The Black Forge Mills

by William P. Chipman

Meantime, the mother had missed the children, and had come out to the lane to look for them. She heard their screams, and at once surmised their cause. With a swiftness such as only a mother who realizes the danger that threatens her children can know, she sped down the lane toward the pasture. But swift as she went, she would not have arrived there in time to save her darlings; they must have been gored and trampled to death had there not been providentially one nearer than she. Ray, from up the lane, had seen the children get through the gate into the field. He realized the danger that threatened them even before it appeared, and, whipping up his horse, he drove rapidly toward them. When the steer rushed for the children he was nearly to the gate, and driving close up to it he sprang over into the field, grabbing the broad leather strap to which the hitching weight was attached as he went. Swinging this over his head, he rushed between Georgie, who had manfully turned to defend his little sisters, and the steer, and brought the weight full down upon the furious animal's head. The beast was stunned for a moment, and Ray shouted to Georgie to take his little sisters and run into the lane.

The steer now turned his attention to Ray, and the children easily reached the gate, just as their mother arrived there also. She helped them up into the wagon, and then breathlessly watched the conflict between the heroic lad and the infuriated beast. As the steer rushed for him, Ray once more swung the weight with both hands, and brought it down upon his bellowing antagonist. It struck one of his horns, and breaking it off, sent a stream of blood over the animal's face. Disconcerted, bewildered for a moment, he paused and tore up the turf in his agony and fury.

Ray took advantage of this, and, turning, he ran for the lane, but before he reached the fence the steer again charged upon him. So sudden was the attack that the lad only had time to make a short whirl with his weapon, which, as it came around, swung over the animal's neck and down under his fore feet. There was force enough in it, however, to trip the beast, and he fell heavily forward, breaking a leg. Ray, breathless with his severe exertion, now crawled over the gate and into the wagon, just as Mr. Woodhull and Mr. Smith came running up with pitchforks in their hands to his rescue.

As modestly as possible the boy explained the circumstances under which he had found the children, and how he had rescued them; but Mrs. Woodhull did not hesitate to call his act heroic, and thanked and complimented him in turn, until the lad's cheeks fairly burned with embarrassment. From that hour his position at Long Point Farm was more that of a son than a servant; and it was well, indeed, that he had such friends, for the time was near at hand when he was to stand in sore need of them.

CHAPTER VII.

THE BURGLARY.

All Afton awoke one Saturday morning in July, and speedily went into a state of intense excitement. One of its largest stores on the main street had been forcibly opened during the night, and robbed of goods to the value of several hundred dollars.

The robbery was not discovered until the proprietor had come down to the store in the morning, at the usual hour. Examination then showed that the burglary had doubtless been committed by some one who was well acquainted with the premises, and also by some one unaccustomed to such work. An expert would have made a neater and a more thorough job of it.

The block in which the robbed store was situated stood at the corner of Main and Bank Streets, and but a short distance from the Bay; in fact, a narrow lane ran from the rear of the building directly down to the wharves. The entrance to the store had been gained from an adjoining one, which at that time was unoccupied. The back door of the empty store had been carelessly left unlocked, and the robbers, entering this room, had sawed a hole in the partition between the stores large enough to permit them to crawl through. It then had been an easy task, apparently, for them to unfasten the back door of the occupied store, and carry the stolen goods down the narrow lane to the dock without being discovered. Here they had possibly stowed the plunder they had obtained into a boat, and carried it away. These facts showed that whoever the guilty parties were, they were perfectly familiar with the store and its surroundings.