Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-01-17

lnueed Curt webb was the last
one any person would have believed
capable Of such brave deed. He
was an orphan and worked hard for
a livelihood in agrocery store The
village boys, headed by Jasper Ty-f
son, despised and hated him because
he had persistently refused to join
any Of their mischievous depreda-
tons. He could never be induced to
fight his tormentors, though Jasper
and Others dared him to combat
many time. So the boys gratiied
their malice by calling him the
coward, " and by this epithet he was
known in the village.
But the Coward" was surely as
tonishing his enemies now, and his
progress was watched with breath
less interest. No one expected to see
him come back alive.
Steadily the boat crept toward the
island. Curt bent to the oars with
all his might and managed to hold
his own against the fierce current.
| Occasionally he glanced over his
shoulder and was relieved to see no
! trace of approaching ice. The shore
soon faded from view, and as he
neared the island he shouted cheer
| lily to give notice of his approach.
Jasper shouted back and fired a
bunch of grass to guide his rescuer.
The water had already reached
the cabin, and just as Curt swung
the boat into the, little eddy behind
it he heard grinding noise up the
river and saw a white mass looming
into view. The gorge had broken,
and the ice was coming down with
sweeping force.
Jasper stood in the cabin door,
and when the flaming wisp Of grass
showed him the face of his rescuer
he blushed with shame.
"You!" he exclaimed, and that
single word spoke volumes.
Don't stop to talk" cried Curt.
hurriedly. "Jump in. Here comes
the ice, and we have. slim chance
Of lodging it,
Too late. Even as Jasper sprang
to the boat the water heaved and
tossed, and the rumble of the dread
avalanche deepened to roar. Half
dozen cakes of ice swirled by, ris-
ing and falling with the waves.
Curt pulled straight down stream,
while his companion crouched in the
stern. of the boat, helpless with ter
ror But the race could end in only
one way. The line of broken ice
came grinding on like race horse,
growing with fury.
1t smashed tie cabin to frag-
ments and sped after the frail little
craft that was striving so hard to es-
cape. Jasper cri>d out with terror
and held his ha7ls before his face to
shut out the awful sight
Curt stuck to his oscs, bit he |
knew nevertheless that escape was
out of the question. His brave heart
sickened at the thought Of what
would happen when the crashing ice
cakes reached the boat.
Suddenly he saw something that
reused a glimmer of hope. Twenty
yards toward the left shore and
slightly in advance Of the avalanche
foated huge tree, evidently torn
bodily from the soil. It's broad end,
bristling with snakelike roots, was
turned down stream, and here and
there it thrust out thick limbs that |
served to steady it Like outriggers on
a boat.
The opportunity was good one,
for the tree looked sufficiently |
strong and massive to hold its own
against the turbulent ice. If the |
castaways could reach it, they stood |
fair chance of escaping death.
Curtis resolve was instantly formed.
He reused Jasper from. his stupor Of
fear and briefly explained what he
intended to do.
"Now!" cried Curt.
Jasper caught the dangling roots
and pulled himself to place of |
safety. An agile spring landed Curt
beside him, and the next instant the
boat was whirled off into the gloom.
AS the lads crept higher up the
trunk Jasper slipped and was pre-
cipitated into the water In his
struggles to keep from sinking he |
seized one of the roots and chung to
it frantically, calling for help.
At the risk of his life Curt crawled |
down and with some difficulty res
cued his companion. They lost no
time in choosing positions among
the heavy limbs and then had barely |
settled themselves when down the
shock came.
The towering masses of ice surged !