Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-05-14

nun AVA bht JopDl liit Illll4 RluCht
| dou't vGi, OF anything"
, With courage and GOODNESS for
Z which nc one had ever given him
credit he got the frightened crowd
togeth; and started them up the
hin. following behind to urge them
on They had nearly reached the top
when Caleb stopped and looked back.
Where j. DennlT he cried He
Is not here"
Il saw him down by the brook a
few minutes ago" answered one of
the number
Go ON then" answered Caleb;
you are safe now"
What are you going to dol" asked
a terrified voice
ITO find Denzil," replied Caleb,
turning back and running swiftly
down the hill
The water was now swirling and
roaring down the middle Of the val
ley, rising and Increasing in violence
every instant, and bearing upon its
muddy surface uprooted trees, planl1s
and rul ish.
Dem Dcnzilr cried Caleb wild
: ly. oh, Den1l, wher5 are your
Here l am, " came the reply, and
Caleb saw the slight figure of his
( friend standing upon the point of
/ rock projecting out of the food which
I boiled and thundercd above him.
Without a moments hesitation,
Cadeb plunged into the water, which
rose to his aImpits, and battled his
way toward the rock Selling DenMl
around the waist, he drew him down,
and supporting him by one arm
struck out for the high grouId The
water had row risen above the boys
heads and they could only hope to
escape by swimming.
Denzil could not swim, and if left |
to himself in that raging torrent |
would have drowned IN moment. |
But he was light of weight and Caleb |
was the strongest boy in the school. |
Keep cool, Denzil, he painted, as
they struggled on.
"All right, was the response, II
understand.
1t was literally battle for life for
both boys; for while Caleb could |
have saved himself by abandoning
his friend, he never even thought of |
it. If ideas came slowly into poor
Caleb's brain, they staid, once
there. He had resolved to rescue /
Denzil and he would do it,
AS the minutes went by the terri .
bic strain began to tell upon Calebs |
strength. In order to keep Denlls
head above the water he was swim.
ming ON his side, overland, which,
with Denzil's weight forced his own
head under at every stroke. More
over, he was bleeding from a blow
on the temple from piece of pass
ing wreck. Skillful and vigorous as
he was, he felt himself growing very
weak. Should he fail after all9
Poor Denzil 1t was like him to
think only of his friend even at that
terrible crisis.
But he would not fail He set his
teeth grimly and battled On Denzil
could hear his breath come in sobs
and see the suffering in his wild eyes
and drawn features.
"Oh, Calebw he cried you are
killing yourself for me-"
''It-is-tough, came the gasping
reply, but I'll do it..
Those who watched them breath
lessly from the bank above many
times believed the boys lost, as the
yellow waves rose over their heads
and hid them from sight. But the
next moment they would reappear,
and the hope would lie renewed in
the anxious hearts Of the spectators.
Poor, dull Caleb! They will never
laugh at you again. Everything was
forgotten in love and admiration for
the gallant boy struggling for the life
of his friend III the clutch of the
flood. How they hung upon every
stroke of that strong right arm
How they GrOaned and wept as they
saw him growing weaker and Weak
er, moving slower and slower. Yet
he still held on.
"One more stroke! Another! Hur-
rah Saved-savedw
Caleb heard the words as in a
dream, He felt his feet touch the
ground, Eager arms seized him.
There was a wild, eXultant cry. Some
one called his name; then he knew
no more
When he came to himself again he
found that he was lying upon the
ground, his head supported upon
Denzil's knee, while around him
stood boys and girls, men and wom-
en-, some shedding tears, and all talk
ing together like crazy creatures.
Caleb, said Denzil brokenly, 'it
is no use trying to say anything
''Then don't" answered Caleb,
smiling family. Its all right"
And l." cried Mollie, sobbing,
"Oh, Caleb, l am so ashamed"
Don't, said Caleb again. Its all
right.
When the flood subsidized it was
found that only the lower portion of
the house had been damaged. The
upper rooms We're stlll habitable AT
Denzils request, the party remained
lt Mill Farm, and three days latcf
an open air feast was given in honor
Of Caleb Orton, and every one there
heartily agreed Wi,h Duuzl when lie
concluded a neat little speech with
the words: