The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-10-01

toget as Close Ii the, lee 81 Il as possible:
but the huge mass was gradually drift
ing leeward, In spite Of all their exer-
lions, and they soon saw that there
was little hope they would be able to
make fast to any part of the sheltering
shore. What made their situation more
terrifying was that the sun was about
setting and huge troops CT angry
clouds raced across the heavens and
Threatened an increase in the storm.
When the sun sets in stormy weather
on these wild lakes night comes very
rapidly and the water is wrapped in in
tense gloom; so that half an hour after
the scarlet edge of the sun sank
through the smoke of the hills the two
frightened boys found themselves
ahoat in the dark without any star
showing, no lights any where on the
land to guide them, and nothing that
they could see except the pillows
which broke in white foam around
them.
They had two lanterns in the shanty,
and these they lighted when it became
quite dark, swinging them round and
round in the hope of attracting some
one who owned the boat living on the
wooded part of the shore. They also
lighted fire in the little house and
put whiteash in pot to boil. for
they had tasted long and were hungry.
AS they swung the lanterns they
shouted for help, but there was little
chance of their voices reac;:.- =.
shore, which was nearly half u ;..n;
distant, as the wind whistled and bel
lowed and the waves roared. When
they got past the ie'int it was smooth
er, the land was nearer, and the force
of the wind blowing lakeward was
broken by the solid mass of tall ever
greens. They still kept their sails
hauled as close to the wind as possible,
and they dashed the three long oars in
such a way at the end of the raft as to
have them act like three rudders and
help to keep the stubborn raft as near
shore as possible.
Evidently no one saw their signals,
and they sailed past the strip of shell
tering coast, which was about three
miles long, at the rate of about four
miles an hour. They would have taken
down the sails and rested here after
the fury of the storm, but the off-wind
would then blow them out into the
furious part of the lake where they felt
sure the raft would not long hold to-
gether. Meanwhile the great structure
OF logs continued to hold its way down
the shore till the end of the forest region
was neared. Then suddenly 1t occurred
to the oldest brother that they had no
alternative between two great dangers
If they continued to sail down in the
shelter of the shore a great cataract
was in the way about eight miles
farther on; if they took down the sails
and permitted themselves to be blown
outward that meant destruction in the
rough waters. While still perplexed
about knowing what to do and all the
while swinging their lanterns and
shouting, they were astonished to see
two dark objects close by the
side of the raft and moving through
the water as if to get upon it.
Running over to the edge their
lighe, revealed two deer of the caribou
variety with wide branching antlers
and frightened eyes. Not daunted by
the presence of the two boys or the
cleaning lanterns in their hands they
put their forelegs upon the logs and
endeavored to get upon them. where
upon the brothers laid their lights upon
the logs, taking pity on the terrified
animals, and, selling them firmly near
the shoulders, drew them upon the
raft The deer in some great fright
had evidently taken to the water and
been attracted by the lights; but they
showed no sign of fear when pulled up
dripping and cold upon the timber.
They found difficulty in standing on
the round logs with their little feet,
but they did not shrink from the bows
and the only trace of tilnidity they
showed was in budding close together.
The boys took them by the horns and
led them several PAGES toward the CEN
ter of the raft where they would be Sc
cure from the waves when they got in
rougher water. They went as docilely
as if they were pair of calves, and
stood without making any motion
when let go on the lee side of the
shanty. Almost Immediately after
ward the brothers saw by the flashing
light of their lantern another dark OBJ
ject approaching, and on nearing the
edge OF the raft to their inf mite horror
they discovered that it was a bear.
They now knew why the two deer had
come aboard; the bear had evidently
pursued the deer through the woods to
the edge of the water and plunged in
behind them after the frightened carl
bou had struck out after the floating
mass. They at once ran to look for
their peevies, which are heavy wooden
poles with stout iron spikes and hooks
attached to the end, BIT in their con-
fusion they could not find them. Be-
fore they had searched long they saw
that the bear had got upon the logs
and hulked we'll in out of reach of the
pillows. He did not go near the deer,
which probably he did not see, but
stood crouching across three or four of
the round sticks. Neither did he pay
any attention to the boys, who when
they saw he had come aboard at oAce
fastened themselves in the shanty,
boiling the door. There they remained
till they knew that the raft had again
reached rough water on it's onward
course toward the falls.
They found it necessary to come out
very soon, however, because they
wanted to know if the raft was head
ing close to the wind. There was the
bear, with his muzzle thrust down, not
having moved from the place where he
first stopped. There was no doubt in
the boys minds that the bear had
chased the two deer through the woods