A Daughter of Maryland — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

106 A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. There was no going any further; there was no retreating. The fragment of boarding upon which she stood and her father lay was not over four feet in width. The only thing in her favor was the wind. That was beating the smoke and flames the other way, but in defiance of this the con- flagration was steadily advancing. At that moment one side of the building fell in with a loud crash, sending into the air a cloud of sparks and cinders, while the flames _ roared and crackled louder than ever. Exhausted from her efforts in getting her father to even that point of temporary safety, and knowing in a moment they must perish, she felt a thrill of joy at the sound of a friendly voice, and looking across the yawning gulf of foaming waters she saw Esten Berners. He had followed her upon Black Gyp, and as she saw him he shouted so as to be heard above the roar of fire and river: ‘*Have courage and I will soon aya. you safe. ’’ Seeing there was no other way of reaching the spot, he looked about until he had found a small timber long enough to reach from the bank of the stream to the remnant of floor. Pushing this out over the chasm with considerable difficulty, he finally had a bridge by which he could pass : over to the place. | : **I shall have to carry your father over first, after which I will return for you. Have no fear but I will be in season. Ah! he is recovering his senses.’’ Major Lancier had begun to move, and at that moment Be he opened his eyes and looked vaguely around. - . ae ‘¢You will soon be safe, father,’’ said Aurian. ‘‘Do not SRE be alarmed. ’’ ‘Where am I? and where is that fire? Oh, dear! the old | mill is burning up!’’ | Deaveanc sn **Do you think you can stand?’’ asked Esten, lifting him up to a sitting posture. ‘‘Lean on me ‘all you want to. We can’t stay here much longer.’’ The fire was eating closely down upon them, and what was worst the wind had A : ; 57 me ila as hits sie i 4 x, roe at (t fi %, / Lr iwyas ‘ , Vy if Dy vs ee ; WSieU Aa tl LAC iy ne, a tt ty Bae eee Trent,