Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-23

mo, the horse Is here. Abner took
one Of the store horses to 60 TO Harniss
with, but he did take the buggy AMI
there's no other carriage but the old
carryall, and that's almost tumblin' to
pieces"
II was cal'latin' to 60 horseback"
"What! And leave me here alone
with the house afire? No, indeed! II
you 90. I'm goin' too"
"Well, then, the carryall's got to do.
whether or no. Git on shawl or
somethin' while I harness up"
1t was a frantic Harvesting, but 1t
was done in hurry, and the ram
shackle old carryall, dusty and cob
webbed, was dragged out Of the barn,
and Horace Greeley, the horse, was
backed into the shafts. AS they drove
out Of the yard the flames were roar
ing through the roof Of the henhoIse
and the lath fence surrounding it was
beginning to blaze.
"Everything's so wet from the fog
and the melted SNOW" observed the
captain, that it'll take some time for
the fire to git to the barn. If we can
git gang here we can save the house
easy and maybe more. BY mighty"
he calculated. II tell you what well
do. I'll drive across the ford and git
Luther and some Of the station men TO
come right across. Then I'll 60 Oh to
the. village to fetch more. 1t WAS Z
when looked at the clock as we come
In from washin' dishes, so the tide
must be still goin' out and the ford
Jest right. Git dap"
Hurry all you can, for goodness
sake! Is this as fast as we can go?"
East as we can go with this ever
wheels squeal!'
''The axles amt been creased for I
don't know when. Abner was goin' to
have the old carriage chopped up for
kindlin' wood"
Lucky for him and us 'tain't chopped
up now. Git dap. slow poke! Better
chop the horse up. too, while he's bout
It."
The last remark the captain made
uuder his breath.
my gracious, how dark 1t Is! Think
you can find the crossin'?'
"Got to find it; that's all. 'Tis dark.
that's fact"
1t was. They had gone but few
hundred yards, yet the fire was already
merely a shapeless, red smudge on the
foggy blackness behind them. Horace
Greeley pounded along at a jog and
when the captain slapped him with the
end of the reins broke into jerky
gallop that was slower than the trot.
stop your hoppin' up and down"
Perez, whose temper was
becoming somewhat frayed. You
make me think of the walkin' beam on
n steamboat. II you'd stop tryin' to fly
and go straight ahead we'd do better"
They progressed in this f..slion for
some distance. Then Miss Davis, from
the curtained depths Of the back seat,
spoke again.
"Oh, dear mew she exclaimed. Are
you sure you're OH the right track:
Seems s il we must be abreast the
station, and this roads awful rough"
Captain Perez had remarked the
roughness Of the road. The carryall
was pitching from one hunilEock 10 AL
other, and Horace Greeley stumbled
once or twice.
Whoa commanded the captain.
Then he got down. lit match, and,
it with his hands, scrutinlZed
the ground. Pm kind Of 'fraid," he
said presently, that we've got OFT the
road somehow. But we must be bout
opposite the crossin'. I'm goin' to drive
down and see if / can find it,
He turned the horses head at right
angles from the way they were going,
and they pitched onward for another
yards. Then they came out
upon the hard, smooth sand, and heard
the water tapping OIL the shore. Cap
tain Perez got out once more ana
walked along the strand, ben ling for
ward as he walked. Soon Miss Pa
tience heard him calling.
"rve found it, guess" he said, COM
ing back to the vehicle. Anyhow. it
looks like it. Well be over in few
now. Git dap, you!'
Horace Greeley shivered as the cold
water splaslied his legs, but waded
bravely in. They moved farther from
the shore and the water seemed to
grow no deeper.
Guess this is the crossin' all right
said the captain, who had cherished
some secret doubts. Here's the deep
part comm. Well be across in Il jilfy."
The water mounted to the hubs, then
to the bottom Of the carryall. Miss
Davis feet grew damp and she drew
them up.
"Oh, Perez" she fal.e:el, are you
sure this Is the ford!'
Don't git scared, pashy! guess
maybe we've got little to one side Of
the track. I'll turn round and try
again."