Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-29

on to the middle channel of the strait.
The wind had come up again and
ragged over the lake like a wild beast.
Then, without warning. there rose be-
fore her the jagged, cruel line Of the
ice foe, and the next moment the
waves had thrown the boat as If it had
been a leaf full upon it. Instinctively
Babette had risen at that last awful
instant. AS the boat crashed into the
ice with shock that made it leap and
tremble she sprang forward and
gained footing on the ice foe,
slight, perilous one, to be sure, but one
that meant safety for the moment at
..ready the little boat had disap-
peared in the whirlpool of dashing wa
ters, and Babette's heart beat fast as
she looked about her on her new craft.
1t was large; it seemed as large as
Pressure Isle itself, and at first it ap-
peared stationary. But when she had
reached its center she could feel the
slow, steady motion as it swept on to-
ward Lake Huron.
And now came the division of the
channel, and Babette's heart almost
stopped its frightened beating as she
thought Of what would happen if the
foe drifted north of Algonac island
and out on the great pitiless waters Of
the lake.
With hushed breath she waited. The
foe was heaving so that she could
hardly retain her place, but at last
the pine crests Of Algonac showed on
her left, ard she knew she would pass
st. Michel With fingers stiffened by
the cold she united the red scarf from
about her head and let the wind blow
1t like a danger signal above her as
she caught a glimpse of the lighthouse
on the west pier. So near, 1t seemed,
she placed her hand to her mouth and
shouted, but her voice sounded like
reedbird's pipe in the noise Of the rush
ing waters.
She was opposite the town now. She
could see the waves break on the pier
and yet there was no sign of help
With a fearlessness born Of despera-
ton she struggled to her feet and
waved the scarf wildly, and suddenly
figure appeared on the lighthouse
ladder Again she waved and tried to
call. The figure signaled back and ran
along the pier toward town.
1t was Landry Dubois. He burst into
the warm back room at old Nine. Por-
teaus breathlcss and hatless.
ut Is Pete's Babette,' he cried to the
crowd of fishermen and sailors hud'
died about the big wood stove. "She is
on the ice, drifting out to the lake"
In five minutes the news had spread,
and the shore was crowded, while the
strongest boat I'm the place was
manned, with Landry ut the rudder,
and stout arms pulled away to the reg
cue of Pete's Babette. And when they
brought her back half frozen and half
dead and gave her into Nine. POr-
teau's care she told her errand in the
warm back room-told how Pete lay
dying without food or medicine and
how unless help was sent there would
be no light shining from Pressure Isle
that night.
nThe light shall shine" promised
Landry, and the waves that had
laughed at Babette's little boat bowed
before the masterful stroke of ten
pairs Of st. Michels strongest arms as
they manned the boat that bore Ba-
bette and provisions and medicine
back to Presque Isle.
"Thou hast saved his life, little one"
said Landry. when they stood in the
kitchen where Mere Mrie still prayed.
But Babette only smiled and nodded
her head, and she went on to the light
house.
The winter twilight was falling
swiftly. and the wind had gone down
like one tired with its mad play. Far
to the west she could see boat strug-
Cling slowly up the strait, its lights
cleaning now and then like jewels.
She lit the lamp with fingers that
trembled, and the broad path of light
streamed out over the point. Babettc's
birds could fly in safety tonight. and
below Landry Dubois held aloft a red
scarf and told its story, even rs it is
told today around the islands of the
strait-the story Of Pete's Babette