The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-28


where be was breathessly exerting every
ounce of strength that his sturdy little
frame could yield.
"I's a pushin', honeyi" answered the
old man. with the veins of his forehead
standing out like whip cords. II is .
pushin': but unless de good Lawd push
wifi us, We hain't got no show"
But the good Lord did push with these,
His helpless ones, and His strong wind
bore their drifting boat forward faster than
it did the hungry flames. The current of
course set them down stream at the same
time, and thus, moving in q diagonal di-
rection. they soon found themselves in
safety. They were beyond the limits of
the sea of fire, that extended for q mile
down the river, and quarter of that dis
lance out toward its center. Here the old
man and the boy laid down their now USE
less poles, and watched the wonderfully
beautiful. but fearful sight, while they
recovered their spent breath.
The great tank was still vomiting forth
sheets of flame and clouds of smoke. None
of the others had caught fire; and an oc-
casional CLEAN Of light, reflected from the
white walls of the Chapmans' cottage.
showed them that it was still safe.
At length, as they were rapidly nearing
the opposite side of the river. the current
bore them around a sharp turn that almost
instantly hid the whole glowing scene from
them, and plunged them into darkness,
the more intense on account of the recent
glare.
With this turn of the river the gale, now
acting on the other side of the boat, drove
it back toward the bank they had left; and
thus, for several hours, as they followed
the windings of the crooked stream, they
were carried, now almost to one side, and
then nearly to the other. As they could
see absolutely nothing of where they were,
or whittier they were going, they were
quite ignorant of their surroundings. Nor
did they know what had happened. when,
about midnight, their boat was driven vio-
lently upon some obstruction and its move
ment was suddenly arrested.
The storm had passed, SO that there was
no longer any lightning to give them in
Simultaneous photographs of the scene
about them. The wind still blew a gale,
and, as they could hear it lashing the
branches of the forest trees, apparently di-
rectly above their heads. they concluded
that they must have been driven ashore.
Although both Arthur and Uncle Phin
were too excited and too anxious to 60 to
bed, there was nothing they could do to
improve their situation until the morning
light should disclose its features. So they
closed the doors and windows of their
house and lighted the new lamp. How
snug and cheerful the rude little cabin now
looked. How homelike it seemed, and
what a fine shelter it was from the gale
that was bowling outside.
Arsh co,a he
Uncle Phin said he was hungry also, they
drew upon their slender store of provisions
for light lunch. after which Arthur read
aloud from his book the tale of the Stead.
fast Lead Soldier. The old negro thought
it very nice story, though not so good as
1t would be had the lead soldier been alive.
Then he told Arthur, for about the thous.
andth time. the story of how Brer Rabbit
and Brer Fox went a-fshing; and before it
was finished the tired child was fast asleep.
Then Uncle Phin lifted him gently into
his bunk, and, finding that the gale had
subsidized almost to a calm, concluded to 60
to bed himself
So the ark was again left to take care of
itself; and when its inmates next awoke. it
was not only broad daylight. but nearly
noon. They now discovered that their craft
had indeed been driven ashore on the same
side OF the river that they had left the pre-
ceding evening, though of course MANY
miles below the pumping station. There
were now no houses in sight. nor any traces
of human beings; nothing, so far as thew
could see, but thick forest After a few
Intellectual efforts, they found that it was
useless TO try and push the ark off with
poles into deep water. She was hard and
fast aground. and they could not bulge
her a single inch.
So they decided to have breakfast first
and make up their minds what to do after
wards, and while Uncle Phin prepared the
simple meal, Arthur made the beds. and
swept out the cabin with his inc new broom
of birch twigs.
After breakfast, or rather after dinner.
for although they did not know it. il was
past O'Clock before they finished their
meal. the entire crew OF the ark got over.
board to examine her situation. Thew
found she had grounded on a sandbar that
afforded her an easy resting place, but
which also hold her in q firm grasp. Uncle
PhiH cut down young tree, trimmed of
Its branches, and using il as lever. with a
large rock as a fulcrum. tried to pry the
boat on the bar; but to no purpose. The