausted they fell back and
others quickly took their places. The
passengers came out and stood, a cloud
of witnesses, to watch the magnificent
work.
The sun rose and still the work went
on. As the work advanced the hose
was dragged along, and the terrific
stream shot deeper and deeper into
the land slip. Bynoona quarter part
OF the apparently impossible barrier
had been swept away. At O'Clock a
man appeared. He had come through
the woods, up the valley, below the
slide, to report that they were already
at work on the other side trying to
clear the road from the West. They
had fifty men at work, but the progress
was very slow.
The passengers were given the chance
to walk back with the man through
the forest. No one would go. They
would stay and see the thing through.
Then there came a pause. The hose
was too short. 1t must be heightened
Masterson had foreseen this and the
f1ume had been extended in anticipa-
ton and it took only few moments
to shift the hose and then the terrible
white fountain bored its way into the
barrier.
Rocks shot into the air as if from a
gun. Trees snapped off and were
whirled down into the ravine in blind
ing showers OF spray. Kissing fount-
aims leaped up or burst into foaming
clouds of water. The roar of the
water filled all the air with frightful
bursts OF sound, crashes and scream
ing Kisses and discordant ratings as
Of musketry.
They brought him food and he took
1t, but would not leave his post. The
sun went down. 1t was night again
and once more that tiny star shown
out from the quiet house below. How
was it with her? Was all well? They
built great bon-fres on every side and
n the Pickering glare the man stood
at his tremendous labor.
Suddenly there seemed to be an
earthquake. They dropped the hose
and the white stream Missed upon the
rails like a great snake. They ran
back to the engine and stood waiting.
The land slip was moving. Weakened
aud welting it lost its hold on the road
and began to slide. Slowly at first
and then with smothered rumbling,
faster and faster the vast mass swept
| into the ravine, tearing down the for
est as the wind bends thegrass in sum-
mer.
The line was clear. Right ahead
cleaned the friendly lamp OF a loco
motive headlight. Suddenly man
sprang through the pools OF water and
mud that covered the rails. Wild
cheers came from both sides Of the gap
and the engines screamed in hoarse
triumph.
"Where's Masterson?"
"He's here-Most dead, too"
Tell him it's all right up at his place
its a girl"