The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-12-02
A Little and a Big Hero
By Ino Strannik

MY TWO cousins and L had come
iVl from school to my uncle's estate,
pale and overworked. Now. brown as
berries, we felt strong and mischiev-
Gus.
The day was hot and Suffocating.
The air seemed to be laden with some
thing more than the scent Of new
mown hay and pine-a flavor so COM
mon on a July day in northern Russia.
The grown people said: The at
mosphere is impregnated with elec-
tricity," and although we boys of l.
and 13 years did not know what that
really meant, we were sure that, soon
er or later, a storm would come, for
the old shepherd had said so, and he
always told the truth.
In the afternoon n black cloud rose
over the horizon in the northeast. An
hour later a dark bank covered half
the sky and we heard she far away
rumbling OF thunder.
Rain began to fall in large drops
and we, standing on the ~grass-covered
porch amused ourselves in watching
the chickens rum, the ducks dive
in the pond. the workmen hurry home
and the cattle rush for the stables.
An unexpected clap of thunder made
us jump, and we quickly obeyed the
call of my aunt to come into the
house, as we had no desire to stay out
side any longer.
1t grew darker and darker. The
fiery zigzags of the lightning threw
a yellow tint upon the people and
furniture in the room, and the thun-
der following quickly on the flashes
made the old mansion culver to its
foundations.
A binding fash, with a ~deafening
crash almost at the same instant,
seemed to make the old castle sway.
Surely that struck somewhere
near" said my uncle, jumping to his
feet and stepping to the window.
YES, it is Michael Kubarkin's hut
Just across the river he exclaimed.
Il must go at once and see that the
fire is put out" He turned to us:
"Boys, you had better come along. l
may need you"
No need to ask us twice. We felt
,~over-honored to be allowed to be of
use at such an important moment. In
an instant we were in our high boots
and rubber coats, and started for the
fire.
About 30 peasants stood around the
bHrning house, %lamenting and pray
ing. but not one offering to lend n
helping hand.
Quick called my uncle. take
some buckets; form a chain; try to
put out the fire"
"Your lordship," said one of the
men, lightning struck this house.
Only milk will put out the flame"
"Obey me-" thundered my uncle,
.'and get to work or I'll put you on
bread and water until you forget how
milk tastes"
Reluctantly the man started. Ny
younger cousin, AleXey, was stationed
to watch the superstitious crowd, with
orders to report at once if any one
refused t o work or tried to steal away.
'sNow. boys" shouted my uncle,
"let us see if there are any people in
the house"
Bravely we followed him into the
smoke and heat of the slowly burning
hut. We soon discovered the dead
body of Michael Kubarkin and car
ried it out. Again and again we faced
the danger. We rescued two women
and a baby. They had been merely
stunned by the shock. While bring
ing the child out 1 had noticed a form
lying near the door. In the darkness
and smoke 1 could not distinguish
whether it was a human being or a
dog.
1 hurried back. My uncle called me,
but I rushed in, dropped on my knees
and crawled toward the SPOT where I