Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-06-16
Tins enconraoad tho hove worked

Thus encouraged, the boys worked
with increased vigor, and Gabe saw
with growing hope that the dam was
assuming proportions which would
offer effectual resistance to consider
able of ssboil over as the overflow
was sometimes called.
Once again the boy who had want
ed to ride to Gabe's home with news
of the approaching fire REQUIRED to
the subject.
'''Tain't too late yit, Gabe Hadn't
I better go?"
''You can go if you want to, Dick,
but only not to my house. We need
all hands here
The boy shamefacedly renewed his
exertions, and the others, in logged
imitation of Gabe's unfiagging zeal,
worked with their heads down, be-
slowing all their attention to obeying
his orders.
There was silence among them ex-
cept when Gabe spoke; but amid
the roaring of the fire in the tank
they could hear the shrill voices of
the women screaming to each other,
and presently there came to the ears
the welcome screech of one of the lit
tie narrow-gauge engines. Buoyed
by REPETITION of the whistle, the lit
band seemed to redOuble their efforts.
Soon again the locomotive shrieked
nearer to them, and there was silence
until the rumble of the train was
heard. Then the boys looked up ::
but Gabe did not pause in the partic
ular task he was engaged upon
packing the sand between some
stones. The train ran up to a point
opposite the tanks, and before it was
at stand-still men carrying picks
and shovels had leaped from the plat
forms and were running to the dam,
shouting to the workers to make way
for new men.
Then Gabe paused. He looked up
the valley, but could not see his home
for the dense smoke that was blow
ing over the summit. He was jostled
aside by the newcomers, who came
to the work like a company charging
battery. Gabe felt that he would
not be needed now. He could no
longer restrain his heart. 1t called
on him louder, more urgently than it
had done when there was time for him
to get to his house before the confa-
grafton had reached it, and he obey
ed.
In the tumult he was not missed,
and no one heard the CHATTER of his
horses hoofs over the stony road.
Bending low over the pommel of his
saddle, he dashed into the smoke.
He could not see, but he trusted his
horse, now mad with fright. Present
ly he said, ''Thank God %
The lessening of the heat on his
check, then a breath of cool air told
him that which he had not observed
the wind had veered, and had car
ried the fire off in another direction,
west of his house, and it was safe.
He knew, too, from faith in his wife,
that she had conducted the children
to a place of safety. Soon he was
out of the binding smoke, and the
horss slackened his pace of his own
accord. Then he dismounted and
climbed the side of the mountain,
where he soon found his family on a
point of rocks.
81 saw it ALL said his wife; "but
l did not know it was you working
there all that time till | saw the horse
STRAIT up the valley. Then | knew
And she kissed him.
'EBut the overflow Did it Gomez"
eyes. Just after l lost sight of
you in the smoke"
EtAnd the dam? ?"
cit held. See, Kendall is safe;
and there would not have been time
to save it after the train came"
And in the look of pride and love
she gave him Gabe found his reward.
-Harper's Weekly.