The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-09-06
"But it amt white" protested Tad.

But it amt white" protested Tad.
Never mind-that was the name
OF grandpa's boat, and he sailed to the
Newfoundland banks in IT.
So the ''White Dove" it was. Next
was to come the launching.
The hills and curve in the rail-
road made opportunity for the young
navigators. One day, when father
was again in town, they toiled toward
the track-Rob burdened with the sail
rolled tight and Tad laboriously drag
ging the timbers.
Up and down the track they looked
Ito the southwest it wouno into the
bluffs where the men were making the
dirt fly; to the north it stretched
straight away until it was lost in the
shimmering haze of the horizon.
"Quick, Tad. bring it on were
Capt. Rob's orders, and the equipment
of the land sloop began. The task
was more difficult than they had
thought, but patiently they labored
and contrived, all the time forgetful
of their surroundings or of danger
of being discovered.
Little Link had been left behind.
Big tears made white paths through
the dirt on his round cheeks, but he
was loyal to the adventurers, who
had told him that he would be in the
way at the launching, but might go
some other time. He crawled among
the plows and binders to the remain
der of the pile of sacks and sobbed
himself to sleep.
1t was one of those ''hot-wind'
days known only on the prairies. Like
furnace breaths the air came out of
the southwest, curling the blades of
corn and willing the morning glory
vines that sheltered the cabin win
dows. 1t was the second day of the
''hot wind'-"There will be one more
and then rain," said the farmers.
But at the Mangold cabin there was
something besides the wind or posi-
BILE crop failure to alarm the tired
mother. Mrs. Mangold looked out of
the window several times, marking the
closeness of the atmosphere, but she
saw nothing in the hazy sky to
frighten her. At mid-afternoon she
became more uneasy and went out of
doors to the south of the house.
For an instant it seemed that all
her strength would leave her; her face
paled and she gave despairing cry
for help.
Extending in long line from east
to west and driven by the fierce wind
came a ribbon Of fire that ate up the
dry prairie grass and was bounding
forward as if rejoicing in its freedom.
1t was Iaile away-was there time
| to escape?
To the barn and sheds she ran, call
ing Rob! Tad! Link!'
Not voice answered. Wild in her
| terror, she returned to the house,
seized a few keepsakes and again
went out of doors. Where could the
boys be?
The granary! To it she hurried and
her cry rang through the building:
"Oh, Rob! Tad! Lipk!"
6leepily, Link answered from his
bed on the wool sacks, What you
want?"
In an instant his mother was by his
side, almost carrying him to the open
air.
"Where-where are the boys?"
"Sailin' tn White Dove"
Link was almost afraid to tell lest
he should lose his promised ride, but
the look in his mothers face decided
him.
"Where-what do you mean?"
He pointed toward the north. She
could see two small forms standing or
the low car, struggling with flap
ping cloth, evidently too large fol
their strength.
"Come!" and half dragging the roly'
poly Link, she raced over the plain
toward the track. The fire line had
swung in an irregular course, and
while it. skirted the bluffs in one di
rection and was dying out in the short
grass Of the hills behind which the mer
were working, it blazed more fiercely
than ever to the southeast and east
She could not find safety in any di
rection but to the north. Behind thu
frightened mother the flames leapet
gleefully.
Rob and Tad, toiling with the un
wieldy sail had not noticed the fire
nor did they see their mother unit
she was by their side. Then they start
ed guiltily.,
1--WE amt hurtin' any, began Rob
but he glanced at his mothers face, ant
all thought of excuses vanished.
"Come, boys, rum" she gasped, look
ing along the track, wondering if th'
narrow stretch Of fresh earth woult
save them.
She made start for the ties, still
holding to Links hand, while Rol
spoke: Lets. get on the car = ant
yov help u.s."
! "And sail il" added Tad.
It was a new idea, but the quickenet
wits of the woman grasped it. Lift
| ing little Link to the splinter-covere,
platform OF the car, she helped Rol
with the sail, while Tad clambere'
aboard.