The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-09-21

dismissal, ana RTdNeIy hiN isSu o''i w 'ioaV
for the day, as they feared trouble from the
gorge up the river.
At length. the young man, impressed more
| by the anxious faces of the children than by
any though Of real danger, told them TO go,
ana quietly proceeded 10 help them get start
| IA for home
| Night was dropping down over the valley.
| The storm king was abroad in all his fury.
The night gave promise Of being terrible
one
Joers heart reproved him for not letting
the children go sooner when he opened the
| door and heard the sullcn roar which came
! from the gorge.
He listened sharply
Yonder came man on horseback, riding
rapidly.
What was the matterl
The rush of waters smote his ear The
truth flashed over him.
The ice gorge had given way.
The young mans face grew pale as he drew
the children back into the house and shut
the door He could not let them go now. II
was too late.
A few minutes more and a wild current OF
water swept around the building cutting Off
all hope of escape on foot. IL was now plain
that they were hemmed in.
The horseman waved his hand toward
them, and then wheeled away TO seek other
means of reaching the school house 1t was
trying place for the young teacher, and
some courage was required 10 look calmly
into the faces of the awe stricken children
and try to quiet them.
But in this he had helper in Nan. The
girls face showed nothing of the terror Joel
expected to see in her. The woman seemed
to have suddenly come instead of the rollick-
ing girl She was here, there, everywhere,
cheering the younger ones in IA most mother
ly way.
How this crisis had transformed herl Joel
noticed more than ever now what strong
face she had. He had always thought her
pretty; now look had come upon her fea-
lures which indicated the spirit which makes
women heroic. She had become calm, self
possessed woman.
While Joel was thinking Of this, through
the dusk came boat manned by two far
mers 1t slowly pushed its way through the
current, fighting hard against wind, ice and
drifting wood but it was not long before the
rescuers reached the imperiled house Joel
could no longer open the door without letting
in little ocean. Tiny rivulets were spread
ing over the floor The only way to get the
children into the boat was through an open
window.
Not more than half the number were able
to get into the boat. The rest must wait
Hadn't you letter get in now, Mr.. Pro-
fessorr asked one of the men when the boat
was ready to push off for the bank
-. 10. ..ls. TO.
Zeb,n was Joc's firm response as he gave the
boat steady shove away from the house.
A half hour of suspense passed. Then the
dim outline Of the boat appeared through the
gloom again.
''The boat is full enough" said Joel, as he
tucked the last one Of the children securely
into the boat. 1.-The load would be too
heavy and trouble might come of it if !
should get in. hope the worst is over, any
how. Even if the water rises two feet more,
can still find a way to keep out of it till
morning perhaps"
'''Tain't just tie thing to leave you here"
said one OF the men, hesitatingly. Get in
and wen get through all right, guess"
"No," was the quick response. Go ahead.
If you can come for me, all right. If mott
He paused. Something in Mans eyes
awoke tumult in his breast A strange
light shone in them, and as Joel leaned down
from the window toward her, in answer to a
slight movement of her hand, she whispered:
"Mr. Sherwood, I'm sorry I've made you
so much trouble this winter, | didn't mean
il. VIII you forgive met'
The only reply Joel gave was warm pres
sure of the hand. That was enough. She
understood it, Then the boat pushed out into
the twilight.
But it left behind a very happy young man,
in spite of his desperate position. After such
II confession from Nan, what could he not en-
dure. Floods could not sweep away the joy
which thrilled him.
but an hour sped by and still Joel was
alone. The water kept rising steadily till 1t
drove him to the top of the desks. He noticed
that the tide was coming up much faster than
at any time before. There was no longer
such rush about the house
Studying the situation for while, Joel
made up his mind that gorge must have
formed somewhere below him, and the wa
ter. no longer able to run out, was backing
up, leaving him in the midst Of n great sen.
II this were true the outlook was not at all
encouraging.
He peered anxiously out over the waters
for some sign of the returning boat Nothing
but intense darkness met his gaze.
Another hour passed. Inch by inch the
river crept up, driving him from place to
place until he was now on the highest posi-
BILE point Now he must quietly await his
fate.
But it was not very heroic to be drowned
like rat He must do something to save
himself.
At length n star glmmered in the dis
lance. Hope sprang up again Some one
was kinder to him than he deserved
How slowly the light came. 1t was a hard
battle with wind and torrent.
Suddenly the awful rush came again. Had
the gorge below given wayf Then heaven
save him!
He felt "a shock. The building trembled
Something had struck it heavily and it was
being carried down into the raging food.
Ii was time for him to act To remain
where he was would be death.
He flung up the window and looked out
One thing he had learned well in years gone
by--to swim. II seemed almost madness to
think of trusting himself to such IA current,
but there was nothing else to be done
The light was nearing him more swiftly
now, although it was apparently long way
off vet He bravely leaped into the surging