Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-08-27

ful for the luxury Of dry couch after
q continuous soaking of so many hours
Once dry and refreshed by rest, for their
strange voyage ON the giant tree had
bruised them both all over, Oswald
looked rather blankly at Emily and be-
gan TO take stock Of their position and
prospect He had neither tools nor
weapons, but fortunately he had still his
large hunters knife, and that might
help to make some useful things to re-
lieve their present state.
"It is wonderful" he observed,
chow much that seems indispensable at
home can be dispensed with. but GER
tainly I'd give good deal for gun,
an AK and saw"
While they had rested the floods had
greatly subsidized, for they were now on
IN elevated plateau. and right in front
there rose up q ridge Of rather bare
heights which were quite close. The
distance was but slight, and Emily,
whose spirits seemed to have revived
much more than Oswald g, declared that
she would run up the easy slope and
see what was to be seen. Oswald con-
sented on condition that size did not go
out of his sight, and this being laugh
ingly agreed to Emily darted off. Os-
wald saw her ascend the nearer height
and reach the summit us he rested still
on the ground, trying to think what was
best to be done. Suddenly he saw Emily
bound foot or so up in the air and clap
her hands and generally gesticulate like
q woman gone distracted.
Oswald leaped up, cursing himself
for letting Emily 60 alone TO the ridge
He feared she had been bitten by
snake or had seen blacks. He
dashed after her st great rate, and in
"a very few minutes was at her side. A
glance showed him why she had in
dulged in such frantic demonstrations
On the other side of the ridge extended
a wide valley, rising on the farther side
Of the slope, and on the upper terrace
was an unmistakable homestead, which
seemed quite uninjured by the floods,
while more Immediately within their
view were sheep and lambs in great
number, and here and there could be
discerned man, apparently whipping
up the stock and driving them toward
a deep stream that flowed along the foot
Of the hill, from whose summit Oswald
and his wife now looked down on a
peaceful scene Of pastoral industry.
They We're saved. Unguided by them,
the tree whereon they had been provi-
dentially preserved through the storm
and stress Of the deluge had borne them
to the srccor they so sorely needed. and
in few minutes Oswald and his wife
were rapidly descending the height AT
the foot they found the stream too deep
to ford, but one Of the stockmen on the
station observed them. and making
some signs galloped off to the house, q
long, low wooden building with numer-
GUS outbuildings around. Soon they saw
him returning with men, two others
carrying long planks, and in about an
hours time they had the happiness of
bridging the stream and finding them
selves no longer outcasts Of the wilder.
ness.
What was Rothwell's amazement to
find that the station was Thornborough
and that his friend Foster was there to
give him d hearty welcomed
1.-THE flood" he assured Rothwell,
''has saved INC by running all my
streams, which had gone quite dry, and
but for the flood in few days more I
should have lost all my cattle.
Emily was welcome, too, and in few
days the young couple found themselves
quite at home. Somehow things seemed
to prosper with the station from that
moment, and in. a few years Rothwell
found his share Of the station made him
d well to do man. He and his friend
Foster often talked about the extraor-
dinary manner in which the journey to
Thornborough had been accomplished
"You should write true account of
it, said Foster. Few ladies have ever
journeyed like Mrs. Rothwell in the
bush, but believe Mrs Chevalier once
accompanied her husband, the well
known painter, through some unex-
plored part Of New Zealand. "
But" objected Rothwell. 1--WE had
no adventures, we met no blacks, en-
countered no crocodiles or alligators
We had mo Incidents
Man, that's the very reason why
you should give your account There
lies the interest But you had the tree to
be your ship and you seem to have
sailed to the mountains that bound my
station in company of feet of such
gum tree cruisers as have perhaps never
before been beheld by mortal eyes"
THE END.