Passaic City record., 1893-04-22

. osoAA da si1Cy AdA CfSi huOWu III tuat
region. Greatly alarmed for the family
of the Swede, they ran to the horse cor
raj, caught two of the ponies, which
were huddled under storm shed, and
stopping only to bride them, rode at a
breakneck speed down the valley.
When they reached the shack in which
Bergman lived they saw that the bed of
the creek was already filed with a tor
rent of water, which tumbled and foamed
as they had often seen it before in ad-
vance of the swift food which would
inevitably fill the little valley, rolling
down like an avalanche.
The lightning was SO incessant as to
keep all objects near at hand within plain
view. Bob sprang from his horse and
pounded loudly on the rough door. Soon
it was cautiously opened, and Bergman
thrust out his head.
.sCome," shouted Bob. "Out O. this
with ye, or you'll all be drowned in ycur
blankets!"
Bergman looked stolidiy out into the
storm.
.sYou go away viz yourselves" he
shouted. "You like putty veil get me
out by dis valley, heha You ko away!
I nefer will ko, say you'll!
He had allowed the door to open
gradually, and stepped partly out into
storm as he grew more in earnest, and
wound up in quite rage, shaking his
fist in Bob's face.
He was plucky fellow, at least, as
the boys admitted; aud believing that
they were maliclously trying to get him
and his family out into the storm for
some purpose, he was determined to
make bold resistance.
ssVot you goin' do by data" he ex-
claimed; for Tex, while the Swede was
talking, had pressed up close behind Bob
on his pony, and hearing the well-known
roar of the washout, knew that some
thing must be done quickly. The pony
which he rode had, as stock ponies often
do, rope dragging at its neck. Gather
ing this quickly into coil, Tex swiftly
made running moose, and yelling
sharply to Bob to get out of the way,
dropped it over the Swede's head and
shoulders. Then he gave it q sharp
jerk, and started his pony of at . trot.
The throw was skilfully made. It
caught Bergman about the middle, pin
ioning bis arms at his sides. The pony
dragged him away in spite OF his strug-
giles and yells.
"Fetch them cotton-tops quick, Bob!"
called Tex, as he hauled the struggling
man away toward higher ground.
Bob needed no admonition. As Berg
man was jerked past him he sprang
through the doorway. The woman had
got out of bed, aud stood with a blanket
thrown around her and small child in
her arms. Sne had lighted small Ian
tern which hung at the head OF their
bunk, and by its light Bob saw three
other children huddled in frightened
heap upon bed in another corner.
Bob shouted fiercely at the woman to
get out with her child and run for the
high ground. She stood as if dazed,
staring at him in blank fright. He pushed
her toward the door and out into storm.
Then rushing to the bunk which con-
tanned the children, he caught up two
of them-the third had crawled under
the bed while he forced its mother out
rushed out with them.
The food had come with the usual
mad rush OF washout. The water al
ready enveloped the shack, which stood
upon very slight rise or hillock, and
Bob found himself wading knee-deep
before he could reach the high land some
fifty yards away.
He found the woman, thoroughly
aroused at last, also wading toward high
ground, clinging to her little one and
calling piteousIy: 30 Scharfl Scharf
Mine born, mine born!"
..Come on come ont" shouted Bob,
wading in ahead of her. "Here's two
oyer young uns, an I'll git t'othern IN
In a few seconds they we're upoi dry
ground, where Tex and Bergman stood,
anxiously scanning them by such light
as the electric storm furnished, for the
Swede saw the food now, and the dan
ger, and no longer doubted that friends
were getting his family out of fearful
peril.
Without waiting for word Bob
dropped his burdens the moment his
feet touched ground, and turned back
into the flood. Before he had made q
dozen steps, though, Tex's pony was
plunging at his side, splashing water all
over him as the rider shouted in his ear to
if there were child still left in
the shack.
..Yes,o shouted Bob; s'under the
bunkl"
Only waiting to yell: "Go backl I'll git
hlml' Tex dashed past, lashing his horse
at plunging gallop through the water.
The flood was above his boot tops in
side the cabin when Tex, holding to his
pony's rope, sprang in at the door. The
child, boy OF seven or eight years, had
emerged from its hiding place and
crawled back upon the bed, where it lay
screaming. Tex snatched the boy, and,
running out, threw him astrlde the
pony.
ssHang on, cotton top" be shouted,
FAN we'll pull ye through"