The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-12-21

4
Nelson. working viii III his might.
They had sbcsi half tn hAy screas b.
ths time the use. nsuing 10 again, had y
lifssd aad broken tbs ic~ thai u would bes
no more. wen leave Billy and Tom owe
,hsr~ With the sicers. aid thsir fs.hsr, An'
veil eat our lunch and send theirs acfos
on The chains. Yoa can make believe ~
q shipursck, be called TO. the boys. - b.
cent the BASKET scfoss, and this 10 the life
npe, Therea storm coming 10, ANYWAY
or mise my gssss.
And . pretty big one, said John Downs
or miss mine.
Suppose vs can team this hay 70 th'
landing and be back for the rest when th'
tide falls, before the snow 9eu hsres
Looks more liks rain, said james Parks
But guess We can fetch II.
Wen be back for you their father shout
I'd to the boys.
Mist was nov driving 10 raggedly from
the ssa and by the time they had draw
the last sf the hay to the landing, Il has
settled into doe, singing rain, chanting OF
gale that had blown up fast and furious
Well, I don't like II, said Mr. Nelson
But there's Billy and Tom lsft on the 10
And II We don't 70 back for the iest Of th'
hay, some Of us must 70 back for them ant
the stecrs. gave 'em my word. Asd Mr.
Nelson's word be given, there Was no fur
ther question with him. Bot there were
the men. You and Dan might take part Of
the teams and hay and get back to The
barns, he said.
Not by . long chalk said Parks. guest
we won't leave oil that's down there to
swim out to sea.
tn take the boys With 1t, II 1t does, said
John.
| don't know, said Mr.. Nelson. 1t looks
now - II the storm Was bent. on mischief.
Perhaps it'll need Us al to get the boys
OF.
And the steers, said Parks.
II was still early Ia tie afternoon when
the reached Black Greek again, bat the gale
had brought twilight with II. Instead Of
dudi.g the tide falling. ~ they expected,
they found the wind blowing 1t In again At
rate which would food tue whole marsh
island before morning and sweep the hay
out Of sight.
Since we put our shoulders to the pillow,
said Mr.. Nelson, IL doesn't seem Uust the
thing to look back.
Guess well have try At 1t. said Parks.
The water was running 10 now like q
mill-race, and when they had secured one
load Of hsy Mr.. Nelson stopped. We'll let
the rest 90, he said. just set to with ne
and get the boys and the steers OF, and
make for home while We can SEQ the way
| know every foot Of this marsh, but night
and storm make difference 10 our land.
marks.
Az soon ~ the boys had crossed tho
creek, Mr.. Nelson, on the upland, unyoksd
the steers, and led ono Of them onthe heav
ing ice by the bow. he was just within
reach OF the other bank when the weight Of
the creature crushed through the Ice
whirling bis AZ to cut way. for the OK,
Mr.. Nelson lost his balance, and found
himself also in the freexingly cold water,
and quite out Of bis depth. But Paris
seized the head Of the AZ he held and drag.
ged him ashore, the OK foundering after.
There WAS dim moon behind the scud,
aid with the strange outlines Of the steam
M cattle and the men looming like giants
through the dusk and mist, with the big
stacks, the opening and shutting lines Of
black water, the spits Of rain and the crush.
pg and cracking and sobbipg Of the Ice
The scene had certain horror. But Mr..
Nelson and Parks went back to tether the
other steers in the lee Of the larger stacks,
pulled down some Of the hay about them,
and got back across the broken Ice with
some dificulty. Then, with the rest Of the
oxen, the party started for home.
By this time the moon had set and the
darkness was impenetrable. The Wild
blasts blew out the flames Of their lanterns
and 1t Was impossible to relight them.
Heavily clothed ~ the men we're, the long
gusts Of wind and sleet cut through them
piercingly.
Parks led the way with the cattle. and
Downs and Dan took each boy In charge.
Billy was crying, the rain and the tears
washing bis face together.
Presently all came to . stop. There was
not q elimmsr Of light to show the way.
Walt here cried Mr.. Nelson. II there's .
way to find, I'll find 1t, and be made cfi to
the right, the sodden marsh giving way
under his feet. I'm nearly played out, be
said, but III make way, or brsaklit
He brGke It, for In the next minute he
bad stepped of the Icy brink Into the
stream But with . mighty plunge he
made the bank again. and got back to the
others,
It's bad he, said. II there WAS only q
glmmer to show the way! There's moth
ing to do but stand by till morning.
They turned loose the cattle, which
wandered Of and. .huddled together. They
themselves got up on one Of the sleds; bot
be storm blew the tide higher. They were
in water up to their waists, snd only by
main strength kept on their feet and sup
ported the falnting boys.
Lord In heaven, cried Mr.. Nelson, give
US . glimmer Of light, sound, . way
mark!
In the farmhouse the day had closed
Aunt Eunice and Flora had been
busy all the morning With . wonderful
baking, and the house had been redolent
with the steam Of delicious cooking. They
had let Cyrills stone the raisiDs and pick
over The crabberries; and then ,he bad
gone back to her window and shIvered a.
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