Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-10-26

was dong ample justice to it, | made
inquiries of the landlord, who fingered
in the room, about Frank, and found
that he had passed the night there,
and had left, early ill the morning, for
home. He had said that | should be
along in the course of the day, and had
bid the landlord say to me that he
was all right, and in good spirits.
Supper over, lighted my pipe, and
taking a chair, went out and leaned
back against the side of the house to
indulge in good smoke, as | usually
did before retiring. l had not been
sitting there many minutes, before |
found myself rejecting upon the large
sum L had about me, and the tempta-
ton it would be to my host, were the
fact known to him; and in a moment
all the stories that | had heard, to his
disadvantage, came fresh to my mind.
and | almost wished that [ had con-
cluded to pass the night at the tavern
| had left. But there was no help for
it now; and these thoughts were soon
dissipated by the appearance of the
landlord and hostler equipped for
fishing.
"ln answer to my inquiries, the land
lord said there was deep creek, some
half mile away through the forest,
that abounded with eels, and that they
were going to catch mess. Perhaps,
he said, | would like to go with them;
if so, he could provide me with fishing
tackle and bait [ am a great hand
for fishing; and forgetful of my IA
tigue, and the fears l had just enter
tanned, | at once accepted his invita-
ton. A few minutes after, we were
picking our way through the forest by
the light of the moon that was Just
rising above the tree-tops, promising
a splendid night.
ain short time, we reached the
bank Of the creek, which | found to be
of considerable size, and its sides
covered with large trees, that threw
their branches far out over the water
that lay so black and sluggish beneath.
In many places, the moonbeams could
not penetrate the thick foliage; and,
in others it seemed to turn, the torpid
water into sheets of flashing silver,
which only had the effect to make
everything around look more dismal
than it otherwise would. The croak-
ing of numerous frogs, and the solemn
hooting of an owl, served to depress
my feelings; and | thought then, az
now, that | never was in a more dis
NAL locality.
1--WE adjusted our fishing rods, and
threw our lines into the water. Hard
ly had my hook sank beneath the sur
face, before felt bite. A moment
later, noble fish was toundering up
on the bank; and, very soon the land
lord had one to keep it company
The sport once begun, a / other
thoughts left my mind; and | went
into it with a will. Half a dozen
fish were squirming in the basket,
when |, who, from accident or design
on the part ofmy companions, CHANGED
to be ahead, came to jam OF drift
wood that reached entirely across the
creek, left there by some heavy treshet
that the banks of the creek bore evi-
dence was Of frequent occurrence
Here, thought, would be an extra
chance for fishing; as, without doubt,
the water beneath the driftwood was
deeper, and better suited to them.-
Stepping carefully upon the jam, |
walked out a short distance, an d
threw my line into the water, and al
lowed it to sink for quite distance
below the surface, while | stood still,
watching for a bite, and wondering
why it was that the landlord did not
join me; as | was very sure he must
be standing but little way off, in the
dark shadow of the trees. And the
hostler too was close at hand: as |
had heard the underbrush cracking
beneath his feet but short distance
behind.
Il felt a fish nibbling at my hook;
and, giving sudden pull, attempted
to swing him above my head. But he
was off; while | found that my hook
had become entangled in something
near the bottom, which supposed to
be brush. Fearful of losing the hook,
pulled slowly, and found that I had
hooked into something that was not
immovable, but that | was slowly
bringing it to the surface.
"The moon was shining brightly
where l stood; and, kneeling down
upon the log upon which | had obtain
ed a foothold, | pulled slowly and
steadily, until the object was near the
surface. Then l placed one hand in
the water, and followed down the
line, until l came to the hook, fast in
something that felt to my touch, like
SOFT leather. Another movement, and
it appeared above the surface; and,
to my horror, I saw that | was grasp
ing mans hand A cry of horror
trembled upon my lips; but it seemed
frozen there; for the black water
parted, as if by an invisible power,
and there, in the bright moonlight,
saw human face, all black and hide
our, but one that | could never mis-
take-that of my friend and compan-
ion whom imagined safely at home,-
Frank Brown.
"Never, to my dying day, shall I
forget that face. framed as it was, in
, those dark, sluggish waters. Even
, now, know not how long looked
upon it; but was reused by the
: click Of a pistol-lock, and glanced
| about to see, almost beside me, the
CLEAN of barrel in the moonbeams,
: held in the hands of the landlord, and