The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-10-28

Inc unhappy man SfaSpeu DOat tnat |
lay bottom up on the shore and tried to
drag it into the water.
Half dozen men caught and held him. |
"You will only throw your life away"
they cried. mo boat could move
dozen yards in that ice. We could save
your boy if there was any chance at all"
The squire suddenly realized that this
was true. Hestood gazing mutely toward
the island, his face rigid with despair,
A groan of pity burst from the crowd as
another gunshot was heard, followed by
hoarse appeals for help, The tide rose
higher and higher, but now clear spots
were visible here and there, and all at
once the river seemed to become free of
ice.
The meaning Of this was plain. The
ice had formed a gorge somewhere up
stream. Here seemed a chance of res
cue, but no one was willing to take ad-
vantage of it. The crowd knew by past
experience that the gorge would likely
break in a moment or two, and then the
freed ice would sweep everything before
it like an avalanche. In vain the squire
appealed TO them. In vain the poor boy
on the island cried for help Not a man
would risk what seemed certain death.
Suddenly a stoutly built lad Of 10 sep
aratod from the throng and running up
the shore a few yards he hauled a light
skitf into the water, He seized the oars
that lay in the bottom and pulled sturdi
ly into the swirling current, heading in
a diagonal course up stream.
A simultaneous cry of amazement
burst from the crowd. Some cheered
the daring lad; others warned him back.
"God bless him" cried the squire,
bursting into tears.
Indeed, Curt Webb was the last one
any person would have believed capable
Of such brave deed. He was an Or
phan and worked hard for livelihood
in a grocery store. The village boys,
headed by Jasper Tyson, despised and
hated him because he had persistently
refused to join any Of their mischievous
depredations. He could never be in
duced to fight his tormentors, though
Jasper and others dared him to combat
many time. So the boys gratifed their
malice by calling him the coward, and
by this epithet he was known in the vii
lage
But the coward" was surely astonish-
ing his enemies now, and his progress
was watched with breathless interest.
No one expected 10 see him come back
alive.
Steadily the boat crept toward the is
land. Curt bent to the oars with all
his might and managed to hold his own
against the fierce current. Occasionally
he glanced over his shoulder and was
relieved to see no trace of approaching
tee. The shore soon faded from view,
and as he neared the island he shouted
cheerily TO give notice Of his approach.
Jasper shouted back and fired bunch
Of grass TO guide his rescuer.
The water had already reached the
cabin, and just as Curt swung the boat
into the little eddy behind it he heard a
grinding noise up the river and saw a
white mass looming into view. The
gorge had broken, and the ice was COM
| ing down with sweeping force.
Jasper stood in the cabin door, and
when the flaming wisp of grass showed
him the face of his rescuer he blushed
| with shame.
Your he exclaimed, and that single
word spoke volumes,
Don't stop to talk" cried Curt hur-
/ riedly. Jump ,4t ice,
! and we have "a slim ,.-.... .. Godgng
/ it"
Too late. Even as Jasper spraug To-
/ the boat the water helyed and tossed
] and tine rumble of the dread avalanche