The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-08-04


the gray.
He was awakened by . piercing
scream, the voice of q man In bitter
agony, close beside him. springing to
his feet he looked hastily about him.
The rain was coming down In great
sheets; II seemed TO him he had never
before seen IL fall so heavily. He was
saturated, soaked and dripping. and
chilled to the very bono Again he
heard that awful cry, but could see no
one. Rushing hastily forward In the
direction from which IL came he sud-
denly found his way barred by a huge
tree that, struck by the lightning, had
fallen in the path. Beneath IL, its ter
rible weight lying square across his
body, lay q man After an instant
Jared recognized him rs Sam Baker. q
tramping farmland, who had been
about the village for few weeks, and
had finally gone TO work for some one
of the neighboring farmers He had
been blowing in the field below when
the storm came up, and had stupidity
taken refuge In the clump of trees on
the hillside, leaving his pillow In the
furrow and his horse still inspanned
TO brave the storm alone.
The tree under which he stood had
been struck by lightning, and had fall
en- upon him. IL was smoking a little
where the branches forled--only the
dampness keeping IL from burning
Get IL Oft get IL Off, the poor fellow
shrieked as no saw Jared. The boy
was old for his years and uncommonly
quick of wit, but his strength was
wholly inadequate to move the tree
He pondercd an instant, amid the roars
of the storm and the screams OF the
tortured man, and then rushed down
the hill and across the half-plowed
field. with its muddy burrows, TO where
the patient, numbering, old white pillow
horse stood, head down and his low
set. mongrel tail turned TO the storm
To unspan him from the pillow and lead
him up the hill was but the work of n
minute. The reins had been length
ened with rope, aud taking this Jared
twisted IL and looped IL firmly about
the tree, hooking the slngletree into
IT, Sam saw the idea and its dangers.
IF you drag that tree across me-" he
groaned, you'll kill me. II must DO
lifted"
Jared saw that his words were only
too true. Something, however, must
be done. Sans shrielts had ceased,
but he was still grooming in agony.
only failing strength hushing his
cries. Down on his hands and knees
Jared got, putting his puny shoulder
against the trunk of the tree. Had his
boys body beon half as stout ss his
heart he would have lifted. When all
was ready he gave the old white horse
the word 10 go forward. The chain
frightened and with strength born of
his extremity the boy raised his back,
fairly forcing himself beneath the
tree, giving IL an upward impetus as
the horse dragged IL forward. He was
not able to lift, save for n single In
slant. but that served to carry IL free
from Sans chest and head. and when
II fell from the mans body. Jared. too.
fell forward with "a strange. suffocat-
ing sense OF oppression In his chest
After a minute he rallied and staggered
to his feet Sam was unconscious and
lay upon his back, the rain beating
down upon his face, and mingling with
the blood that flowed from dreadful
wound In his breast IL was plain,
even TO Jared, that he would die II
help was not quickly brought. IL was
mile TO the village, and he felt sick
TO death himself but gathering his lit
tie strength he pulled the harness and
tugs from the horses shoulders-the
collar was beyond his ability to move
tied up the reins and clnmbered upon
his back.
The awkwa ri creature was unused
TO being ridden, and he started. swirl
ing and plunging. Jared tucked one
arm under the big collar. seized the
reins In the other hand and dug his
heels furiously into the horses sides.
A sharp flash came just then, and the
quickly-following thunder clap added
TO the animals terror. The big, lum-
bering brute sprang forward with .
lunging attempt at run, which final
ly settled into laundering three
cornered gnllop as he tore down the
hill, sending the damp earth up be-
hind him In great clods from his enor-
nous hoofs. At every rise Jared had
all he could do to keep from going over
the animals great chuckle-hcad; at ev-
cry impact OF the sho vel-like feet upon
the ground the breath seemed about
TO leave the boys body, but he chung
grimly, urging his ungainly steed on
az though death followed behind One
by ono the familiar landmarks were
passed on the road 10 the village.
Straight down the single street he
rode, and pulled rein In front Of tho
one store that was trading place. post
Office, club room and general lounging
stand for the whole neighborhood.
There's that young imp, the Sim
pick boy, on my old BILL" shouted
Farmer Briggs as Jared fairly threw
himself TO the ground, while the still
frightened brute rushed on again re-
lievcd of his rider "Drat that boyl
Look ut that He'd orter have every
bone In his blamed body broke for let
ting that boss run of, and he wrath
| fully started for the door lust as Jared