The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-03-08

VI IilC UeO SoNS u"'e ''h|' Juoo 40 VAN
farmer reached to secure his tools, de-
cendcd, partly filling the rather deep
pit. The man had barely time to
straighten himself when he was caught
by the falling mass. In an instant he
was buried to the armpits and pinned
as securely as if bound with steel
chains.
Near the surface of the ground there
had lain an occasional boulder, and
one of these, loosened from its place,
fell upon his right arm. By a Gu ok
sharp pain he knew the arm was
broken. The already frightened horses,
made frantic by the flash and the
terrific report, started at mad pace
for the barn, dragging the partly fill.
ed wagon.
Fortunately for Ho.brook, his head
had not been covered. But bits OF
gravel were still falling, and he knew
he might be covered at any moment.
Badly bruised and tightly iammed in
his narrow resting place. he vet re-
tanned full poss.sslon Of his faculties
and watched the rush and whirl of the
great storm. He could rot but think
some one would come 10 deliver him.
There was Joe! Would he not not
come as soon as the return of the team
showed him that there was something
wrong?
Suddendly deeper darkness fell,
and then when a mighty and sudden
rending of limbs and even trunks of
trees, the full furry Of the storm burst
down. deluge of rain and resistless
wind. Half fascinated, the helpless
man watched the tornado. for such it
was.
Suddenly a great cloud of rails and
broken corn flew by, and he knew that
the fence of Leavy oaken rails by the
corn-field had been swept away. The
whirling rails fell in all directions,
many in the reek-bed, close by, others
carried far beyond.
And then such downpour! In !,
few minutes the water began to roar
in what had been shortly before the
nearly dry crcek-bed. Awe-struck
the imprisoned man listened to the fury
of the elements. At length the fierce
ness of the wind began to subside, but
the roar of the creek increased. The
cloudburst had extended far up its
course.
Suddenly the steady roar of the creek
was succeeded by curious and omin-
Gus silence. Just above :he gravel
bed the ground descended quite rapid
ly. Turning his eyes that way, Hol-
brook was able to see nearly to the
bed of the creek.
A singular thing had happened.
The uprising water had reached many
of the rails and broken limbs and debris
that had fallen in the creek and along
it's banks. Some of these had caught
at place where a great rock and
and stout water beech narrowed the
stream. More soon caught ard lc
came entangled with these. Masses
of litter of all kinds were held and
drawn in, and in few moments a
rough but effective dam kept back
most of the water.
The father looked at it first Won
deringly, and then thought struck
him with chill that sent the blood
rushing back to his heart. A short
distance up the stream from the big
rocks the banks of the creek were
comparatively low. The rising water
must soon overflow at this place into
the sunken roadway that led down to
the gravel bed.
Only few minutes-two or three,
perhaps-would be required to fill the
little pit and then he would be drown
ed like rat in trap.
The cold sweat broke out on his
face. Exerting every ounce of his
strength, he made frenzied effort to
move from his prison. Not one hairs
breath could he lift himself, and the
strain on the injured arm caused a
sickenng pain that made the trees
sway and dance dimly before his eyes.
He shouted with all his strength, and
then, with eyes fixed steadily on the
place in the low road where lie knew
the water must appear, prayed dumb!y
for help.
The strange dam held fast, and
steadily the water rose. And now a
tiny stream trickled down the road
way. Quickly it increased in size.
The farmer saw it and set his teeth
firmly. He would die like a man.
Suddenly his heart throbbed wildly,
and he listened eagerly. Surely he
heard 1.-THE quick rush of feet. And
then at headlong pace around the old
gravel road came his boy. He had
run for the gravelpit instantly on
learning that the horses had come to
the barn without his father.
Holbrook's face lighted with thank
luness at sight Of his sons eager face.
Not that he hoped for escape-he
considered that impossible-but now
he need not die alone. "Here, lad,
here,'' he called for Joe did not at first