The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-06-01

"a guess we're higher even as We stand,
50 ye kin let the rake stay rightwhar it
is"
Josiah walked home without a word
in reply. Abner stood chuckiing over
the discontinue Of his brother-in-law.
Late in the afternoon, the Lane. fed
fuller by the countless creeks farther up.
crept over its banks and came gliding
gently into the little depressions Of the
adjacent fields.
No sooner was it dark than Abner
Baldwin, armed with 2 shotgun, took his
stand behind tree near the pile ofdrift
where the rake lay.
No sooner was it dark than Josiah
Clint telling his hired man 10 follow him
with a wagon and team as soon as the
moon was up, started for the scene Of his
late encounter with bis neighbor.
Josiah intended to clear away the rub
bish from his rake and have it ready to
load into the wagon when it arrived.
Abner had divined Josiah's intention,
and was prepared to keep him away,
even by using the shotgun.
Meantime the river was creeping
through the fields and across the wood
lands. Josiah had no little trouble in
making his way in the darkness At
last. when there was but one little de-
preston between him and the rake, he
found that hollow filed with water, and
sat down to await the coming ofthe
wagon.
Long lac waited there in the darkness,
no sound audible save the roar Of the
river at distance, and the tapping of
the water as it rose higher and higher.
The moon was just casting her first faint
beam across the land, when, above the
sounds Of the rushing current and ofthe
nearer water which had risen almost 10
his feet, Josiah heard something Of
still more alarming nature A continu-
oIs crash as Of splitting timbers came
from a point up the lane river. Blent
with this was a loud roaring, which grew
momentariiy louder and came on.
What could it be? Josiah rose from
the ground and peered anxiously in the
direction OF tie sounds. Louder and
louder. nearer ard nearer, and more in
comprehensive. Surely that was q fall
ing tree he heard.
Another and another fell, each nearer /
than the last Just then the moon came !
bodily into view, and disclosed TO Josiah |
a line Of white foam racing madly tow
ard him across Abner's oatfeld.
Then the truth was plain. Deming's |
great levee had broken, the Lane was
coming down like low wall, moving at
speed, and Josiah was caught in the
food.
he stood for a few moments without
power to fly or even to take his eyes from
that vide crest of water charging down
upon him. Next instant he was whirled
away by the torrent, scarcely able to keep
his head above the water. Soon he
managed to grasp a solid timber and
steady himself enough to look around.
Josiah had already drifted considera-
bly, behind the crest Of the wave, and
was now being carried rapidly across his
own farm, in company with brush, logs,
cornstalks, and his raiIs-and Abnets.
But what was Josiah clinging to for
support? He could hardly believe it,
but it was his stalk-rake, the very thing
he had gone to bring away. Still more
astonishing, there was a man clinging to
the other end Of the rake, and he looked
wonderfully ike Abner Baldwin. Josiah
had begun to think it was only some
terrible nightmare after all, when voice
hailed him:
THAT you, Si?"
"Yes. That you, Ab?"
ayes, but I don't blieve kin hold on
much longer"
@I'n help ye ;jist hang on a bit longer
Josiah edged his way along to the
place where Abner was clinging, placed
an arm around him, and grasped a rake
tooth firmly with each hand.
Il don't deserve it, Si,p said Abner.
Il was goin' to keep this here rake"
"No, ye wasn't, Ab, was goin' to steal
it this very night"
'No, We wasn't 81. was goin' to fill
you fun Of birdshot"
"Wal, It seems to be a sort of a partner
ship affair jist now, as we've both got con-
siderable interest in If, said Josiah grim
ly.
Rapidly they drifted over Josiah's farm
until they came to Salt Creek, whose
swift cross current bore them out into
the main channel of the Lane. Both
men were nearly exhausted when they
were drifted into and eddy, whence they
managed to climb on a great log, and
from thence into a scrubby tree.
Abner had been struck by piece of
timber when the food caught him, and
now suffered great pain. Josiah held
him in the tree.
Ali night long the flood roared past
them, bearing uprooted trees. building
and various wreckage. But the two men
were happy in ther reconciliation; for
though neither spoke word on the sub
ject, each understood that they were firm
er friends than ever before.
Next day their neighbors rescued them,
badly chilled, and thoroughly worn out
with the long nights watching.
The story ofthe terrible havoc wrought |
by the Great lane freshet is told in the |
history of the valley, and does not belong |
to this narrative. But neither of the two |
men who drifted down on the stalk-rake
ever regretted his experience on that
night
The Baldwin and Clint children row
play together every day; their mothers
are happy in the reconciliation, and no
where can be found two frmer friends
than Abner and Josiah.-Yo Youths Com
poEi0H.
g g "a |