Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-06-03
~ thank Won. but l must 90.


the rest of the party would soon come
to like him as warmly as he himself
did But the result had been quite con-
trary to Denzirs expectations, aud Ca
leb's first week at Mill Farm had been
one of the unhappiest of his life.
For n few moments, as Caleb rode
along the silent country road, his re-
fections were very sorrowful; then
gradually he forgot his own troubles in
discovery which he believed he had
made day or two before. The Mill
Farm had received its name from the
sawmill which stood SOM distance
from the house, on the bank of the
brook which ran through the midst Of
the valley. Half a mile above the
dwelling, a heavy stone dam had been
built across the stream, making pond
of some acres in extent, which supplied
power to the mill Riding abont the
country alone on his bicycle, Caleb had
found this dam, and had visited it fire.
quently
There had beep heavy rainstorra at
the beginning of the week, and the
water in the pond had risen TO the very
brink of the dam. The structure was
old, and the pressure of the water had
started a number of seams in the ma
sonry. This was Caleb's discovery.
He had spoken of this to Mr. Graham,
who had laughed at his fears, saying
that the old dam had lasted fifty years
and would last another fifty. But Caleb
had not been satisfied. He had made
journey to the pond every day, and
had seen that the cracks in the wall
were surely growing wider, while the
water was escaping in quantity. On
the previous afternoon he had found a
new crack in the stone work, near the
middle, from which a small torrent was
rushing. Though Mr.. Graham certain
" ought to know best, Caleb felt un-
easy about it. He was sure there must
be danger of the old wall crumbling
away.
When he reached the pond, and leav-
ing his bicycle in the road climbed
down to the foot of the dam, he was
startled first by loud roaring sound,
and then by the sight of mass of
brown water pouring through large
gap in the wall which had not been
there on the day before. Wide cracks
scanned the masonry in every direction.
As he rested his hand against the stones
he felt them tremble as under a sue
cession of heavy blows.
While he stood there aghast, there
came a loud report, and another crack
opened in the wall, from top to bottom.
Almost at the same moment huge
block of masonry fell out, followed by
tremendous rush of water Every in
slant smaller pieces crumbled down and
new Jets of water burst forth. The
dam was goingl
Poor, slow Caleb stood clut itching
sapling, wondering what he ought to
do. He knew that the Mill Farm
dwelling was in the very center of the
narrow valley, and if this great mass of
water were to rush down upon it sud
denly, it must surely be swept away
with all in or near it. 4
In the midst of his doubt and terror,
another section of the wall gave way,
and, driven by blind impulse, Caleb
climbed the bank, mounted his bicycle
and raced down the road like the wind.
Behind him he could hear the deepen
ing roar of the water, and as he turned
into the gate ut Mill Farm, shaking
with fatigue and alarm, there came a
the pond. The dam had given wayl
A number of the boys and girls were
sitting upon the porch. He did not
pause tosee who they were, but mounted
the steps, shouting:
''The dam, the daml IL has burst!
Run for your lives"
In moment all was confusion. Girls,
boys, servants and inmates ran hither
and thither, crying out in vague terror,
and utterly incapable of caring for their
own safety.
Caleb seemed to be the only one
there with presence of mind. Raising
his voice above the uproar, he shouted:
run for the top of the hill! Quick,
don't wait for anything"
With a courage and GOODNESS for
which no one had ever given him credit,
he got the frightened crowd together
and started them up the hill, following
behind to urge them on. They had
nearly reached the top, when Caleb
stopped and looked back.
"Where is Denzil?' he cried. "He is
not here"
81 saw him down by the brook few
minutes ago." answered one of the
| number.
go on, them" answered Caleb; you
are safe now"
"What are you going to do?" asked a
terrified voice.
ITO find Denzil," replied Caleb, turn
ing back and running swiftly down the
hill.
The water was now swirling and
H. II -,
rising and increasing in violence every
instant, and bearing upon its muddy
surface uprooted trees, planks and rub
bish.
"Denzil! Denzil," cried Caleb, wildly.
ooh, Denzil, where are you?"
Here l am" came the reply, and
Caleb saw the slight figure of his
friend standing upon the point of a
rock projecting out of the flood which
boiled and thundered above him.
Without n moments hesitation, Caleb
plunged into the water, which rose to
his armpits, and battled his way toward
the rock. Seizing Denzil around the
waist, he drew him down, and, support
ing him by one arm, struck out for the
high ground. The water had now
risen above the boys heads and they
could only hope to escape by swim
ming.
Denzl could not swim, and, if left to
| himself in that raging torrent, would
have drowned in 4 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. IL
ideas came slowly into poor Calebs'
| brain, they stayed, once there He had
resolved to rescue DenziI and he would
| do it.
As the minutes went by the terrible
| strain began to tell upon Caleb's
| strength. In order to keep Denzil's
| head above water he was swimming on
his side overland, which with Denzil's
weight forced his own head under at
| every stroke. Moreover he was bleed
| ing from n blow on the temple from n