Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-09-30
A HERO.

Tho ice, which seemed comparatively firm on the previous evening, had broken during the night. The yellow tide, al- ready swollen to many feet above its normal level, was almost hidden by the heaving, grinding cakes. And worst of all this unexpected event had placed an ] unknown human being in peril. From Scruo island came hoarse shouts for help and at intervals the discharge of gun. The red flashes could be plainly seen.
 Scrub island lay in midchannel di- rectly opposite the village It was hard ly more than a bar, for nothing grew upon it but bushes. Near the lower end was n small cabin. which some of the village boys built for amusement out of driftwood. Here the castaway had prob ably taken refuge, and his situation was extremely critical. In short time the cabin would surely be carried off by the rising flood and ice
 As the crowd were Speculatlng on tho unknown ones identity and discussing the hopelesSnesS of rescue, Squire Tyson, the most wealthy and influential man of the village. came running down the shore.
 "Jasper Is on the island" he cried, wringing his hands in agony. He went over this afternoon to shoot ducks and has not returned home. He must have fallen asleep ill the cabin, and the ice has carried away his boat Will no one save my poor boy: Are you all cowards:"
 The unhappy man SraSpcd a boat that i lay bottom up on the shore and tried to ! drag it into the water.
 Half q dozen men caught and held him. 1 You will only throw your life away" l they cried. No boat could move a dozen wards i'll that ice. We could save l your boy if there was any chance at all. " 1 The squire suddenly realized that this was true. Hestood gazing mutely toward ! the island, his face rigid with despair. | X grOan of pity burst from the crowd as | another gunshOt was heard. followed by 1 hoarse appeals for help. The tide rose 1 higher and higher. but now clear spots 1 were visible here and there, and all at once the river seemed to become free of | ice.
 l The meaning of this was plain. The ] ice had formed q gorge somewhere up l stream. Here seemed chance of res i cue, but no one was willing to take ad- l vantage of il. The crowd knew by past 1 experience that the gorge would likely i break in moment or two, and then the l freed ice would sweep everything before i it like an avalanche. In vain the squire | appealed to them. In vain the poor boy on the island cried for help. Not man would risk what seemed certain death.
 Suddenly stoutly built lad of l6 sep arated from the thrOng, and running up the shore few yards he hauled light skiff into the water. He seized the oars that lay in the bottom and pulled sturdi- ly into the swirling current, heading in 8 diagonal course up stream.
 , \ 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 bovs headed by Jasper Tyson, deSpised and hated him because he had persistentlv 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 Gratified their malice by calling him the coward .' and by this epitAet ho was known in the viii lage.
 But the coward was surely astonish- ing his enemies now, and his progress was watched with breathless interest No one expected to see him come back alive.
 Steadily the boat erept 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 ice. The shore soon faded from view, and as he nedred 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 ill the cabin door, and when the flaming wisp of grass showed him the face of lis rescuer he blushed with shame.
 "You," l.e exclaimed, and that single word spoke volumes.
 "Dan't stop to talk" cried Curt h1r-
 riedly. Jump in. Here comes the ice
 and we have a slim chance of iodginl
 it."
 Too late. Even as Jasper sprsng tt
 the boat the water heaved and tossed
 and the rumble of the dread ayalanch,
 deepened to a roar. Half dozen cake
 of ice swirled by, rising and falling witt
 the waves. Curt pulled straight dowI
 stream, while his companion croucheo
 in the stern of the boat, helpless witt
 terror. But the race could end in onl,
 one way. The line of broken ice cam
 grinding on like a race horse, growlin,
 with fury. It smashed the cabin to frag
 ments and sped after the frail little craf
 that was striving so hard to escape
 Jasper cried out with terror and held hi
 hands before his face to shut out the aw
 full sight. Curt stuck to the oars, bu
 he knew nevertheless that escape wa
 out of the question. His brave hear ] sickened at the thought of what woul, happen when the crashing ice cake reached the boat
 Suddenly he saw something that rouset
 glimmer of hope. Twenty yards to
 ward the left shore and slightly in ad
 vance of the avalanche hoated n hug
 tree, evidently torn bodily from the soil
 Its broad end, bristling with snakelik roots, was turned down stream, an, ] here and there it thrust out thick limb
 that served to steady it, like outrigger