The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-03-04

the room out into the rain again and
10 the bOathUuse.
The frail little launch had been tax
en- from the house when the river be-
gan to rise and muored alongside it,
Now the house was wholly under wa
ter. and Ralph was forced 10 swim t.
the boat. holding. the searchight as
well as he could
In the boat he started first the light
and then the engine and put uut into
the swollen stream. The li,ile craft
was sadly buffeted by the Sticks and
the waves and time and again ship
ped water as Ralph Sturdily headed
for the opposite shore.
The searchlight disclosed the Well
man home with the water low a little
above the second story. in the win
dow stood the girl. waving her hands
encouragingly.
At length Ralph managed to catch
hold of the window. Inside the room
the girl stood nearly waist deep in the
water
Quick" cried Ralph. Get into the
boat
Silently the girl obeyeI. Just as she
was safely seated Ralphs grasp was
broken. The water dashed them furi-
ously away and then against tie
house. Something snapped. With q
muttered ejaculation Ralph looked To-
his engine. Nothing seemed to he
amiss, and he threw the throttle for
ward. The engine raced tern iu,allv.
and he quickly jerked the throttle
back.
The propeller shaft is broken, he
announced in voice that stro}r to
be calm. Wen have To- # at down
with the current and try to ind some
where"
The girl was startled hat also tried
to appear mconccrned
That's too bad" she said. with a
little c.-,ch in her voice. 81 was never.
never going to talk to you again, but
| suppose IN have to now"
"Oh, I'll not force you tor growled
Ralph as he puttered over the ma
chine
do You know" went on the girl Il
think your horrid old cows are the
cause Of all this? 1t was only after
they trampled over my garden that
the river came up. l know | can never
forgive them"
And incidentally never forgive me.
| suppose mumbled the man.
The girl said nothing Then sudden
ly she lifted up her feet with an ex-
preston Of dismay.
"Gracious, the boats full of water"
she cried. I'm so wet anyway, that
didn't notice 1t before"
Yep" replied the man shortly.
shes sprung a leak. We've got to
make a landing. sure"
With the powerful searchlight. whic h
sttll burned undimmed, he swept the
waters.
Look" he cried. IF those aren't
cattle I'll eat my hat
Ahead of them the light revealed
some three or four heads rising out Of
the water and steadily moving from
the center Of the stream.
They're walking." cried Ralph
They can take us ashore
He Sprang to the steering wheel and
skillfully Unanswered the boat SO that
| 1t passed near the beasts. The cir
saw his intention. and as they passed
both jumped landing safe on the
sturdy animals.
Almost undiSturbed and unswaved
10y the rushing waters. the cattle
plowed steadily onward Gradually
they came into shallower water, and
thankfully Ralph and the girl slid
from the beasts backs. Hand in hand
they struggled along now, faster than
the cattle. Ralph cast one last look
back Mt the beasts and gasped.
why. they're mine" he cried. That,
Bess, and there's Doll. Why, Clare
dear, do you realize that the cattle
you thought had CEASED 1t all have
saved us?"
"Oh" cried the girl and turned tc
him
"And look there" cried Ralph. point
ing ahead See what they've brought
us to. See; that's the Rev. Sturgfs
home on the road to your house. and
look there-he's opening the door
Look. look, dear, your father and
mother are with him.
The girl looked, and then sobbinc
piteously, she threw her arms arouni
Ralph's neck.
"Oh, dear, DEAR she cried. u for
give your cows. | forgive you. and
she added ungrammatically, but soul
fully, as she chung to Ralph and he
held her close, I'm never not goins
to speak to you again"