Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-10-11

"oh, Uncle Joe Oh, Miss Amanda"
Cried Carolyn May.
This left road takes us toward the
lake."
ooh, Joe, can we reach it?" wills,
pored Amanda.
"We've got tow he returned grlmly,
"It's three miles, If It's an inch, but
Cherry has got to make It,
They were relieved after minute or
two In this new road. The smoke had
not so completely filled 1t. But 1t was
rougher way, and the blackboard
bounced until Carolyn May cried out
In fear.
They drove over little hlllock that
raised them higher than the tote road
had done. Amanda clutched Mr..
Stages arm again and uttered a half
stined "Oh"
He shot n glance to the left. A
mass of flame broke out In the wood
not far Off this trall-the top of a
great tree was on fire.
"The wind is carrying brands this
way" muttered the man. "a dozen
new fires will be started. Well, gld-ap,
Cherryw and he seized the whip
again.
The horse was well spent now, but
he was plucky. He tried to increase
his stride. A hot breath of wind came
rushing through the, forest, bending
the branches and shaking the leafy
foliage. The wind seemed fairly to
scorch the fugltives,
The roaring of the fire increased
Through the more open woods which
bordered this path they saw the smoke
advancing in thicker wall--and one
as high as the tree tops.
you've got to make 1t, old boy"
muttered Joseph Stage, and he dashed
the horse again.
The spirited Cherry leaped forward,
both the woman and the child scream.
ing
as it far? Is it far?" gasped Aman-
da in his ear.
"Too far for comfort. But keep your
heart up"
AS the man spoke, blazing brand
swung through the air and came down,
right on Amanda's shoulders. Carolyn
May shreked. Joseph Stage brushed
off the burning stick.
Cherry mounted another small ridge
and then they clattered down into
little hollow where there was q slough
beside the road. The water was green
and stagnant, but it was water.
The man pulled In the hard-prcssed
horse and leaped down, passing the
relns to Amanda. He whipped off his
coat and dipped 1t in the mudhole. He
drew it out dripping with water and
slime.
"Look out, here Have to shut your
eyes," he warned his two companions
on the seat of the blackboard, and
threw the saturated coat over Miss
Amanda's head. The dripping garment
sheltered Carolyn May as well.
"Now, good horse" he yelled to
Cherry, leaping back to the seat. "Gid-
apr
The horse started up the slope. An
other swlrling brand came down upon
them. Joseph Stagg fought it Off with
his bare hand. His shirt sleeve caught
fire and he was painfully burned on
the forearm before he could smother
the blaze.
Another flaming brand fell, landing
on Cherrys back. The horse squealed
and leaped forward at a pace which
Mr.. Stagg could not control. Maddened
by the burn, Cherry had taken the bit
in his teeth and was running away.
The man threw down the reins. He
could do nothing toward retardlng the
horses pace. Indeed, he
did not want to stop him.
His left arm he flung around Miss
Amanda and the child, and with his
right hand chung to the rocking seat Of
the careening blackboard.
The wet steaming coat saved the
woman and the child from injury.
Joseph Stage had lost all count Of
time. The forest road might still ex-
tend ahead of them for a mile, for all
he knew.
But suddenly they broke cover,
Cherry still galloplng wildly, and
plunged down an open ravine to the
edge Of lake Of sparkling water.
"Bless mel The lakel the lake I"
hoarsely shouted the man.
The walls of the ravine sheltered