The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-05

stream failing two feet from his right
shoulder, and ut once appreciated the
danger that threatened him.
The first leaden driblets disappeared
under the snow, sending up q column
of steam. Then the volume Of the rill
increased. forming a little lake Of
metal, into which the stream fell with
4 heavy, guttcring splash.
With shrinking. sickened f~ascina.
ton Scott eyed the cleaning cascade.
Let its course Swerve ever so Slightly,
and he might at any moment be COW
eyed with molten metal that would
scar and blind and eat through skin
and bone.
Besides the danger to himself, the
growing leaden lake portended another
peril. 1t was only six inches from the
curve of the hose: if it spread a little
farther it would burn a hole through
the cloth and rubber, and he would no
longer be able to hold the flames in
check. He did not dare to attempt to
move the line unaided, for fear that he
might lose control of the fire.
Yet, imperiled as Scott was. the
thought Of abandoning his post never
entered his brain. No material bonds
held him there. He had but to drop
the nozzle and step aside; three or four
PAGES would carry him safely beyond
the reach of the soaring stream. In
that thick darkness no one would be
the wiser for it. But the invisible tie
of faithfulnesS to the duty entrusted
to him chained him to the spot with
bands stronger than steel.
To desert his post now would mean
to allow the fire to gain Roadway be-
meath his comrades, as they labored
to save the scores of fainting women
above. The only exit was by the stairs.
The fire threatened them. He held
the fire in check. If he blenched,
human lives would pay for it. AL
though his ruddy face grew pale, he
did not move.
Surely by this time the factory must
be almost emptied of its workers! The
sound Of feet upon the stairs came
less frequently. jenkins might appear
at any minute to order him elsewhere.
Scott hoped with all his heart that his
chief would come quickly.
Scattered drops, hardening into shot
pellets as they fell, battered down
round the fireman. Occasionally one
struck his helmet or shoulder. Three
or four burned through the hose. and
fierce little geysers burst through it's
closely woven texture. A circle Of
snow about six feet in diameter was
showered by the dropping lead. Scott
could not see the roof from which it
started. He did not dare TO look up,
fearing lest he might be struck in the
face.
The stream veered. Without warn
ing a gush of seething liquid fell on
his helmet. The polished leather hat
turned it aside, and in a second it lay
on his right shoulder. Before he could
shake it off it had caught fast hold and
sunk through his clothing to his skin,
burning him frightfully.
The Yorkshireman writhed in agony.
Both hands were busted with the
nozzle, and he could make no motion
toward brushing the lead away. He
shook himself and shrugged his Shout
ders, but he did not lift his hands from
the cold steel pipe. Oh, that some m
might come to relieve him! But not
an inch did he retreat. On three sides
the high. solid brick wall rose blankly,
hemming him in: on the fourth stood
the invisible wall Of duty, higher and
frmer than that Of material brick.
The cascade dwindled to a mere
trickling thread. Then a final deluge
of white-hot drops burst over the head
of the new recruit, raining down like
fiery hailstoncs. eating through his
clothes and burning him cruelty in a
dozen places. The limit of his en-.
durance was almost reached. Sick
with pain, he reeled, about to fall. For
the last time the thought of his duty
brought him back to consciousness.
AS he stood there, faint, staggering,
suffering eHcrutiatingly from his burns,
but still directing the nozzle into the
broken window. a shout reached his
ears, and 4 black figure burst through
the smoke. 1t was Jenkins.
"It's all right. Scott" cried he.
"They're all out"
The strength of nerve and muscle
that had carried the hoseman through
his trial vanished, when no longer
needed, and he collapsed in a dead
faint. He came to just in time to hear
jenkins telling the story of his vigil
to an interested group. The last SEN
tence of his captain was the one that
pleased Scott most:
well keep him on the force. if We
have to make an extra place for him."
-Nouth'S ComDSOion