The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-15
Ho-o.O-oH!" Who-o-o-oh! Who-o-o-
eeN oh! Who-oo-oh!"
wv Rising family above the roar OF
and the howl Of the wind

,s the low hoarse moan of a steamboat siren.
The three children their faces pressed close to the
v,ndoy listened ntently while their eager eyes
tried to pierce the darkness that had settled down
over angry Lake Michigan.
"Did you hear that?" whispered Dumpty.
.Is II the boat?" asked Twaddle, her eyes lighting
nm with expectation.
sounded like Listen!' SAID IWloole, inter-
rupting himself.
"Whoooh!" Again the hoarse moan from
nut OF the distance The children strained their
ears to 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
dsmay at the violence Of the storm They had
spent the whole long summer beside changeable
Lake Michigan. but had they seen 1t rage un-
der the lashng OF such gale as this The uproar
created by wind and would have been terrify-
, inp 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
sailed away on the lake steamer Prudence for a
few hours shopping in the city up the shore. the
great lake had rippled harmessly In the sun. Then
lowering clouds had blotted out the sunlight, and
sudden September hurricane had come up out Of the
west with startling abruptness. The dancing waves
had mounted into mighty foam-capped bllows and
the gentle surf had turned into a roaring monster
that crashed thunderously upon the beach and
stretched forth rayenously IL to swallow all with
In its reach.
Night had fallen and still the Prudence had not
appeared its homeward trip, although 1t was due
to poke its around the point at four O'Clock.
Even Chicago liner would have had trouble in
that awful sea- and the children hoped ferventy
that Captain Alber had kept the Prudence safe in
port
t. 7 came the OF the whistle. 1t told them
What they feared-that the Prudence out n
the storm!
THAT is the boat" declared Twiddle.
"Who-ooh! who-o-ohl Who-o-ooh! Who-oo-ohl"
I Once more the siren sounded above the racket of
the storm
-Four blasts That's the signal OF distress!"
claimed Dumpty.
Look! Look" shreked Twaddle, almost going
through the window in her excitement.
Dumpty and Twiddle gave sharp gasp. The
;. 10 the north, which a moment before had been
acant black lighted by blood-red
glare
Its fire." shouted Dumpty.
Maybe the boat" echoed Twidde.
"Who-ooh, Who-ooh, Who-o-o-oh! Whoo-o-oh!"
walled the siren IL in answer.
I'm going TO see" declared Dumpty taking the
leadership by right OF his two superiority over
the ten-year-old twins. Come to the lookout
The lookout was a tall pinetree on top Of
nearby sand-dune High up In the branches was
platform from which they could across the
point and far up and down the lake. The path up
the dune difficult even In the daytime. but now
IN the dark, with the hurricane lashng the trees
and underground. the children found 1t strewn with
unfamiliar obstacles and chilling fears OF vague dan
. gers.
Near the top was an open stretch OF sand Hero
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
and the trembling twins obeyed. The tree. exposed
to the full force OF the hurricane swayed to and
fro. Its branches thrashing about furiousy. Had
Dumpy been less brave less strong, he would
Z hop -l,-z n1i,o of ofa
could scarcely cling to the shaking trunk. The wind
beat and tore at him. The boughs slapped VciousIy
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
ly against the platform. Dumpty swung himself
over the edge, and his eyes turned eagerly toward
the north, An, there It was, The boat!
What is it?" shrilled Twiddle and Twaddle from
the darkness below
The boatt' shouted back Dumpty.
"Is 1t hre?" 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 on fire! Still the llght
came from it, Dumpty was puzzled The red mare
looked nke-yes. 1t red FIRE such as he often
used the Fourth OF July. Could the boat be
celebrating? And why was 1t so close IN shore? 1t
should have been far out to keep of the dangerous
shadows.
Then there flashed into Dumptys mind the mean
Ing of It all. The boat already In the shall
lowsl The red light was sgnal-a signal or DIS
(, tress. Now he remembered having once been tod
that red light on the water hurry-call TO the
hfe-savers-an alarm as sharp and emphatic as that
which sends fire department rushing pellmell
down city street,
But would the life-saverB It? DumDty's heart
grew suddenly heavy as the thought TO him.
The boat four miles from. the life-saving sta
lion. Between them was the high wooded point and
curve in the coast The chances were that the
hfesavers would not notice the signal.
"Who-oo-oh! Who-o-o-oh Whoo-o-oh! Who.o-
ooh! came the boats moaning cry for aid. That
call decided Dumpty. He and the twins must carry
the alarm to the ifesavng station carry 1t through
the storm and night, carry II swiftly and without