The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-10-30

IL I didn't bring him along this time. "a
say nawthin' Of oil the hands"
"Well. we'll. said tho old lady, In !
voice Of reluctaHt resignation; Il sup
pose it's all right; but take keer Of him,
Mart, IS II he was the apple Of your
eyer
1t was . soft, hazy, melting day when
Mart and Arty set out on their long
drive. The travelling was heavy, blu,
the air was delicious, and our travellers
were in the highest spirits. The visii
to the camp was Arty's dearest treat,
and was allowed him three or four times
during the winter.
Toward noon the hazy blue OF the
morning sky changed to thick gray,
while the air grew almost progressively
warm and the woods were filled on al
sides with the strange innumerable
noises OF the great thaw. The dull
crunchings Of the settling masses OF
snow at first thrilled the child with q
vague alarm Then, treasured by his
companion, he grew interested in try.
ing to distinguish the varied sounds
The unbending Of softened twigs and
saplings the dropping Of loosened bark,
the stealthy tricklings Of unseen rillets
all these filled the forest with sense
Of mysterious activity and hustle.
Every little while Mart stopped t.
give the laundering horse rest and en-
couragement. Jerry belonged to Steve
Doyle; but being great pet with his
owner, and devoted to the child, and
at the same time some what too old tc
endure without injury the hardships OF
winter numbering, he had been left al
home in luxury the last two winters,
with nothing to do but make weekly
trip to the camp on the little St Fran
els. In all cases Jerry was treated with
affectionate consideration. which be
amply repaid BY his intelligence and
| willingness.
When our weary travellers reached
the top OF the hill overlooking the
camp, Jerry was pretty we'll tagged.
There was the camp, however, not half
q mile away in its clearing at the end
Of . straight bit OF road. Arty clapped
his hands, and stood up to see if he
could catch q glimpse of his father
looking out for him: and Mart CHR
ruped cheerfully to the horse.
just at this moment the rain, which
had been threatening for hours, came
down. 1t came down in sheets. The
horse was urged to . run, but the
travellers. ere they reached the camp,
were drenched as II they had fallen in
the river. Arty, moreover, was
drenched in tears for few moments on
learning Of his fathers absence; but
soon. with the delighted pettings and
caressings Of the three or four woods
men who had been left in the camp, the
little fellows disappointment was as
suaged, and he was making himself
merrily at home. The camp however,
seemed to him lonely and deserted;
and when. after supper, getting the
cook to wrap him up in an oil-skin
coat, he went out to the stable to give
Jerry big piece Of camp gingerbread
and bid him goodnight, his 6isappoint-
ment welled up again, and he gave way
to q few more tears on the affectio0ate
animals neck.
Around the blazing ire little later
Arty was himself again. The men sang
songs for him and told him stories, and
blew little clouds of bitter smoke from
their pipes into the brown thicket Of his
curls. He sat now on one rough fellows
knee, now on anothers, and absorbed all
the attention Of the camp, and was al
lowed by the cook to eat all the ginger
bread he wanted. When he got sleepy
he was put into his fathers bunk; and,
since he was determined to have it 90,
Mart was allowed to sleep beside him.
Arty having gone to bed, there was
nothing for his admirers to do but fol-
low his example. Their hearts filled
with tender memories and generous
thoughts, stirred up by the presence Of
the child among them. the back woods
men turned into their hunks and soon
were fast asleep.
That night the floods came. The tor
rents rushing down every hillside
speedily burst the already rotten ice.
Some miles above the camp . jam
formed itself early in the evening"
mixed mass Of ice-cakeA logs and rub
bish; and this kept the water below from
rising rapidly enough to warn the camp
of its danger. just as the gray OF dawn
was beginning to struggle dimly
through the forest aisles, the jam broke,
and the mighty avalanche of ice and
water swept down on the slumberinR
camp.
There was no warning. Men persisted
in their sleep, crushed or drowned,
without knowing what had happened.
The camp was simply wiped out OF ex.
| istence.
The bunk in which Arty lay asleer
with his young protector was not built
into the WALL like the other hunks. /,
was q separate structure and stood
across the end Of the building, close by
the fireplace. When the food struck
the camp, the stout building went down
| like house Of cards.
With a choking cry OF terror Arty
awoke, to find himself drifting in . tn.
multi OF icy waters. Great dark waves
kept whirling, eddying and crashing
about him. An arm was around him
holding him firmly, and he realized tina,
Mart was taking care OF him. Present
ly fragrant Of wreck plunged against
them. and he heard Mart groan. but the
young man caught the timbers, and bade
Arty lay hold Of them. The child brave.
ly did as he was told, and climbed &C
lively upon the floating mass. Hardly
had he done SO when Mart disappeared
under the dark surface.
A shrill cry broke out from Arty's lips
at the sight, but in moment the young
man re-appeared. He was close against
the timbers-dashing against them, in
| fact-but Arty saw that he was unable
to hold on to them. Throwing himself
fiat on his face, the plucky little fellow
caught hold Of his friends sleeve, and
chung to it with all his tiny strength.
Tiny as 1t was, it was enough for the
purpose, however, and Mart's head was
kept above water; but his eyes were