The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-07-25

the serrated mountain ridge leaped
out in every detail against blue
white background of sheeted fame,
while, with scarce an interregnum,
the thunder bird tapped his wings
with terrible reverberations that al
most stunned the fugitives.
They proceeded thus for more than
half an hour before they met the ad-
vancing storm. Without other warn
ing than the fresh smell Of wet earth
and sudden sound in their ears of
rushing waters, they entered the DEL
uge, and were drenched to the skin
in a moment, but kept doggedly on
their course, until, with the first
flush of dawn, they stood upon the
bank of the Waua Walla. The storm
had now passed entirely, but the lit
tie river that Blue Heron had ex-
pected 20 ford was running bank full,
a yellow food, bearing driftwood on
its bosom.
Blue Heron set his pony and his
captive at liberty, and walked to and
fro to straighten his legs, while he
considered. A fire and breakfast
seemed equally desirable, but it was
more desirable still to be on the other
side of that stream, where the trail
lay which he wished to follow. There
had evidently been cloudburst in
the mountains and it would be MANY
hours before the water would run
past. But once on the other side, he
fancied he would be safe from pur-
suit for some time; and it would be
strange thing, indeed, if he, Blue
Heron, with a little leisure for proper
courtship, could not conquer the hui
mors of ever so coy a maiden or
madam. Though, sooth TO say, this
one had shown no symptoms of do
cility as yet. Blue Heron was quite
aware that there was something be-
yond mere risk in attempting to cross
the flood, but that was rather an in
centive than otherwise.
He decided TO chance the issue. So,
after giving his pony half hour to
rest and refresh itself, he cinched it
up again, and removing the clothing
from his fine glistening body he
bound it on Looesa's shoulders. The
latter, understanding now what it
was he contemplated. protested Wig
orously; at length her dignity sue
sumbed entirely, and she begged with
tears. But Blue Heron was laugh
ingly inexorable. He forced her to
mount the pony, and, bidding her
hold on web, drove the unwilling ami
NAL into the water. Grasping the
pony's name, he swan beside IL on the
lower side, and kept its head against
the current as much as possible. The
pony struggled for it's life, and Blue
Heron swan like the athlete he was.
All was going we'll, when suddenly
around . bend above them q cotton
wood tree came down on the food,
held upright in the watx by the
weight of the earth clinging to it's
roots, it's branches .swaying menac-
ingly a. II swept along. Loosea ut
tered cry Of despair, and Blue
Heron, raising himself out of the
water enough to look over the pony's
neck, saw what was coming upon
them, and with a shout to the animal
sank back and put forth all his re.
serve strength.
It was now verify race with
death. Where the swimmers gained
q foot against the current the tree
gained yards with it. LOOsea busted
herself in an endeavor to unfasteh
the pack from her shoulders, while
her eyes remained fixed IN horror on
the approaching doom. fhe pony,
urged ny her huntic shouts, labored
until his sides seemed ready % burst
Blue Heron's eyes were starting from
his head with his exertfons, and his
breath came in painful gasps. The
space narrowed swiftly; it was not a
question of moments, but Of seconds
Nearer. nearer swept the tree, its
branches lowered above them.
"Quick!" shouted Looesa, in the
voice of the lost. 1T is here!"
One last, supreme effort. and the
mass OF foliage swept past the ponys
fianks, just grazing them. Saved by
hands breadth! But where was
Looesa? Had she not escaped? As n
with deliberate malice, the tree had
courtesied to the flood, and, bringing
down a branch that the instant be-
fore was high above her head, had
swept her from ehe pony's back.
Looesa was a good swimmer, but,
half stunned and weighed down with
the pack from which she had not
succeeded in releasing herself, she
was unable to do more than keep her
head above the water. 1t took an in
slant for Blue Heron to realize what
had happened, another Gas II would
you or me) for him to rise to the
level of the hero; then he let go Of
his pony and safety, and gave him
self to the flood. He reached Looesa
just as she was giving herself up to
her fate, and seized her long, float
ing hair.
It was far down the stream where
a