Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-03-10

streamers of fame were licking across
1t. The half-looked-for had happened.
The little bunch of fighters were
hemmed in, ringed around by fire.
Death faced them on every side.
Then. as the owner sent a searching
look to every quarter, he sprang for
ward
"Here!" he cried, "herel Into It!
Every man of you. In, | say!"
At the crest of the sheer ridge an
old. abandoned tunnel gaped In the
gloom. a dim haven of refuge. Its
mouth was overhung by vines. its re-
cess mysterious in the blackness San
dry sprang to its edge and turned back
for the men to pass. They stood, a
small. silent bunch. gazing in wordless
CONSERVATION at the red canopy.
Now how in hell did 1t get across
the fall" said Collins hoarsely.
But one by one they stopped and
entered the small black hole in the
earth. 1t ran backward into the ridge.
scarce the height Of tall man, its
floor uneven with the heaps of earth
fallen from the roof since some long
forgotten prospector had carved 1t
out.
Here for a moment they breathed
more easily, standing close together,
sweating, painting, waiting mass OF
humanity. Sandry stood at the mouth
the last to enter. He looked out in
hushed amaze at the unclaimed mad
ness of the burning world. The great
fire had reached it's zenith. 1t came
booming and roaring to the fall and
the trench. It's sound was indescrib'
able. The heat grew until the flesh on
Sandry's arms and face rose in Bills
ters. A sheet of fame shot sheer
across the tunnels mouth. Smoke
rolled into it and here and there a
gasping breath ended in a moan
There was no air to breathe. Like
trapped animals the men jumped here
and there, feeling for an opening, a
crevice to crawl into, away from the
agony Of heat and suffocation. And
then they lost control of themselves.
My God" cried Murphy shrilly, 81
can't stand ut! Let me out an III
die an get ut over!"
He came cropping to the entrance
| facing the Increasing heat. His face
was a madman's, his mouth open, his
fingers crooked like talons. But at the
mouth, that was as the gate of hell. he
met the Fastener, straight figure
against the light beyond.
NO." said Sandry sternly, go bach
and lie down"
WHAT" he shrieked, what? Yol
damned Johnny! You tenderfoot
I'll And he flung himself forward
A smooth, black muzzle came forth ant
pushed it's brazen menace into hi!
! face.
I'll shoot the first man that at
tempts to pass me-" said Sandr.
hoarsely.
Raving and cursing he backed away
More than one Of the fourteen
begged to be allowed to pass. and on,
of the lumberjacks from Sacramento
muttered deliriously of calling hi
bluff. But the awful moments dragged
by and Sandry stood at the entrance
The flames passed all measurement o
light and heat. He lost sight Of tn
figures at his feet He felt himself &C
ing out in the darkness.
"S'letz," he muttered, little S'letz-
When he came to himself again, me-
were crawling across him. He coul
breathe better and the light had les
sened. He sat up, wincing at the NOV
ing Of his scorched skin over tn
muscles underneath, crawled out wit
the rest and one by one they rose t
their feet. The great timber of tn
East Belt farther down stood serrie
and green. The effort had not been i
vain. The holocaust was checked. tn
Belt was safe.
Back toward the north stretched
forest of tall, black spikes, picked GU
here and there by heavy spots Of fir