Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-01-17
a TRAMP FIRE FIGHTER
By IDA ALExAu0ga.

For z week now the tramp had
been fighting FIRE with the other fire.
fighters Why he had done % he
hardly knew The pay vas not
large and the risk vas He had been
almost conered again and again. At
times, escape had seemed impossible.
but be had raced his way to safety.
while his blistered feet and smoke
cloggec iuugs protested. But he had
always won't out Now ne had dis
tanced the FIRE once again. and lay
stretched in the shade. genuinely
weary, sincerely sick Of 1t all
Let The owners fight" he said, half
aloud Later on they'll run me out
from the shade Of the very trees
help 70 save. ! amt goin back"
The resolution had come suddenly
He had fully intended to return after
snatching an hour or SO OF we'll
earned rest.
It was in the early forenoon that
he had laid down It seemed hours
before his tired eyes closed. and but
a moment before he was rudely avak-
ened. Men we're pulling at him;
men we're shouting IN his ear. The
words at last penetrated drovsily
into his mind
Get up, Bill Get up for Gods sake.
It's comm this way"
He sat Up at last, sulkily and half
awake. 4 don't give a"
The faces Of the men were black
ened and bleeding.
jerks an Bert's lost" said one
Well. I didn't find en-" said the
tramp.
God find them" said the other,
reverently. They've burned to
death"
He heard the news callously There
had been 30 many that the shock was
quite gone from the tale. It was only
when enacted before the eye, IN all
its grewsome details, that it had pow
er even partially to shock
He settled back again. I amt goin'
TO get up"
The others stood ready to go. The
man half turned, but paused. "s.lf
once more, will ye Gomez rs hitrfn'
now for a place where there's little
children-little children, mind ye, with
out any idee what danger means"
Bill raised his lank figure TIL he
stood an inch above the others III
come" he said
Backward now they turned with the
quick step OF men who knew that
time meant life. All trace Of listless
ness had vanished from Bits face and
figure He was the alert fre-hghter.
untiring, unafraid
All day they fought. each with the
courage and the strength OF ten. It
was night before they acknowledged
that their efforts had been without
avail
Bill threw down his AZ. and pointed
his lean finger some one ought 70
tell 'em he said And chen. as no
one SPOKE Il go"
Il Waz tracsass way through the
forest ar5 thick u1ierbr1sh bus BID
raced or hurried BE- tle roaring Of
the fire. Handicapped b his wears
ness. haTried By the fear that be might
NOT be in tine.
The people Of the village were
awake. clustered around I'm groups,
watching the light that hung Ike q
menace in the sky. There were no
men among them The men we're
away. battling with the danger that
threatened their homes. So it fell 20
BIZ 70 prepare and urge forward the
hurried flight To was he who remem-
bered verything-meat and drink
warm clothes for the wids-eyed chill
dren- He hsrnessed and made ready.
Throw out everything. If you amt
maxim good getaway" he eau
toned. then gave the word. and the
heavily laden teams moved OF.
You, Toul You amt comin'2"
the women shriIed back TO him.
After a bit You're loaded enough
III be along fore long.
Already The flames were sending
forth their spying sparks Presently
the enemy would throw caution TO the
winds. and advance upon him
ANY other place could a burned
and been darned fore I'd "a done IT,
But this. / couldn't never forget that
little shaver as wanted 10 81 ne his
pie-au OF it. jest had 70 do IT,"
And BIZ. hre-fghter and tramp. set
tied comfortably back. with his eyes
On the approaching FIRE. and the
strange smile still shadowing MS
nnnfh With Z hsartv rhst would tara