The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-02-20

border of Tie clearing and in an instant
the wall of green became a wall of
Ere
Then marvellous thing appeared.
From that wall of fire ii sheet Of flame,
thrown heaYenward. tossed upward as
10y demons hand, passed sheer over
the clearing and struck the forest on
the other side. Within the freight III
closure great banks OF rolling smoke,
charged with million blazing meteoss,
descended like pail into the hot. psi
sating. quiyering air.
Burton suffocated, blinded, stagger-
ing, approached the creek. Crouching
low to the ground TO breathe the purer
air, he plunged through n belt of burn
ing timber which extended along the
bank, and filled his pals, he knew not
how. Sustaining the pole across his
neck with the greatest difficulty,
through the binding smoke and hard
ly escaping falling cinders, he cleared
the timber. The fire Tapped UP every
vestige of life and ate into the very
soil.
Over this floor of fire, over and
around the burning logs and stumps,
he made his way. With less power
full will, less athletic frame, he would
have fallen hundred times and been
consumed 10 ashes where he lay.
A bright flame shot up from the cabin
and the gallant fellow, with superhu-
man energy, responded TO the need, as
the blooded racer 10 his drivers call
he sprang into 4 burst Of Incredible
speed.
Dan ran to meet him, took Il pail, and
together they dashed on water, and,
when the fight was over, things black
encd before Bum Burton's eyes and the
man who never squealed' tainted
dead away.
And now, blessed but late, the NUT
tering storm, the fire-destroyer, came
down upon the thirsty earth.
Through the awful veil of rolling
smoke and blazing cinders came a flash
of lightning, a peal of thunder and a
furious storm of driving, drenching
rain.
Soon the fires began 10 dim and the
ash-covered earth became all black and
sodden.
On this dark background great, glow
ing Goals, shining from deep within
the hearts OF stumps and logs, seemed
breathing outlets for that consuming
power so lately rampant, but now con-
fined within the rock-molten chambers
of its ordered abode.
Upon a bed in the little log cabin lay
Bum Burton, conscious now and en-
during eXcruciating agony, though no
sound escaped him TO indicate his suf-
ferings. The gayly-colOred clothing
was burned, torn and blackened. The
rubber packs fell crusibling from feet
which were burned, swollen and bleed
ing. Across. the pallid cheek, far more
serious than the marks of the saloon
encounter. was n cut TO the bone where
n falling, blazing branch had struck and
burned as we'll as bruised. The hair
and eyebrows We're singed, the hands
were covered with great blsters, and
when the clothing was removed, it be
came At once apparent that medical aid
must be procured
By bearing TO the north it was pos
sible 10 reach the village without pass
ing through the heaviest Of the tim
Der; yet it was q serious undertaking
to face the storm and traverse even the
little clearing which was so lately Gov
cred with fire. But Dan did it man.
fully.
After he had gone the old people, in
deepest distress at the condition OF
their preserver, renewed thir efforts for
his relief. and fortunately did the very
best thing possible with their re-
sources. They covered the burns with
-four and soda and bound softly over
this some cotton batting taken from a
comforter They could do little at the
best, but the love and gratitude shown
him strangely moved the heart of the
rough lumberman.
Even so are sometimes born new
ideals. new aspirations. The time has
never passed for any man when he
may not reach and live upon a level
higher than he has ever known be-
fore.
With the approach Of morning the
storm abated. The old man heard a
friendly whinnying at the window, by
which he knew that his horses had
escaped the fire. He would have re-
joiced at this unexpected good fortune
were there place for any feeling but
anxiety at the delay in the doctor
coming. The sun was an hour high
when the doctor arrived, and rough
journey he had had. Poor Dan looked
as if he. himself, were in need OF pro
| fessional services. His fight with the
! fire had not left him unscathed. and Ill
going TO town he had trod on many
glowing embers, which, covered with
ashes, had not yet yielded to the rain
Tie doctor would scarcely have re
fused to come, but he certainly moved
with more alacrity when he learned
who was the patient. for Burtons
father was a general contractor for cut
ting timber, and therefore an impor
tant parsonage in that locality.
swell. doctor, what do ycu think Of
| me-" said Burton, feebly but cheerily
after the doctor had examined ane
redresseJ his injuries.
You have had close call" an