The Furnaceman.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1223, 10 December 1897, Page 7

The Furnaceman.

» . (By A. ML Clelland.)

CHAPTER IV.— Continued.

Around the circumferences of the furnaces, and at heights of about five feet, bands of iron were passed, holding the brickwork together. The lengths of each band were fastened by large bolts, and a strong man, a very strong man, above the usual height too, might, with the aid of a good rope, gain the top of the third furnace by means of these bolts,, and then jump to the second furnace, and so save Tim. Geordie saw all this, and called himself a fool for being so quick in tlie ' uptake.' 1 Let him be,' he muttered ; 'he deserves it all.' But he despised himself for the thought, and after a few seconds' struggle, could not refrain from pointing out the poosiWf; way of relieving Tim from his dangerous position. lOh ye?, : cried one of the crowd, • it could be done, but where's the man that'll do it? He might well ask ; for a slip or a fall meant certain dealh. And Tim ■was no great favorite anyhow. "Who would do it, indeed 1 The idea mooted by Geordie spread aiound, and many looked at him as if, having given birth to the idea, he it was who should carry it out. He tried to look away — it was none of his business ; but wherever he turned, the crowd seemed to be expecting him to at once set about relieving Tim. A very strong man and above the usual height. Ye?, lie was such. But then was not the man up there his bitter enemy 1 He would stir never a linger to help him. • It 'ud comfort m« to think I'd had just one kind word from you.' Geordie started, and drops of perspiration rose on his forehead. The very woods Liz had used. Why should they come back to his memory now, of all times 1 And he had withheld that kind word. L'z had gone to her death wanting it. Here, tnen, was an opportunity to make reparation. Liz was dead, but she had once loved Tim. Yes or no 1 ? Which should it be 1 For about a hundred years, so it seemed to Geordie, he kept trying to persuade himself that Tim was only 'being meted with his own measure, whilo all the time thoee words of L ; z kppt buzzing and banging in his head. Which should it be 1 Mercy or justicp, love or hate 1 Yes or no 1 'Yes/ he shouted at last, * I'll try it. Get a rope, lad?.' A slight cheer arcse as the news spread. ' Hold on, Tim,' some one roared up to the man abore, clinging to the bit of projecting iron ; ' help's comin.'.' The rope was brought, and Geordie, with nothing but shirt and trousers upon him, began his perilous journey. By the aid of a short ladder he gained access to the roof of the low shed covering the tapping-hole and cindernotch of the furnace. From that point he had to trust to Providence and the strength of his own muscles. He knew he was attempting no child's-play ; ho was fully awnre of the risks he ran ; but for love of L'z he would save Tim . — or die. Standing on the top of the lean-to roof, he fastened one end of his rope securely to the lowermost bolt, and then passed the. rope ronnd the second bolt, five feet higher up, and pulled it taut. The slack rcpe was coiled loosely, and thrown over his right shoulder. He then raised himself a couple of feet or more by means of the second bolt, passing his leg. round the taut portion of the ropp, resting part of his weight on his left arm and elbow, while with his right arm he threw a j loop of rope over the next bolt. Pulling in the slack and drawing it as ; taut as he could, he then hauled him- | self up till his feet rested on the bolt which had before given support to his elbow. Thus he ascended the almost perpendicular face of the furnace-wall, every movement followed with strained attention by each individual in the crowd below. Oncp, when about thirty feet above the shed, the rope slipped off the bolt end, and he fell, scraping against the side of the brickwork for about four feet. A shudder of apprehension ran through the crowd ; but no sound catne from them, as Geordie, though jarred in every bone by this accident, calmly set about regaining his lost point of vantage. So, foot by foot, he went up, till the last band but one had been reached. Here he found, to his great dismay, that the bolt joining the pieces of the top band were not set vertically over the others, but so far to the right that it was qnite impossible to reach, though he cast his loop again and agaui. This was a bitter disappointment. Could he but reach the top band, he would have ecalefl the furnace, and have accomplished the worst part of his ta^k. To make matters still snore difficult, the space between the top baud and the second was over eight feet. By this time, also, he was growing exhausted. It had taken him almost twenty minutes to mount a little more more than forty leet, and unless be

could gain the top quickly the strain on his muscles would become too great, and he would have to give in, and own himself defeated. He lowered himself to the n*>xfc bolt and, making a sling of the rope, rested there for a few minutes. • Well done, lad, well done,' he heard some one in the crowd below call out ; • take your time and you'll win up yet. 1 The words cheered and strengthened him, and put new courage into his heart. He wonld try once more to reach the top. Standing on the third bolt, counting from the summit, ho made two loops beneath the second, one long and one short. Placing one of his feet in the first, he raised himself about half a yard ; thn shorter loop gave him another half-yard ; but left him still nearly two feet lower than the second band. He was literally clinging to the furnace by tooth and nail, being too far below the bolt to get any support from it, or even to see it, for his face was pressed closp to the brickwork. He felt about with hia free foot for the bolt, and having found it, put the toe of his boot firmly on it. then gradually raised himself, working his hands higher and higher, and takingadvantage of every joint in the bricks. The whole of his weight was now resting on the front of one foot ; his only protection against the wind — fortunately he was on the lee side of the furnace — his finger-hold of the Ir'cks; a sheer fall of fifty feet if he faltered or failed ; and two feet aboTe his head the top of the furnace. He moved the palm of his right hand gradually higher and higher, fearing to lose one hold till secure of the nex*, while the sinews of his foot and leg seemrd as? if they would break any ins! ant, Tnch by inch his fingers crept up, withont seeming to be anywhere nrarer the top. His breathing was extremely painful- perspiration steamed from every pore ; the beating of his heat-t nearly choked him. He would hold on till his hand had passpd three more joints. Sill the top was not reached. Two more and then he must drop ; his strength could last no longer. Up and up his fingers crept, the skin worn and Weeding, the nails torn to the quick. The first joint was reached and passed ; the second also. Could he try once more % Ho did, and touched w' at infused herculean strength into his aching musclrs. He touched the bottom edgs of the last band. Three or four inches more, and his hand rested on top of tho furnace. His left hand quickly followed, and then he was able to change his weight to his othrr foot, and rest for a short while. Encouraged and strengthened by his success, he nerved himself for the last effort ; raised himself by his j hands till his head was above the flat top of the furnace, flung one arm frrward and grasped a rod attached to the chimney, and then, with a final struggle, pulled the rest of his body safoly rv.^r the edge. A deep, low roar broke from the crowd at this ; but the man on the furnace top did not hear it. There was a buzzing and a singing in his ears which shut out all outer sounds ; he was seized with a terrible fit of trembling and vomiting ; but he was there, with torn clothes bleeding shins, bleedknees and elbow?, bleeding arms and hands What matter that 1 Tim would be saved after all.

(To be continued.) I