Mohave County miner. [volume] (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918, 1890-08-02

danger was impending. lhis WA ms
first experience with the re- and,
when some Of bis ~, ~.p,,. serrsd 70 sI "a
home ny -sought Il best fcf them L
VIII until the storm was less terrible
or their parents came for them Thit
latter thing happened sooner than hs
had Thought likely and some Of the
sturdy yeomencame for their little onet
quito while before the usual time fol
their dismissal and graveiy advised
Joel to close for the day, as they feared
trouble from the gorge up the river.
Al length the young man. impressed
more by the anxious faces OF the child.
rem than by any thought Of real danger,
told them to go, and proceeded to helE
them get starccti Tor home.
Nigt'. was dropping down over the
Valley. The storm king was abroad
IN all his fury. The nizh, gave
promise of being terrible one.
Joel's hesrt feproyed him for not let.
ting thls children 20 sooner when be
opened the door and heard the sullen
roar which came from the gorge.
He listened sharply.
10nder came man on horseback
riding rapidly.
What ~as the matterf
The rush OF waters smote his ear.
The truth flashed over him.
The ice gorge had given away.
The young mans face grew pale n
be drew the children back into the
house and shut the door. He could not
let them 60 now. II was too late.
A few minutes more and wild cur.
rent OF water swept around the build
ing, cutting on all hope of escape on
foot 1t was now plain that they were
hsmmed 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 to 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 rollicking girl. She was
here, there. everywhere, cheering the
Younger ones in a most motherly way.
How this crisis had transformed herJ
Joel noticed more than ever now what
. strong face she had. He had always
thought her pretty; now a look had
come upon her features which indi-
Gated the spirit which makes women
heroic. She had become a calm, self
possessed woman.
While Joel was thinking Of this.
through the dusk came boat manned
by two farmers. 1t slowly pushed its
way through the current, fighting hard
against the wind, ice and drifting wood;
but 1t was not long before the rescuers
reached the imperiled house. Joel
could no longer open the door without
letting in little ocean. Tiny rivulets
WE'RE spreading 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 better get in now. Mr..
asked one of the men when
the boat was ready to push Of for the
bank.
mot as long az there Is any one else
to 20. Zeb, !" was Joels firm response as
he gave the boat a steady shove away
from the house.
A half hour Of suspense passed. Then
the dim outline of the boat appeared
the gloom again.
THE boat IL full enough" said Joel.
as he tucked the last one Of the child
rem securely into the boat. The load
would be too heavy and trouble might
come Of it II / should get in. I hope
the worst is over anyhow. Even II the
water rises two feet more / can still
find a way TO keep out of it till morn
ing perhaps"
F"Tan't just the thing to leave you
here, said one of the men hesitatingly.
Get in and wen get through all right,
I guess"
NO" was the quick response. Go
ahead. II You can come for me, all
right. II not"
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 slight move
nient of her hand, she whispered:
"Mr. Sherwood, I'm sorry I've made
you SO much trouble this winter.
didn't mean it. Win you forgive me?"
The only reply Joel gave was warm
pressure OF the hand. That was enough.
She understood it. Then the boat
pushed out into the twilight.
But it left behind very happy young
rnan, in spite Of his desperate position.
After such a confession from Nan what
could he not endure? Floods could
not sweep away the joy which thrilled
him.
But an hour sped by and still Joel
was alone. The water kept rising
till it 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
q rush about the house.
Studying the situation for awhile
Joel made up his mind that the gorge
must have formed somewhere below
MIN. ana the water no longer able to
run out, was backing up leaving him
In the midst of a great sea II this were
true the outlook was not at all en-
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 possible point Now he must
ouiatlv await hia fate