Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-12
CHAPTER VI
A CAMP OF TRAMPs


II the wind had been blowing from
across the river, so as 10 hold the ark
close to the shore, against which she
was moored, nothing could have saved
her from destruction by the torrent OF
blazing oil that rushed down the slope
toward her. Even her occupants would
have stood but slight chance of escap-
ing. The stream Of leaping flame was
so wide, and came toward them with
such extraordinary swiftness, that, be-
fore they could have reached the shore
and run beyond its limits in either di-
rection, II would have been upon them
Their only chance would have been to
throw themselves into the swift current
Of the river from the opposite side of
their boat, with the hope of gaining the
bank at a safe distance below.
Uncle Phin was helpless with terror,
and completely bewildered by the sud
denness of the peril that threatened
them. Thus it was entirely owing to
Arthur's presence Of mind and quick
wit that their boat was saved
and they escaped the necessity of taking
the desperate plunge, that would prob
ably have drowned one or both Of them.
The boy had noticed that the storm
came from over the hills on their side
OF the river, and how, as the fierce
blasts swept down and struck the broad
side OF the ark, she tugged and strained
at her mornings. Now he remembered
tions to account
SEEKING the axe he severed at single
blow the rope holding the boat at one
end, and then. running 20 the other. cut
that with equal promptness. Next,
thrusting long pole into Uncle Phin's
trembling hands, he bade the old man
shove off from shore with all his
strength, at one end, while, with a
lighter pole, he did the same thing at
the other. Their feeble strength would
have availed little. but for the power
full aid lent by the favoring gale. While
this hurled the advancing flames fierce
ly toward them, it also drove them, 1t
first slowly, then more RAPIDLY, beyond
reach of the danger.
There was hardly ten feet OF
open water between the ark and
the shore she had just left, when the
flames sprang down the bank, and began
to spread over the surface OF the river,
the oil burning here as readily as on
land. For minute it seemed as though
the fire must catch and devour them
after all. Its flames leaped eagerly for
ward. like million writhing serpents,
with red forked tongues darting after
their prey.
"Push, Uncle Phinl Push fer your
lifel' shouted Arthur from his end of
the boat, where he was breathlessly ex-
erting every ounce of strength that his
sturdy little frame could yield.
"Is pushin', honeyl" answered the
old man, with the veins of his forehead
standing out like whip cords. Il is a
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 a diagonal direction, they
soon found themselves in safety. They
were beyond the limits of the sea Of fire,
tkat extended for mile down the river
and quarter of that distance ont
toward its center. Here the old
man and the boy laid down their now
useless poles, and watched the wonder
fully beautiful, but fearful sight, while
they recovered their spent breath.
Tho I'll
forth sheets of flame and clouds OF
smoke. None of the others had caught
fire; and an occasional CLEAN of light,
reflected from the white walls of the
Chapman's cottage, showed them that it
was still safe.
At length, as they were rapidly near
ing the opposite side of the river. the
current bore them around 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 we're carried, now almost /
to one side, and then nearly to the 9TH
er. As they could see absolutely moth
ing of where they were. or whittier they 4
were going, they we're quite ignorant Of I
their surroundings Nor did they know
what had happened, when. about mid
night their boat was driven violently
upon some obstruction. and its move
nert was suddenly arrested.