The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-06-16
lady's got plenty of pluck wen as the

'sBefOfe the man had finished talk
ing Commander Reid had drawn his
cap over his eyes and Numbered an
order to take him alongside the fated
boat.
.sYou can't get to them now the
rest of us said.
81 shall do it, or perish in the at
tempt l shall save those people, at all
hazards replied Reid, CURLY.
81 am afraid your own life will pay
the forfeit, my boy, the captain said,
but he did not interfere with his lieu
tenant commanders orders.
L shall not regret that, captain, for
it is not a life worth living, at best.
''The sailors dared not disobey, and
pulled quickly as near the burning YES
sci as possible.
Putting on a heavy pair of leather
gloves to protect his hands from the
heat, Reid sprang like a cat from the
prov of the boat, catching at the only
place on the side of the vessel that was
not enveloped in flames, where he
could hold on to climb to the upper
deck, which was not yet a prey to the
fiery elements. Selling the old cap
tain, whose strength was nearl ygone,
our brave hero half-carried, half
dragged him to the only spot now left
them for escape.
Follow me-" he said to the plucky
girl, who had faced death rather than
leave her father to die alone.
Reaching the place where the small
boats were lowering near as possible,
he tied rope securely around the cap
tain's waist; then calling to the men
to catch him, he swung him clear OF
the flames, letting him drop into the
waters below none too soon. 1t was
hard lines for q man with a broken
limb to be thus roughly dealt with, but
it was that or roasting alive, and the
captain was man enough to feel moth
ing but the gratitude due his rescuer.
81 shall surely save your child,
Ried said to the poor father, when he
insisted upon his daughter being saved
first even if he had to be left to his
fate Taking the slender young form
in his arms, the lieutenant made a
fearful leap, barely escaping the
scorching flames, which seemed like
angry demons cheate of their prey.
Down, down into the dark waters they
sank, closely clasped in each others
arms.
"The sailors and the half-crazed
father were afraid they had only es-
capped the cruel flames to find grave
in the angry sea, for it seemed long
time before they arose to the surface
after the terrible leap for life.
''At last they were seen by the
eager watchers, who lost no time in
getting them into the boat and rowing
rapidly to the ship, where ready hands
helped to care for the sufferers 1t
was not long before the surgeon had
done his part The old captains leg
was set, and he was sleeping from
exhaustion. The daughter had been
unconscious when they took her from
the commanders arms, but she was
unhurt, and was given a stateroom,
where she was ordered by the doctor
to get into bed while her wet clothing
was dried and pressed, as there was
no possible chance to replenish her
wardrobe until we landed, unless, like
the new woman, she was willing to
don masculine attire.
"IJntil he had seen his charges well
care for Reid did not speak of his own
sufferings. which must have been al
most unbearable, as his hands and
arms were so badly burned the scars
will never leave them entirely. He
had been obliged to cling to the side
of the vessel while on his GRAND of
mercy. and did not dare to let go, even
when the iron bands took the skin
off his hands, burning deep into the
flesh.
1--WE were all full of curiosity about
the maiden, of whom we had only
slight glance before the matter-of-tact
doctor spirited her away That one
glance was enough to show us that
she was beauty, and we all felt en-
yious of Reid. who we declared would
never appreciate the advantage he had
as the man who had saved her life
and that of her crippled father.
"Our curiosity was not gratified un-
til the next morning, when she burst
upon our vision like bright star,
without a sign of the danger through
which she had passed in the fight tor
life with fire and water, from which
she had been rescued not a moment
too soon by the brave man who be-
came her hero from that hour. AS
she entered the cabin gracefully at
ease, in spite of the fact that several
pairs of eyes were glancing admlrlng-
ly at her, we all arose to greet her,
but passing us by until she reached
Commander Reid, she took both OF his
poor bandaged hands in her soft,
white palms., and raising the most
glorious pair of eyes to his face, she
faltered:s You saved my fathers life
and mine. 1 thank you, oh, do
thank you more than / can ever tell
you, you brave, good man. can
never forget that we owe our lives to
you; death seemed so terrible when
we thought we must die, and we had
given up all hope with Il shudder at
the recollection when you came to
save u.s..