The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23

log drlfted from the shore the more rapidly
1t began to move down the stream. A
fortunate circumstance resided in the fact
that number of branches on the under
side of the log remained intact and
served as ballast to reduce the rolling of
the trunk. The wind had fallen and a
dead calm lay upon the dark water.
The mother, her babes mouth pressed
to her empty breast, sat in numb despair.
Not even the strength or intelligence to
set the forest and brake ringing with cries
for help abided in her. 1t was not con-
ceivable to her that in all the world there
could be anything but desolation and death.
This brought certain calmness upon her
spirit. She remembered the little home
that her own hands had done so much to
make comfortable, but which to her was
more precious as the nest whittier she had
gone with the man she loved. and who,
next always to her baby, filled the meager
measure of her life. 1t was hard to give
him up, hard to die thus miserably away
from him, leaving no trace of the ones he
loved SO fondly and for whose protection
he would have given his life; no record of
the horrors which had been endured nor
of the terrible end at hand. And
have fought to save theml How he would
spend days and weeks in searching the
jungle for them. calling upon them to
answeri
From these bitter and despairing re.
hectlous she was recalled to her present
state by heavy scram bling on the log
and deep rolling of its bulk in the water.
Her tormentor had returned-had indeed
kept faithful watch upon his prey from the
time the log had swung free OF the bank.
He was more daring now, for delayed sat-
isfaction of hunger will invest the most
cowardly beast with certain order of
courage. 1t is true that he clambered
upon the further end of the log. which
was full sixty feet long, but it would not
require great length of time for him to
cover the interval.
simultaneously with his advent the
hopeless mother, knowing that it was not
she, but her baby, whose life was sought
by this loathsome monster, became
aware of a strange sound upon her ear.
Although there was something vaguely
familiar in it she could not think other
wise than that it proceeded from within
her and was an admonition of her death.
II was at first low and distant rumbIing.
seemingly behind her, for by this time the
log was headed straight down the river.
and she sat with her face up stream. The
rumbling rapidly grew louder and became
a roar, but it only added to the dumb cold
terrors that held her soul in chains. The
roar changed to a deafening clatter. as
though a thousand smiths were hammerine
at their forges. Then came screaming
blast that filled all time, space and percep-
ton anu transfixed hervitaIs with piercing
pains. Upon that the huge black bulk of
glittering eyes, heaving flanks and dripping
scales plunged hastily into the tide. The
loud Gathering and screaming ceased, and
thinking that she was dying the woman
pressed her baby closer to her bosom and
closed her eyes.
But the gathering had been as friendly
as its cessation, and the wild scream had
been notice of deliverance, for the log
had drifted to the great railroad bridge
which spans the river. and the people on
the rumbling train that was passing with
SO much noise had seen the woman and
the fearful menace that sat facing her on
the log. But the men who were lowered
by ropes and who brought her and her
precious charge up to safety and comfort,
reported that she said nothing but this:
Save my baby Save my baby Don't
let him eat my babyl' And they added
that it was hours before she could say any,
thing else or would permit the baby to be
taken from her arms.