The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-06-20

but he gathered the dead ripe raspberfies
and the shining blackberries under their
sheltering 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.
They came to a deserted log hut that
night where the men in deserted sugar
camp had lived, and here he made the
child a 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 sere, 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 dia-
monds, few stars peeped out over the
tree tops. Suddenly along the grass
grown road by the hut he heard the
sound of gallopping hoofs. Then dash
ing by like whirlwind, ran heard of
terrified cattle. He could hear their
hoarse painting. see their black forms.
He clasped his hands, was 1t wolves that
! frightened theml He listened. Into
the quiet of the night there sounded
curious swapping cracking, then roar
! like the breaking Of monstrous wave
on rocky shore. Up, far above tree
tops, leaped 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
| Hrnnnn1 np1ar tha frnct ckolatnp
branches waved up and down like the
shrlvelled arms of beseeching beldamcs,
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, blind
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 pallid cheek. All around the
flames crept in a narrowing circle. In
his awful need he never thought of de-
serting 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, W tn 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 honfs. Another stampede1
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 big white horse and a rider with
bowed head buried in his cloak. Merci-
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 and swung
the children on the saddle behind him.
"Hold for your life, " he shouted hoarsely,
and as the mare leaped the old pine burst
into a great tower of flame, like 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 it could
not gain on Joel Waite's white mare,
known all the country round. On she
galloTed, Straight rs die, strong OF
sinew, deep of chest. tireess, enduring,
guided by firm, wise hand
At last in the crescent of fire there lay
before them high bank, where, foIr
feet below, river rippled in noisy
shadows. A silver stream in the sun.
light, but now in the condagration n
river of blood. The rider flung out his
left arm and held the children close, and
with his right steadied the rearing mare.
There was one breathless moment, q
QUICK leap, a splash in the cool water, a
slip on the muddy bottom, quick re-
covery 10 the shining sand, and steady
push ahead. The stream rippled over the,r
scolched clothing and blistered flesh.
Behind them the trees, giants torches,
famed resinous smoke and lurid light,
while the naked branches of the oaks and
naples flung out great red bars, the work
of frightful caster; the molten metal
of misery and death to the forest. Goals
and charred timber dropped and hisse1
IN the stream like poisonous serpents
disappearing to their foul dens, and tho
fire king, bafiled by its only conqueror,
died there on the river bank.
In the channel for one moment the
brave mare swan with her heavy load,
then her h)ofs rested ON the sandy beach,
the sedgy shore, the soft turf of her
masters meadow.
The child, still clinging to the baby
| girl, sank again into curious trance.
see" cried the hostler, "the grip
he's got on the little 'un Oh, Mr.
Waite, you thought you was savin'
strange children, but here's title Nellie
found after all by this poor child"
"You saved my life, old mare" said
the master, patting the dropping head
he Knelt by the children. The waif
heard woman scream and saw through
the mists flying figure lift the child
from his arms. He was glad there was
some one to love her, some one who will
thank him for saving her life. lie
smiled pitiful, happy smile and drifted
away.
BY slow degrees he come back to life
again to find beautiful room, a sweet
woman who called him my boy now, "
and one day he sees a fair-haired boy
looking at him with admiring eyes.
~ am Harry says the boy stretching
out a chubby hand TO take the waits
trembling fingers, ''shake You are get
ting we'll and are TO be my brother now.
You saved my little sister. We lost her
in the woods, nurse and me, and every
body has been looking for her. My
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