The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-24

(COntlnueu from our Last issue.
1t was frantic Harvesting, but
1t was done in a hurry, and the
ramshackle old carryall, dusty
and cobwebbed, was dragged out
of the barn, and Horace Greeley,
the horse, was backed into the
shafts. AS they drove out of the
yard the flames were roaring
through the roof Of the hem
house.
"Everything's so wet from the
fog and melted snow" observed
the captain, that it'll take some
time for the fire to git to the
barn. IL we can git q gang here
we can save the house easy, and
maybe more. BY mighty" he ejac-
ulated, "I'll drive across the ford
and git Luther and some of the
station men to come right across.
1t was Z when / looked at the
clock as we come in from washin'
dishes, SO the tide must be still
goin' out, and the ford jest right.
Git dap!"
my gracious, how dark 1t is!
Think you can find the crossin'?"
Got to find it; that's all. IT'S
dark, that's q fact"
1t was. They had gone but a
few hundred yards; yet the fire
was already merely shapeless,
red smudge in the foggy blackness
behind them. Horace Greeley
pounded along at a jog, and when
the Captain slapped him with the
end of the reins. broke into a
jerky gallop that was slower than
the trot.
They progressed in this fashion
for some distance Then Miss
Davis, from the curtained depths
of the back seat, spoke again.
ooh. dear mel" she exclaimed.
Are you sure you're on the right
track? Seems g II we must be
abreast of the station"
"Whoa!" commanded the Cap
tain. Then he got down and
walked along the strand, bending
forward as he walked. Soon Miss
Patience heard him calling.
1--WE found 1t, guess" he
said, coming back to the vehicle.
Anyhow, 1t looks like 1t. Well
be over in few minutes now.
Git dap, you'll"
Horace Greeley shivered as the
cold water splashed his legs, but
waded bravely in. They moved
further from the shore and the
water seemed to grow no deeper.
Guess this is the crossin', all
right" said the Captain. who had
cherished some secret doubts.
Here's the deep part comm.
Well be across in jiffy."
The water mounted to the hubs.
then to the bottom Of the carry
all. Miss Davis feet grew damp
and she drew them up.
"Oh, Perez!" she faltered, ARE
you sure this is the ford7"
Don't git scared. Pashyi
guess maybe we've got little to
one side of the track. I'll turn
round and try again"
But Horace Greeley was of a
different mind. From long expe-
rience he knew that the way to
cross a ford was to go straight
ahead. The bottom of the carry
all was awash.
Port your hellum. you lub-
ber!" shouted the driver. pulling
with all his might on one rein.
"Heave to! Come 'boutl Gybe!
Consarn you! Gybe!"
Then Horace Greeley tried to
| obey orders, but 1t was too late.
He endeavored to touch bottom
with his forelegs, but could not;
tried to swim with his hind ones,
but found that impossible; then
wallowed wildly to one side and
snapped a shaft and the rotten
| whiffletree short off. The carry
all tipped alarmingly and Miss Pa
thence screamed.
"Who" yelled the agitated
Perez. Vast heavin'! belay!"
The animal, as much frightened
by his drivers shouts as by the
water, shot ahead and tried to
tear himself loose. The other sun
warped and rotten shaft broke.
The carryall was now floating,
with the water covering the floor.
mo use; I'll have to cut away
the wreck, or we'll be on our
beam ends" shouted the Captain.
He took out his jackknife, and
reaching over, severed the traces.
Horace Greeley >gave another
wallow. and finding himself free.
disappeared in the darkness amid
! a lather of foam. The carriage.
now we'll out In the channel,
drifted with the current.
Don't cry. Pashy!' said the
Captain. endeavoring to cheer his
sobbing companion. Eve amt
shark bait yit. I've shipped aboard
OF most every kind of craft" he
added, "but blessed II l expected
to be skipper of q carryall!"
But Miss Patience, shut up in
the back part of the carriage like
O water nymph In her cave, still
wspt HISTORICALLY.
"Oh, dearl" sobbed the lady.
Now everything'll burn up, and
they'll blame me for II. Well. I'll
be drowned anyway, so l shan't
be there to hear EN-. Oh, deari
dead"
"Oh. don't talk that way. We're
driftin' somewherss, but we're
spinnin' round so I can't tell
which way. Judasi" he exclaimed.
more soberly, II remember, now;
Il amt but q little past I O'Clock.
and the tides gofn' out"
They floated In silence for few
moments. Then Miss Patience,
who had braveiy tried to stifle
her sobs. said with chattering