Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06
vuOOOOH!" who-oo-oh! Who-oo-
10 "a ! oh! Who-o-ooh!'
wv Rising family above the roar OF
the surf and the howl Of the wind,

,o. .h ,or boarse moan Of q steamboat siren
The three children, their faces pressed close 10 inc
window listened ntently while their eager eyes
tried to pierce the darkness that had set'ieu oo"n
over angry Lake Michigan.
Did YOU hear that?" whispered Dumpty.
lis it the boat?" asked Twaddle, her eyes lighting
up with expectation $500
Sounded like Listen! sau I"luuie' in'er-
rupting himself 1890 &c.,
ont OF the distance. The children strained their
ears 10 catch it, but fierce, abrupt gust OF wind
shook the house and drowned out all other sounds.
The children shrank back from the window In
dismay at the violence Of the storm. They had
spent the whole long summer beside changeable
Lake Michigan, but had they seen 1t rage un-
uor the flashing OF such gale as this. The uproar
created by wind and wave would have been terrify-
ing enough had Father and Mother been there to
Inspire courage with their comforting presence but
with Father and Mother miles away-perhaps at that
very minute out the tossing deep-it was no won
der the children felt their hearts go down, down,
down!
That morning when Mr.. and Mrs. Drummond had
called away on the lake steamer Prudence for O
few hours shopping in the city up the shore, the
great lake had rippled harmlessy in the sun. Then
lowering clouds had blotted out the sunlight and a
sudden September hurricane had come up out OF the
west with startling abruptness The dancing waves
had mounted into mighty foam-capped pillows and
the gentle surf had turned into roaring monster
that crashed thunderously upon the beach and
stretched forth ravenously If to swallow all with
in It's reach.
Night had fallen and still the Prudence had not
appeared on its homeward trip although it was due
20 poke its around the point at four o'clock.
Even a Chicago liner would have had trouble in
that awful sea. and the children hoped ferventy
that Captain ALDER had kept the Prudence safe in
port
Then camo the moan of the whistle. 1t told them
what they feared-that the Prudence out in
the storm.
THAT is the boat" declared Twiddle.
"Who.o-oh, Whoo-oh. Who-oo-oh! Whoo-o-oh!"
Once more the siren sounded above the racket Of
the storm.
-Four blasts. That's the signal Of DISTRESS" ex-
claimed Dumpty.
Look! Look" shrieked Twaddle almost going
through the window in her excitement.
Dumpty and Twidde gave sharp gasp. Tho
sky to the north which moment before had been
a vacant black, was now lighted by bloodred
glare
Its fire." shouted Dumpty.
maybe the boat" echoed Twiddle.
"Whoo-oh, Whoo-oh! Who-oo-oh! Whoo-o-oh!"
walled the siren as if in answer.
I'm going see," declared Dumpty, taking the
leadership by right of his two years superiority
the ten-year-od twins Come to the lookout.
The lookout tall pinetree top of
nearby sanddune. High up in the branches was
platform from which they could the
point and far up and down the lake. The path up
the dune was difficult in the daytime, but
In the dark, with the hurricane flashing the trees
md underground the children found 1t strewn with
unfamiliar obstacles and chilling fears OF vague dan
gers.
Near the top open stretch Of sand. Here
! the gale caught them with such fury they had to
drop to their hands and knees and creep across to
The foot OF the tall pine.
Stay here, while climb up" ordered Dumpty.
Ind the trembling twins obeyed. The tree exposed
to the full force OF the hurricane swayed to and
FRO its branches thrashing about furiously Had
Dumpty been less brave less strong, he would
have given up the perous climb at the start. He
rould scarcely cling the shaking trunk. Tho wind
beat and tore at him. The boughs slapped vicously
in his face, Only the fear he had for the safety
Of the boat kept him going upward. Inch by inch
he mounted higher Finally his head bumped sharp
" against the platform Dumpty swung himself
over the edge, and his eyes turned eagerly toward
ihe north. All there it was The boat
What is it," shrilled Twidde and Twaddle from
The darkness below.
The boat" shouted back Dumpty.
as it on fire." cried the twins.
Dumpty looked sharply. The boat was nearly two
miles to the north, yet the red glow revealed it
plainly No! 1t wasn't fire! Still, the light
game from it! Dumpty puzzled. The red flare
looked like-yes it red fire such he often
used the Fourth of July, Could the boat be
celebrating? And why was it close in shore? 1t
should have been far out to keep off the dangerous
Bhallows.
Then there flashed into Dmpty's mind the mean
Ing OF it all The boat already in the shall
lows The red light a signal-a signal OF dis
tress. Now he remembered having once been told
that red light on the water was a hurrycal to the
]ife-savers- an alarm sharp and emphatic that
which sends a fire department rushing pemell
down city street!
But would the life-savers see it? Dumpty's heart
grew suddenly heavy the thought to him.
The boat was four miles from the lifesaving sta
ton Between them was the high wooded point and
curve in the coast The chances were that the
life-savers would notice the signal
"Whooo-oh. Who-oo-oh, Who-o-ooh, Who-o
ooh" came the boats moaning cry for aid That
call decided Dumpty He and the twins must carry
the alarm to the lifesaving station carry through
HE storm and night, carry it swiftly and without
halt Another instant he was sliding. humping his
way to the ground. He landed in a heap almost on
top OF the frightened twins.
The boats ashore in the shadows! We must