West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-05-31

In the afternoon his basket was empty,
but he gathered the dead ripe raspberries
aud the shining blackberrieS under their
shelterlng vines. They passed some
cows that day, mild, solemn creatures,
who looked at them curiousy but did
not stir, though one little calf ran in ter
ror, making the baby laugh merrily.
/ Ihey came TO "a deserted log hut that
night where the men in a deserted sugar
camp had lived, aud here he made the
child bed of fir boughs. They were
hungry and thirsty. The brooks were
| dry in the depths Of the forest, the
only water the spring away back
! by the ferns The grass was
/ dead and serc, the flowers wilted and
! withered. The air was close and hot
and the boy, whose arms were weary
/ carry his little charge, stood in the open
! door OF the hut looking at the velvet
! blackness of the sky, where, like da-
monds, few stars peeped out over the
! tree tops. suddenly along the grass
I grown road by the hut he heard the
sound OF gallopping hoofs. Then dash.
I ing 10y like a whirlwind, ran a heard of
terrihed cattle. He could hear their
hparse painting. see their black forms
He clasped his hands, was it wolves that
frightened them! He listened Into
the quiet Of the night there sounded a
curious swapping cracHling, then roar
like the breaking of monstrous wave
on rocky shore. Up. far above tree
tops, leaped a great red tongue of flame
aspiring to the stars
The forest monarchs writhed and
bowed and flung themselves under the
hot breath, green leaves withered and
dropped under the fire frost, skeleton
branches waved up and down like the
shrivelled arms OF beseeching beldames,
the pines shot needles of fire and the
trees blOssomed into marvellous flowers
of flame
The child looked but an instant, then he
ran in, lifted the crying baby on his back
and hurried down the old road. A pungent
smoke, the breath of the evergreens, the
life of mighty oaks filed the air, bliud-
ing and sitting him. He tried to run
faster, but the child's weight dragged
him back. Fiery cinders flew past him
-heralds Of the suffering and death so
near-blown by the hot wind that
famed his pnllid cheek. All around the
flames crept in a narrowing circle. In
his awful need he never thought of de-
ser;ing the baby in his care. When the
fiery blast came closer he took her in his
arms and staggered on. 1t was quite
light now, with an awful vividness.
Hark Above the roar Of the fire
king, the crash of falling trees, the crack
ling OF branches and leaves, there was
another sound. The steady thud of
galloping hoofs. Another stampeded
herd Of cattle were as frightful as the
fire. The boy listened in piteous fear.
Out OF the forest path that met the old
road near big pine, now writhing its
majestic height under the hot blast,
came a big white horse and rider with
bowed head buried in his cloak Mcrci.
fully he heard the cry for help and drew
up his mad steed beneath the rain of fire
falling all about them.
Take her, shouted the boy, Il kin
run alone all right"
The man did not speak With a
mighty movement he stopped aud swung
the children on the saddle behind him
"IOld fory Jur life, he shouted hoarscly,
aud as the mare leaped the old pine burst
into "a great tower OF flame, like a giant
octopus reaching fiery arms after them.
The fire king might fly with mighty
wings, leap in fantastic, swift bounds.
overcoming time and space, but 1t could
not gain on Joel Wailes white mare,
known all the country round. On she
galored, straight rs n die, strong Of
sinew, deep OF chest. treless enduring,
guided by firm, wise hand
At last in the crescent of fire there lay
before them q high bank, where. four
feet below, n river rippled i'm noisy
shadows. A silver stream in the sun
ght, but now in The con la0ration n
river of blood The rider flung out his
left arm and held the children close, and
with his right steadicd the rearing mare.
There was one breathlcss moment. u
guicI leap, a splash in the cool water, q
slip on the muddy bottom, quick re-
c0very 10 the shining sand, and steady
push ahead The stream rippled over their
sco ched clothing and blistered flesh.
Behind them the trees, giants torches,
famed rcsinous smoke and lurid light.
while the naked branches OF the oaks and
naples flung out great red bars. the work
of a frightful caster; the molten metal
OF m m.sery and death to the forest. Goals
and charred timber dropped and Kissed
IN the stream like poisonous serpcnts
disappearing 90 their foul dens, and the
fire king, bnlIicd by its only conqucror,
died there on the river bank
In the channel for one moment the
brave mare swan with her heavy load
then her h9ofs rested ON the sandy beach,
the scdey shore, the soft turf OF her
masters meadow.
The child, still clnglng to the baby
girl. sank again into n curious trance.
"Sec cried the hostlcr, "the grip
he's got on The little 'un oh Mr.
Waite, YOU thought you was savin'
strange children, but here's tile Nellie
found aftcr all bv this poor child"
"You saved my life, old mare, said
the master, pltting the dropping head
he ,Snclt by the children The waif
heard q woman scream and saw through
the mists a flying figure lift the child
from his arms lie was glad there was
some one TO love her, some one who will
thank him for saving her life he
smiled q pitiful, happy smile and drifted
away.
By slow degrees me come back to life
again TO find beautiful room, sweet
woman who called him "my boy now. "
and one day ne sees q fair. haired boy
looking at him with admiring eyes
''I am Harry" says the boy stretching
out a chubby hand 60 take the waifs
trembling fingers. "shakc You are ret.
ting we'll and arc to be my brother now.
lou saved my little sister VIC lost hey
in the woods, nurse and me. and every
body has been looking for her. Ny