The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-06-17
CHAPTER VII.
A sINGED PATRIOT.

After being driven from one street TO an.
other by the scorching of the advancing
flames, finally turned into an alley and
Ftood partly protected against the baking
radiation by the corner Of building.
Betwixt the heat of the day, the fire, the
smoke, and my fruitless exertions, was as
wet as though fresh from the river, as black
as n coal burner, and not in the fairest Of
humors. My coat and hat (my best ones,
tool were burned by falling embers, and the
sword had forgotten 10 put of was hot to
the touch and bothered my legs exceedingly.
Ny eyes burned as though peppered and
the roar of the mad element, the falling Of
walls, the crashing Of breaking timbers were
at times well-nigh deafening. Blasting hot
draughts drove down the way, and suffo-
eating pail Of smoke swept through the
street as though pushed from behind by a
whirlwind. Nothing was visible ten PAGES
off, and why / remained where i was use.
less, and where my situation was becoming
as dangerous as it was unbearable, i can no
wise account for, save that / was ruled by
fate, against which no man need combat.
l was about stepping from the mouth OF
the blind alley in which had been standing
when the figure of man sped out of the
smoke and dashed against and then passed
itie, IecliiB from Tue blOW anu blhkBctluB
into the recess behind.
Slight as he was, the speed at which he
had been going nearly took me off my legs
end had barely recovered my balance when
dozen armed soldiers ran by, shouting and
swearing, as though in chase With the last
OF my stock of patience exhausted, / turned
ON the fellow who had run into me, and
found him at the end of the cul-de-sac, with
lis back TO the wall, and two blackencd
fists held up as if to defend himself TO the
last.
Conceiving that had caught thief, a
fansacker of deserted houses, If not an in
oendiary, / clinched him by the collar to
drag him forth for delivery to his pursuers,
hut the fellow dealt me so smart blow in
the face that for second il caused me to see
lights.
/ was in the mood to cuff him into insen-
sibility, and might have done so had he not
spoken, or rather gssped:
"'Fore God, / thought you a redcoat, and
tried to vex you into killing mel II you have
the heart Of a man, do not deliver me to them
rsain,"
"Who are you?" demanded, loosening my
hold and trying to get at his features through
the black that covered them, though made
out no more than that part of his face was
overgrown by young beard well snged, the
rest being so grimed that he might have worn
n mask and been no safer from recognition
"On your mercy, then" he answered; IAN
escaped prisoner"
From whereg"
'Thc den lies in the heart of the fire by
this And rolling up his eyes, the whites
of which showed pitifully against his burned
skin, he hesitatcd, and then broke out again:
What is II TO you who or what / ann II
you love justice or hope for IL yourself, let
me gol"
Come, them" said I, softcned more by his
manner than his worlds, I'VE will roast here
IN three minutes. Let us get into better air I"
So, taking him by the arm, / led him into the
street, where the smoke was 40 dense that
Il became necessary TO grope ones way.
Once we were in danger Of suEfocation, but
the wind whirled aloft the thick muck for
on instant, and gradually we worked 10 n
fairer spot, though still hard by the IRE
And here il was / noticed that the hair
Of his head was burned of on one side, his
coat scorchcd to tindcrt and his breechos
hanging in shreds