The Helena independent., 1892-11-13

climbed ont on to the ridge pole, an theyth
limb of that big elm hRngth right down
there, an got up onto that an then it
wath eathy enough to thlide down to the
ground.''
The escape, shorn of its mystery, was
simple enough after all. A low ominous
roll of thunder ended in bass SO deep and
powerful that it sent a tremor through the
building.
Bobby said, with su lden resolution,
Il wish you wouldn't give me so much
trouble. / don't want to be scolding you
and punishing you all the time; | like you
too we'll for that Bobby looked at me
| steadily, with calm riousness in his deep,
blue eyes.
"Ive been thinkin' about that, NTH
MITCHELL he replied. 81 like you too.
Pm goin' to thtop it. I'm goin' to try to be
better"
"Oh, will you, Bobby?"
II will.''
] saw by the look of quiet resolution in
his face that he meant it.
THANK you, Bobbyn' l exclaimed, TAX
ing both his little brown hands in mine. l
WIS going on to say something else to him,
but sharp flash of lightning. followed in
a second by crack and crash of thunder,
interrupted me. / hastened to shut the
door and close the windows, and lower such
APOLOGIES for curtains as we had.
Sudden darkness fell upon us. The light
| the steps of the platform, holding fast to
| Bobby's hands, thankful for human society
| and sympathy. The rain came and fell, not
| in drops, but in sheets and layers. In a
| minute the ublie road in Fl ont of US was
| dashing torrent in another the shool house
| lot was miniature lake. But the ter iUle
stormburst soon passed us by. The roar of
| the rain died away toward the east. After
a little the sky began to brighten, and
| gained courage to look from the window on
! the washed and flooded landscape. Bot by
| had behaved like hero. Not one wo of
| complaint had passed his lips, and beyond
! the slight pallor of his face one could see in
| him no sign of fear.
II gueth 18th gone by now, NTH Mitchell, ~
he said; "wathn't it Il ripthtaver, thought
The words were scarcely out of his mouth
| before new sound came to our ears-a
| sound more omnious and dreadful than any
We had yet heard, increasing in volume
with every passing second.
| Bobby stood for moment ntently list
| ening, then he dashed to the platform. tore
| back the curtain from the window and we
both looked ont.
18th Bently's damp he exclaimed; 9TH
buthtn'
| Far up the ravine th: :ough which Coulter 8
| creek comes dancing i'll the summer time, a
solid wall of water was sweeping down
' toward us, crested with the dreadful debris
! of its journey. 1t would strike the pond,
| house from it's foundation. This was in
| evItable. Yet there was no escape. Before
| We could cross half the distance to the
nearest hill the water would be on us.
started back into the room and covered my
eyes with my hands. Bobby stood for a
moment in fearful ndecision. Then he
flung his arms toward the ceiling and cried:
The loft! The roof he treen'
grasped his idea at oncs In it lay the
only hope of safety. We seized the table,
placed 1t in position, flung the chlir on it,
and the next instant Bobby vas pushing uI
the cover of the opening with hercuiean
strength. 1t yielded and fell back. He
plunged upward into the darkness of the
loft and had his hands down to help me IN
next moment we were both climbing
out from the scuttle to the ridge ole OF the
roof. Even as we did 30 the flood came
| down. 1t WAS deafeniDg to hear and fright
| full 10 see. On its otests were the wrecks
| of houses. and in its foam dead bodies
tossed. 1t struck the pond, swept on to the
dam, the bridge and tho narrow gorge be-
low us. and then, checked in its Lrogress.
came leaping. flooding back. up the bank,
&c oss the road, rising with fearful rapidity
TO the windows of the schoolhouse, rolling
ont into the fields boiling, foam -fecked
lake.
Here. Grab it! Grab it, quick! &c
up"'
Bobby was holding down the limb of the
great elm for me to grasp and swing myself
up into the shelter of the tree. / was veal
from fright, and the swirling waters made
my head swim. / grasped the limb nno
pulled myself along on it. but so slowl,
anu awkwat dly that Bobby. ioosng his holu
caught my feet and pushed me upward
Inc water was at the caves. The schoc
house Rss sWaying on its Foundation.