The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-12

as aE0tner guus>sot was heard. followed
by hoarse appeals fer help. The tide rose
higher and higher. but now clear spots
were visible here and therc. and all at
once tie river seemed 10 become Tree or
ice.
suddenly a stoutly built lad Of 10 sepa-
rated from the throng. and running up the
shore few yards be hauled n light skin
into the water. lie seized the cars that
lay in the bottom and pulled sturdily into
the swirling current, heading in a diagonal
course up stream
God bless hint" 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 orphan and
worked hard for a livelihood in a grocery
store The village boys, headed By Jasper
Tyson, despised and hated him because no
had persiStentIy refused 10 join any OF
their mischievous depredations
He could never be induced To fight his
tormentors, though Jasper and Others
dared him TO combat many a time. SO
the boys gratitied their malice by calling
him the coward. - and by this epithet he
was known in the village.
Steadily tho boat crcpt toward the Is
land. Curt bent 10 the oars with all his
might and managed % hold his own
against the fierce current. Occasionally be
glanced over his shoulder and was relieved
10 see no trace Of approaching ice.
The water had already reached the cab
In, md just a. Curt swung the boat into
the little eddy behind 10 hs heard grind
ing noise up the river and saw a white
mass looming into view The gorge had
broken, and the ice was coming down
with sweeping force.
Jasper stood IN the cabin door. and
when the flaming wisp Of grass showed
him the face Of his resouer be blushed
with shame.
"Youif' he exclaimed, and that single
word spoke volumes
Don't stop 10 talki'' cried Curt hur.
riedly Jump IN. Here CONES the Ice.
and we have slim chance Of lodging 81
Too late' Even as Jasper spranK 70 the
boat the water heAved and tossed. and the
rumble OF the dread avalanche deepcnssi
20 a roar Half a dozen CAKES Of ice
swirIed by, rising and falling with the
waves.
Curt pulled straight down stream. while
his companion crouched IN the stern % the
boat, helpless with terror.
Bot the race could end in only one way.
The line of broken ice came grinding on
like a race horse, growing with fury. IL
smashed the cabin 20 fragments and sped
after the frail little craft that vas striving
50 hard To escape.
Jasper cried out with terror and held
his hands before his face 10 shut out the
awful sight Curt stuck to the cars. but
he knew nevertheless ina; escape was out
of the question
Suddenly he saw something that reused
a glimmer OF hope. Twenty yards toward
the left shore and slightly IN advance Of
the avalanche fioated a huge tree. evident
" torn bodily from the soil It's broad
end, bristlinR with snakelike roots, was
turned down the stream, and here and
there IL thrust ont thick limbs that served
to steady II, Ike Outriggsrs on boat
II the castawRys could reach IL. they
stood a fair chance 81 escaping death
Curt's resolve was instantly formed Ito
reused jasper from his stupOr OF fear and
briefly explained what be intended 20 do.
Now, " cried Curt.
Jasper caught the dangling roots ard
pulled himself 20 place ~ safety. An
agile spring landed Curt beside him, and
the next instant tbs boat was wbiried OF
INTO tue groom.
They lost no time in choosing positions
among the heavy limbs, and then had
barely settled themselves down when the
shock came. The towering masses Of Ice
surged around the tree. bgying the trunk
from sight al times and rocking IL 70 and
fro Ike a cradic
The boys were beyond the reach q the
ice, however. and happily shs outriggefs
prevented The tire from rolling ever.
The night wCrr on, and when it broke
the tree stranded on one ~ the piers % the
Catswissa bridge Willing hands rescued
the esstaways with ropes. and when they
had recovered from their exposure they
were sent hoIae ~ rsil. whittier the glad
news had already preceded them.
II need hardly ta said STAT Curt was
never called = coward sgain william
Murray GraTdon IN Hartford Coufuns