Year: 1877

the lad stay where he is, and an old man
who has faced death on man. a field
where bullets was thick will stand by
his side, and the Lord of Marcy shall do
with him as He will. l should liked to
have seed the pups again; brs the Lord
will take care of the dogs


While this conversation had been car
ried on, the officers Of the steamer had
made the arrangements necessary to
steer the craft from the stern: for the
Ipilot-house was already so hot as to make
), it nusafe for the four men stationed at
the wheel to remain in it longer. The
ropes and blocks had been adjusted, the
purchase tested and the steamer was
already being directed from behind.
The Captain still stood by the side of the
lad, trumpet in hand, ready to give the
orders to veer her round.


Young man,' said the Captain, you
are pilot now. When shall we swing
her about? It's rough sea. but flames
gives us no choice.


! The lad looked steadEstly 4 moment
at the beacon they had passed. asked
the Captain question as to her course,
and then said:


I'VE are passing the eoye; we mustn't
go a rod further Quickl swing her
around"


The Captain lifted the trumpet TO his
lips, and in tones that rang strong and
clear above the roar of the storm and of
the flame, shouted: Hard port with
your helm, Hard-a-port. tell YOU, Jam
her down for your lives,'


The men in control ofthe helm obeyed
with an energy born of the peril of the
moment The mighty fabric swayed for
a moment, but tore on as if unwilling
to yield. But the next instant the i'm
mense pressure of the helm hard-a-port
began to tell, and the monstrous bulk
swung slowly about, rolled downward
into the trough of the sea as if she would
never rise, reeled over as she met the
mighty wave square amid-ship till her
larboard rail lay deep in the kissing
water, struggled up, righted herself
laboriously; and as she Strengthened her
course, with the gale square astern, and
with her steam gauge standing at seven
ty-five, shot toward the shore like an ar
row from bow.


4Capn," said the trapper, as he low
cred the trumpet from his lips @give us
the instrument, and do We run back
there and keep the poor ereeturs from
throwin' themselves overboard-for they
be gittin' wild. can talk through the
horn as well as We can-and the lad viii
tell me the words"


al can't leave you, old man; it shall
never be said that Charles Sterns left
two brave men to die while he saved his
own life"


"Capn," returned the trapper, Il
know your feelin's, for | see the stuff We
be made of; but the Lord appints duty
onto man, and it's not of his choosin'
and its your duty to goand ours to stay.
Don't We worry about US for | be old,
and few days more or less on the 'arth
don't matter, and | can see by the look
in the lads face that he be ready. So give
me the horn and you go where you
oughter go, and we'll stay where we
oughter stay"


| The old man uttered these words with
such solemn majesty, and the truth they
expressed was so evident that the Cap
tain did as commanded He passed the
trumpet to the trapper and started aft,
where his presence and words soon COM
municated new hope to the terrified
throng. In few moments the shouting
and screaming ceased, and not a sound
was heard save the roar of the wind and
the waves and flames


Henry" said the trapper, its time
We be goin', for the fire is gettin' hot. It's
not likely that me and the lad will come
ont of this; and there sartinly is't much
I time for leaye-takin'. Yell go, know,
and get the pups. and the rifle, and the
fiddle. le know where they be- And
/ if there lie any other things in the
stanty We would like, remember they are
yourn. This sartinly isn't the way /
thought things would end; but the Lord
knows when to call, and daresay it's
best as it is. so, boy, just take my hand
a mint. Ye needn't disturb the lad for
he is busy. No, jest give me your hand
for mint, and then go Ye be faithful
and true, and may yer days be happy
and your life long on the 'arth.'


Il am not going, John Norton" said
the young man.


at be well said boy returned the
trapper. "Yis, it be well said; or would
be if things were different. But things
be as they be, and ye must go.


a shall not 60" said Herbert.


Henry" exclaimed the old man ear
nestly, this is downright foolishness.
Ye can't help us by stayin'; and two1l
be enough if wust comes to wust."


"John Norton" returned the young
man solemnly, say no more. l shall
stay with you and the lad. If we live
all will live If we die, we will die to-
gether, for I will not leave you"


BE it as We say, then, boy; yis, let it
be as you say. This is no time for
words; and can understand yer feelins
and it may be We be right. The lad and
me met at the trail Of the beavers, and it
may be best we both go with him to the
eend of the trail


In a moment the old man said, sud-
denly: Henry, if you could git one of
them water-pipes, and the pumps are
still agoin', it may be ye could save our
save our lives. But be careful where
1you go, boy, for its hot there ahead"


Lightning is scarce quicker than was
the motion of Herbert, as he darted for
ward into the smoke, which was rolling
up in great volumes from the front part
of the boat.


By this time the forward half of the
vessel was almost one sheet of fame \
column Of fire rose ont Of the forward
hatch fifty feet into the air, but was
mercifully blown onward by the force
OF the gale. From this the trapper and
the lad were at least safe. but the flames