Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06

the light shone on his face The children shrank
back in the wagon in quick fear. The man was an
Indian! Before they recovered from the shock OF
SURPRISE the Indian whipped his horses into a gal
lop Then Dumpty jumped forward.
"Oh, you're going the wrong way" he shouted.
This way quicker" shouted back the Indian.
Dumpty, fearing treachery prepared to leap out At
that moment the horses turned into side road and
Dumpty hurled to the bottom of the wagon
When he regained his feet, the wagon was out of
the woods, and pulling up in front of a farmhouse
The Indian tossed the reins to Dumpty, Jumped
out, and ran to the door. 1t was opened BY an old
farmer.
why, Wampan, what's up?" he asked.
Steamboat ashore! Telephone fe-savers!" an
swered Wampan shortly. pushing his way into the
house.
The telephone I hadn't thought OF that" ex.
claimed Dumpty suddenly relieved.
Quickly the message went over the wires to tho
lifesaving station, and quickly came the an
swer that the crew ready to rush to the rescue
IAN awful night for wreck" declared the farm
er. Heaven pity the poor souls on board. Here,
Tom, Jim, Frank. turn Quit" he cried to his sons.
I'VE must help! Load up that wagon with Blankets"
Quickly every bed in the house stripped and
the coverings piled in the wagon. The children
could not understand why, but at least they made
e soft cushion. The men climbed in, too, and Wam-
pan, taking the reins turned back to the highway.
Two lights rapidly approaching
THE life-savers!" shouted the farmer Wam-
pan pulled up, waiting until the two teams bearing
the lfe-savers and their apparatus dashed up
This way" he shouted, driving ahead to the north.
The horses were pushed to gallop, but to the
anxious children it seemed that they only crawled.
Presently, however, the farmer gave a shout
There she Isl" he cried The children raised
up quickly. They had reached the shore drive
where the road along the very edge Of the bluff
The lake lay directly beneath. mile ahead, light
ing up water, earth, and sky with its fiery signal
for help, lay the Prudence
She's goner!" shouted of the men. The
n at no ify %
waters, felt that what he said final sentence.
Even as they looked the signal sputtered out, eav
ing lake and land in darkness. Only a tiny mast
head light marked the position of the steamer VAN
pan never drew rein. One false would have
sent the wagon tumbling over the cliff but the In
dian, with the instinct Of his guided the horses
unerringly. Not until the light directly opposite
did he slacken the pace. Then. turning into steep
lane running down the side Of the bluff, he led the
way to the beach. Without wasting moment the
fe-savers began to set up their apparatus the
farmers helping them. Wampan turned to the chill
dren.
I'VE make fire." he cried. The children, only too
eager to help picked up such pieces OF driftwood as
they could find by the light of the lanterns. With
this wood and straw from his wagon. Wampan built
up bonfire. Over 1t he threw the oil from his Ian
term and match set it all ablaze.
AS it Jared up. the rushing wind brought the
faint sound Of a cheer. The people on the boat had
seen the fire and knew that help was at hand An
instant later signal-light flashed out on the
steamer.
The brilliant glare disclosed a scene that almost
froze the blood of the children. Out in the midst
OF huge waves that crashed against it and swept
over it, lay the battered wreck of the Prudence All
about it, and cutting off the way the shore were
great masses of water rolling, tumbling, surgng
breaking, rushing, and heaving The boat was al
ready going to pieces. Her funnel had been carried
away. Her upper works were nearly gone Her
hfeboats had disappeared, The waves broke and
beat upon the wreck in spteful anger, seeming to
snatch vicousy at the small group gathered around
the foremost, The signalligh tinged the whole pic
ture with bloodred glare that added to the terror
of the sight
The steamer seemed beyond ell human help No
ltfeboat could live minute in the angry surf A
swimmer would be mercilessly battered to death.
The awful power of the angry deep had been un-
loosened, and what could men do before it? The
children sobbed aloud they looked upon the DOOM
ed boat Would they ever again their father
and mother alive? Almost hopelessly they turned
toward the lifesavers
The brave men in olskns were working with
feversh energy. Some deity arranging lines
and rigging Others We're aiming a small to-
ward the boat.
"Oh, what they going to do?" cried Twaddle
SHOOT out a lifeline" answered Dumpty quick
hope following on his fears.
"Oh, and bring them ashore in the breeches-buoy -
shouted Twiddle jumping up and down in excite,
ment.
ITS the only chance" declared the old farmer.
Ready" cried the lifesavers captain; and then,
Fire"
"Boom!" went the cannon startling the children
so that they lost sight OF the flying line sharp
exclamation from the captain told the result
"Missed!' he cried. Load again."
You'll never get line out there against this
hurricane" cried the old farmer
"Oh-oh-oh!" walled Twadde. The boys Just grip
ped her hands hard and watched the life-savers
Again the cannon was aimed, and again came the
order to fire. second roar and the line went fly
ing out in the face Of the wind. Straight for the
boat it sped, then the wind caught it hurled it
back, fifty feet short Of its mark.
She'll so to pieces before We get line to her -
said a life.saver.
Suddenly Twaddle dropped her knees in the
sand and, raising her hands to the farmer said:
"Oh, don't give up, please. Try again! Try
again."
Just then there came a momentary luil in the hur.
rcanc, The cannon ready.
"Boom" 1t reared Strong and swift sped the
T7N aszssssssxs O.