The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-04-02

/ NeiIto Wao OH tho TOOL Win bucket
and dippsr, putting out the sparks con.
stantly failing on the dry shingles
She saw her brother and called to
him, anxiously: MAKE haste! There
hardly time enough. even if'-Shs
did not finish, but she thought, ssevei,
II Billy will work" Every thing they
had in the world-their own lives
depended upon whether the gray horse
would pull the pillow to which he was
now being tackled.
Swapping the second trace fastening,
Rodney led the horse over the grass
land toward the point he had !chossi,
for the outer line of defense. Billy fol.
lowed quietly, taking no notice Of the
pillow humping and rattling at his
heels. This In itself was wonder. II
he had never before felt that clumsy
weight trnnln,eling his springy steps
he would have kicked Il into fraR.
ments, as indignant protest being used
as n draught-horse. But tho critical
test was now to come, for they had
reached the proper limit and real work
must begin. Rodney ran the point OF
the share into the tough sod, adjusted
the reins and grasped the pillow
handles.
Come, Billy Chirrup, old boy!" Bill.
ly did not move.
"Come. now! Pull for it, pony!" Not
a motion Turning his small head,
Billy looked wistfully at his master
like child who tries to read the an
swer to hard question in the teach
er's face.
He'd do it il he knew" thought
Rodney. But he doesn't know. Oh,
how can make him understand"
He ran to Billy's head and began
leading him, at the same time mana
ging the reins gathered up in one hand.
and using every method he could
think of to accustom the horse to be-
ing directed from behind.
''I'll try once more nowl" he NUT
tered to himself, Selling the handles
he frightened the reins and called
again: "Come, Billy! Come, boy!
Chirrupp' Suddenly Billy underst God.
Down went his head, he crouched and
extended his supple body, tearing the
turf under his shod hoofs, and pulled!
Rodney began cheer OF joy, but
stopped it abruptly. Billy had
started, but would he keep on.
Yes, he would. Straining steadily
against the collar, he went along with
quick, strong steps at pace that
was almost trot, while the sharp
plowshare cut q broad ribbon, OF
black, moist mold-the first line of in
trenchment against the enemy
roaring away there in the dis.
tance.
Good fellow! Good old fellow."
cried the boy, when they reached the
end OF the furrow. And Billy, tossing
his delicate head in the air, gave q
long neigh OF delight. He had learned
it ut last! Back again on the second
furrow, faster than ever, the dark
earth falling away from the bright
steel like water before a steamers
prov. And once more back on the
third, still at the same wonderful
speed. The burrows were long and the
resistance OF heavy earth great. The
most unfeeling teamster would have
rested his slow-going team three times,
at least, in the distance which Gray
Billy had covered without stop, ut
the rate OF FIVE miles an hour. But
there was no rest possible in the teeth
of the roaring fire.
'It's donel" gasped Rodney, ex-
hausted and painting. "But there's
the inside line to run still. / don't
know il l can do tor il Billy can"
A hundred yards further in he began
again. The burrows no longer streamed
behind as rapidly as they had, for
Billy's gray coat was snowy with
foam and he sobbed heavily at every
breath. Rodney's arms were numb
and aching; he could scarcely liz his
feet, but he never ceased cheering and
encouraging the horse in q voice now
hardly more than husky whisper, so
dry we're his mouth and throat, and
so painful his lungs.
Not done yet and the fire was but q
few yards away from the outer bar
rierl Was'all the struggle to be USE
less? 'Nell! Nell!" he shouted, run
out and fire the break! Drop every
thing and run. may just have time
to finish while the grass between is
burning. RUM Rodney could no
longer see. He still held the handles
and still framed his lips to cheering
words, though he. made no sound. He
duly felt it had grown very hot, but
there seemed to be no air any more,
only sitting smoke, and thought stu
pidly that it was queer he didn't mind.
Then he ceased to think or feel at all.
But Nelly did fire the break, and just
in time. The ground between the
plowed lines had hardly burned clear
when the great outside fire arrived at
the boundary and died away, having
nothing to feed upon. Gray Billy had
fallen in Isis harness, with Rodney ly-
ing insensibleupon him. But boy and
horse had done their task and saved
their home.
Rodney soon became as we'll as ever,
but Gray Bill will never sgain be quite
what he used to be. No more long
gallops for him, but, on the other
hand, an easy, happy life through all
the years he may livs-for hadn't he
nobly earned it9-Philadelphia Item.