The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-01-18
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MORTAR AND EXCITEMENT.
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BY c. A. STEPHENS

the stern, TO do some fast scullin;
home.
Hardly had ne set the oar-shank IN
the rowlock when he heard his name
called, In grlish accents which he
knew well aLd was rather fond OF
! hearing.
please Ham, wait for me! Can't I
go over with your came around with
mother this morning but she had 10
20 home nj noon. | wanted 10 stay
70 see the Hoyt girls. But I'm afraid
! shall have to walk clear around
home"
II was n schoolmate OF Hamlin's.
Francette Bartlett, who lived on the
east side Of the pond, not far from
The Cobbs
Anxious about the delay. yet secret
~ glad 10 have Francettcs company
homeward. he changed the oar and
brought the heavy boat back to the
landingplace.
why, yes, Of course can take
you he said. But the boat Is full
Of lime and things. You will have TO
sit on lime cask, and maybe get your
dress white"
"Oh. | don't care for that. cried
Francette, laughing as she FASTENED
down TO the landing ANY way to
get home, for I'm afraid there's a
shower coming There's black cloud
In the west. and thought | heard =
thunder a little just as | spoke 20
YOU"
That IL a black cloud. no mistake"
said Hamlin. lie had been in such n
hurry that he had hardly looked at the
sky. But | guess we can get across
before it comes here"
Francettc climbed 10 n seat on the
side OF the cask which had been rolled
farthcst into the bow Of the boat. AMI
IIamlin put off again, regretting that
in order TO scull he must necessarily
stand with his back to his pleasant
passenger.
He had made but a few turns of the
oar, when very audible peal Of thun.
der caused them both to scan the sky
anxious. The first thundcr-Show OF
the summer was gathering in the
westerly heavens.
do YOU believe we can get across
before it Strikes?" Francettc asked.
Il guess So" Hamlin replied, looking
attcntvely at the clouds. 1T will not
take me long, and that cloud does not
seem To be rising very fast"
He put forth his full strength at the
oar and the boat moved forward on
the pond. But it was heavy and low
i'm the water. Altogether there was
a larger load than IIamln had ever
scuilcd before, and although the boat
moved steadily forward, hc soon per.
Ceived that, do his best, quick voy-
age was impossible. -
The shower. moreover. appeared
suddenly 10 gather blaclnCSs ana loom
up faster, rs, darkening the heavens
1t drew over the pond.
"Oh, dear. we are going 10 get wet"
FranCctte exclaimed, with n thought
no doubt Of her holiday hat and dress
II don't know but we are" replleS
Hamlin, ruefully, and rcdoublcd his
efforts.
\ bright fash and heavy peal Of
thunder. which seemed very close ~
hand, now filed them both with rcai
apprehension.
Yes. it's coming" cried Francette
See. it's raining at the village now.
Hear it roar! See the trees bend! Oh
what shall we dor
I'VE shall get ducking, no mis-
take" admitted Hamlin. Here. put
my coat around you" He threw tho
garment across the casks to her. I'm
much too warm" he added, rs Fran
cctte started to decline II.
The girl had barely time to wrap II
about herself when the shower struck.
with fash of vivid lightning. awful.
rattlug thunder and a binding dash
OF wind.driven rain.
Hamliu was obliged TO crouch In the
stern: he could not stand up before
the storm. Francette. In the bow.
bent as low as she could. and pulled
the coat over her head and face. Thr
boat drifted off its course. and waves
began TO dash over the gunwales.
But the war OF elements was not
their greatest peril. Thus far Hamlin
had not been very greatly alarmed.
for he was used To the pond. aud knew
about what the boat would endure X
he kept the stern to the wind.
But Immediately n commotion
aboard. inside the casks OF lime. at
tracted their notice. Noises issued
from the interior OF these and n cloul
OF white dust or vapor, was gushing
out az the chnks Lime-casks are
never made tight: the deluge OF rain
and the slop OF the waves had found
access to the unslaked lime inside.
"Oh. I'm choking shriekcd Fran.
Cette: and indeed the fumes OF the
lime were cnveloping her.
As quickly as possible Hamlin
worked the stern OF the boat around,
fetching the bow into the wind. and
then hastily sprang across the casks 10
that cnd-for the vapor nearly suf-
located him.
The chemical commoticn increased
every moment Three of the casks
burst Smoke and the odor of scorched
slaves mingled with the white clouds
Of dust that gushed upward. They
had ere aboard as well as fumes.
II would now have been better 20
dash water plentlfully on the lime;
although. probably. enough to slake !,
would have swamped the boat. But