The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-05-04
along the fai, and the trench. Long

along the fai, and the trench. Long
streamers Of flame were licking across
II. The half-looked.for had happened.
The little bunch of fighters we're
hemmed In. ringed around by nre.
Death faced them on every side.
Then, as the owner sent a searching
look to every quarter, he sprang for.
ward.
"Herel" he cried, "herel Into I'll
Every man OF you. In, sayl"
At the crest Of the sheer ridge an
old, abandoned tunnel gaped In the
gloom, a dim haven OF refuge. It's
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,
small. silent bunch, gazing in wordless
CONSERVATION at the red canopy.
Now how in hell did It get across
the fall?" said Collins hoarsely.
But one by one they stopped and
entered the small black hole In the
earth. II ran backward into the ridge.
scarce the height of a tall man, It's
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.
/ me 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. II came
booming and roaring to the fall and
the trench. Its sound was indescrib-
able. The heat grew until the flesh on
Sandry's arms and face rose In blis-
ters. A sheet of fame shot sheer
across the tunnels mouth. Smoke
rolled into II 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 overl"
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? Yot
damned Johnny You tenderfoot
III" And he flung himself forward
A smooth, black muzzle came forth anC
pushed its brazen menace into hi
face.
'l1l shoot the first man that al
tempts to pass me-" said Sandr.
hoarsely.
Raving and cursing, he backed away
More than one of the fourteel
begged to be allowed to pass, and on
OF the lumberjacks from Sacrament
. muttered deliriously of calling hi
bluff. But the awful moments. dragge
by and Sandry stood at the entrance
The flames passed all measurement
= light and heat. He lost sight OF tn
= figures at his feet He felt himself 81
ing out In the darkness.
"Sletz," he muttered, little Sletz--
When he came to himself again, me
were crawling across him. He coul
breathe better and the light had LEI
sened. he sat up, wincing at the MOI
!. ing OF his scorched skin over tn
muscles underneath, crawled out wit
the rest and one by one they rose
their feet. The great timber Of III
East Belt farther down stood serrie
and green. The effort had not been
. vain. The holocaust was checked, th
Belt was safe.
Back toward the north stretched
a forest Of tall. black spikes, picked o,
here and there by heavy spots Of I'll