The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-03-09

scarce the height of a 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 q moment they breathed
more easily, standing close together.
a 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 n
the trench. It's sound was indescrib-
able. The heat grew until the flesh on
Sandry's arms and face rose in bis
tiers. A sheet of flame shot sheer
across the tunnels mouth. Smoke
rolled into 1t and here and there a
gasping breath ended in q 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. II
can't stand ut! Let me out an I'll
die an get ut overt"
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, a straight figure
against the light beyond.
NO" said Sandry sternly. go back
and lie down"
"What?" he shrieked, what? You
damned Johnny! You tenderfoot!
I'll" And he flung himself forward.
A smooth, black muzzle came forth and
pushed its brazen menace into his
face.
IN shoot the first man that at
tempts to pass me-" said Sandry
hoarsely.
Raving and cursing, he backed away.
More han n OF the fourteen
begged to be allowed TO pass, and one
OF the lumberjacks from Sacramento
muttered deliriously Of calling his
bluff. But the awful moments dragged
by and Sandry stood at the entrance.
The flames passed all measurement of
light and heat. He lost sight of the
figures at his feet. He felt himself 60
ing out in the darkness.
"Sletz," he muttered, little Sletz-"
When he came to himself again, men
Vnrn praUlinu onrnco hin, IJn could
breathe better and the light had les
sened. He sat up, wincing at the NOV
ing of his scorched skin over the
muscles underneath. crawled out with
the rest and one by one they rose to
their feet. The great timber OF the
East Belt farther down stood serried
and green. The effort had not been In
vain. The holocaust was checked, the
Belt was safe.
Back toward the north stretched q
forest Of tall, black spikes, picked out
here and there by heavy spots of fire
where fallen logs, dry and pitch-laden,
burned steadily. The green canopy
was gone, every vine and bit of brush.
every sapling and fern. Only a thin
edge still cracked and snapped with
streamers of flame along the trench.
Mr.. Sandry," said Harris, the saw
fler, IF you're an Fastener | hope to
God the breed fills up the country!"
He extended a hand which Sandry
grasped.
An me-" said Murphy, his grimy
features distorted in an expression of
mingled gratitude and contrition, Il
take it all ~back-every damn word |
ever said against you, an it's a long
list"
Forget it," said Sandry. He was no
longer Johnny Eastern. He had won
his right to live and fight among them.
rs it over, Collins ?" he asked,
steadying his voice.
over? Look yonder. Feel tn wind.
It's %changin' again. TIL fires back
crawled toward the Siletz basin three
miles, I'll bet, while we've ben savin'
this end. We've only begun to fight"