The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-11


the upper stories OF their houses;
then, as b water crept up higher, to
take refuge on the roofs and, at last,
they were forced " flee for their lives
to the high ground, At u distance Of
many miles.
MIR. Hartwell had built q sort OF nat-
boat, or scow, as he called II, winch
proved extremely useful to himself
and mis- neighbours IN this perlIous
time.
1t was constantly in use, conveying
people to the hills, picking up yaIu-
able floating property, AID taking OF
the sheep and catIie which wore |
huddled In crowds wherever some OFT
of high ground formed u Tiny island in
the very midst Of the flood. !
One day, when MIR Hartwell had
taken off u number OF cattle, 1t many
as the scow could safely carry, ne
started with another man 10 paddle
them to u place of safety, leaving John
and Tom Pete on the housetop, wulch
was still out of ate
He intended to come back for anoth-
err load OF stock, and as the scow was
SO heavily loaded, the boys volunteer
ed to remain behind and wait for his
return.
In the meantime they amused them
selves by fishing for driftwood and
such floating property as the waters
brought within their reach.
There was q strong current setting
past the house, and anything which
happened to drift into this eddy was
borne alone so swiftly that a quick
hand was required to capture it but
the boys a a long rope and a pole
with u hoOk at one end, and by means
OF these implements they hauled in
quite u collection Of miscellaneous
articles.
Hi! look dar!" cried Tom Pete,
suddenly Oars de Pelton bows
doghouse a-com,n' down dc stream. Is
you gwine to ketch dat
No; let it CO." said John, with q
scowl. I'm not going to save his
old doshouse for him-yes, l will,
And impulsive John reached out
his pole and dew in a gaily painted
kennel, which he had at once recognize
ed as the habitation Of Tracy's favorite
hound.
1t was a cumbersome article to man
age, but the two boys contrived to get
it on the housetop by dlnt OF stout
tugging. AS John Strengthened up
alter the lift, he remarked, with an
apologize accent
u OSV VI l. ClGOn UuTGo uOllarS TO
get the old thing painted, and | haven't
got anything hgalnst him !"
AT this m Tom Pete gave ut
terance to another excited HI !"
Oars a hull raft OBJ stuff a-comin'
down from Pelton's place. he said.
"Sumin's done busted ODER dar ~
Must be their ginhouse father
said he was afraid it wouldn't stand"
replied John, gazing respectfully ~
the mass OF boards and tlmtcrs which
came swiftly down the current. ~
hope all hat lumber wont come bump
lug against this house." he added, with
a look Of apprehension.
~ 1T do, ven bdst up, too, TO
sho'," said Tom Pete, sagely. "IJ amt
a.gwine TO nit us, ~dougn-lt's gwire to
pieces
In fact, the mass of timbers began to
fail apart and drift away separately,
and John got ready with his pole to
pull in the boards as they were sweep
ing past. Ali at once, with u great
start, he exclaimed
Tom Pete, there's somebody hang.
ing on TO that board out yonder 7"
Its dat ar Pelton boy ~ cried Tom
Pete. He'll GIT drownded, shop
Before Tom Pete spoke, John had
become aware that it was Tracy Pei
ton who chung to that drifting board,
and his whole generous heart went out
to his helpless foe in a moment.
Tom Pete, you hold onto the rope"
he said, hastily twisting u coil OF it
around his arm as he spoke. I'VE
cant reach him with the pole, and he
go after him"
is you gwine to drown'd yo'self TO-
dat KIN OBJ a Teller ?" Tom Pete de-
manded, with strong disapproval.
"Ot course not. I'm going to save
him."
He amt wutf savin'," declared
o Pete, conternptuously.
What are you taking about 2" said
john, with flashing eyes. He's the
pluckiest fellow to fight that | ever
saw. DO you suppose I'm going to let
him drown because he doesn't happen
to be the best friend I've got? WHAT
do you take me for, anyhow ?"
Don't take you TO- nutiin'n said Tom
Pete, with a scared look, and hasten
ing to clutch the rope, as John i'm
petuously added
Hang on TO that rope now, and
help me haul him in. II he gets away
Ill pitch you after him"
And John, with u shout OF encout-
agement to his imperilcd foe, flung
himself into the water, and struck IL
w LidSy o diu. III Was u sturdy SWIM
mer, and in u few moments he came
alongside OF the board to which Tracy
was clinging, and fastened his rope to
it.
Tom Pete began to haul in the rope
with great zeal, while John, putting
one arm under Tracy's shoulder, and
swimming with the other, aided in
propelling him to the house top, where
they quickly drew him up, wet, weak
and shivering, but by no means devoid
Of the courage and pluck" which
John 80 much admired.
John Hartwell, you're u good fell
low,' said he, clasping Johns hand,
with a look that spoke moro than his
words. - thought | was gone when
the Clubhouse went, and | can tt Ii YOU
| was glad when you called out to me.
You I'VE saved my life, and | shan,
forg, "
Low came you to the ginhouse? |
thought your folks had all gone to the
hills" asked John.
Father and | came down to iced
the stock owe on the high knoll"
answered Tracy. II thought | should
be safe enough on the ginhouse, while
he went over there with a boatload OF
corn and hay. But it gave way, and
went over like a pile Of chips. This
current was too much for it. 1t will
cost father a pretty penny to build a
new ginhouse," he added ruefully.
When Mr.. Hartwell came back to