The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-01-17

auu pusneS on ab last as ne can. ne ground
begins seasibly to descend, he has lost his
way-but he keeps bearing to the left, and
though it is nov dark, he thinks that he
Lust touch the main path sooner or later.
Tie does not know this part Of the wood,
but he runs on. 0 little midshipman! why
did he chase that owl? II you had kept
IN the path with the dark man behind you,
there was a chance that ysu might have
outrun him or, il he had oyertaken ysu,
some passing wayfarer miyht have heard
your ciics and come TO save YOU. Now
you are running on straight 10 yeur death.
Tor The forest water is deep and black at
the bottom Of this bill. o that the moon
might come out and show il TO you.
The moon is under :hick canopy Of
heavy black clouds and here is not star
Ia glitter ga the water and make il visible.
/ The fern is soft under his feet as he runs
and slips dewn the sieping hill. AT last he
strikes his fuot against stone, stumbies
and falls. Two minutes more and he win
roll ints the black water.
i" heyday" cries the boy, - what's thaif
/ O. how it tears my handss o this thorn
bush! Omy arms! cant get Free" He
struggles and pants. "All this comes of
leaving tile palh." he says; !" shouldn't
have cared for rolling desa if II hadn't
been Tor this bush. The fern was seft e.
noush. III never stray away in a wosd Al
night again. There, free al last And
my jacket nearly torn of my back r
i With good deal oi patience, and great
man, scratches, he gets free Of The thorn
which had arrested hls progress when his
feet were within yard of the water, man.
ages 10 scramble by the bauk. and makes
the be-, Of his way through the wood.
Aud now, as the clouds move slowly on
ward, The moon shews her face on the black
surface Of the water, and the little white
owl comes and boots. and fiutters over il
like wandering snow-drifl. But :he boy
j. deep in the Mood again and knows Moth
ing Of the danger from which be has escap-
ed.
All this time the dark passenger follows
the main track. and believes that his pre- ]
, is before him. Al last he hears crashing
! Of dead bolghs. and presently the little
, midshipman's voice not fifty yards before
, him. les. il is tou true; the boy is in the
cross track. lie will pass the outage ia
> the wood directly, and after that his pur.
) suer will come upon him.
. The boy bounds into the path; but, as
6 he passes the cottage he is SO thirsty, and
20 hot, that he thinks he mus, ask the in.
D hsbitants il they can sell him glass Of ale
! Ne enters without ceremony. Ale :
| says the wuodman. who is sitting at hi
!. supper. No, we have no ale: but per
b hsps my wife can give thee drink Of milk
! Come in" So he comes in, aud shuts th,
!. door and, while he sits waiting Tor th,
b milk, footsteps pass. They are the foot
J. steps OF his pursuer, who goes on with ih,
{ stick in his hand. and is angry and impa
tient that he has not yet come up wit
{ him.
p The woman goes TO her little dairy 70
!. the milk, and the bsy thinks she is lon
{ time. lie drinks il. thanks her, and take
his leave.
y Fast and fsster the man runs on, and, q
g fast as he eau, the boy runs after him.
: i, very dark. but there is yellow strea
- 10 the sky, where the moon IS blowing v
j. a furrowed mass Of grey clouds. and on
g or two stars are blinking through branche
10 Of the trees.
I. Fast the hoy follows, and fast the ma
y runs on. with his weapon in his hand. Sud
denly he hears the joyous whoop; not be
ID fore, but behind him. lie stops and lis
er tens brcathlessly. Yes. At last. Hepush
y es himselJ into the thicket, and raises hi
ie stick when the boy shall pass.
e On he comes, running lightly. with hi
hands 10 his pockets. 4 sound strike
he at the same instant on the ears OF both
ne and the hey turns back from the very jaw
I'd OF death TO listen. ltis the sound OF wheel
n and it draws rapidly nearer. Aman come
., up, driving little gig.
is "Ililloa!" be says, 10 loud, cheeri
4, voice; what. benighted. yOungster :"