The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-11-21

beneath his seat But now the evepine
breeze sprang up, and blew away the
myriads of minute sand~fiies that had
hitherto tormented him. Then the mist
of the river came rolling in and HID every
surrounding object in an impenetrable
cloud. No London fog was ever denser or
colder than this. II was the exhalation
of moist and pulpy alluvium pregnant
with the vapor of decaying vegetation and
endless swamps. 1t was not long before
his teeth chartered with cold. He fortu-
nately had matches in his pocket, and
with them he attempted to light fire. In
his search for dry chips. he struck against
what appeared to be a stone on taking
it up it proved to be a human skull He
threw 1t away in disgust Some cold
substance adhering to his hand he struck
a light TO examine ii. and discovered that
an enormous centipeGe had crawled out of
the skull and was making its way up his
sleeve. Every nerve in his frame seemed
to start at the sight, and he hastily swept
it off. 1t required more fortitude than lie
possessed now, to stir without alarm.
Every substance around him he knew was
alive with venomOus reptiles. Vipers
were concealed in the dead timber on
which he might sit. Centipedes and scor-
pions nestled under the bark, Insects
that feed on decomposed and purifying
matter, were generated in the malaril he
inhaled, and swarmed about him in
clouds and, when he had succeeded in
kindling fire, the mosquitoes, settled on
=!
with thousand stings, and buzzing into
his ears with a wailing and ceaseless hum,
seemed to crown the pandemOnium into
which he had fallen.
No wonder that he became a prey to
unnatural terrors. He fancied he saw the
fierce eyes Of crowds of alligators twink
ling at him through the blaze that he
heard the Swapping of their fearful jaws on
every side of him, that every unburnt ems
Der in the fire was deadly serpent thaw-
ing into life, and about 10 spring upon him
with fatal bite. Then lie fancied that
scorpions had crept into his linen, and was
afraid to move lest centipede would sting
his bosom. Worse than all, he began to
| think he was resting on one of the graves,
| and that the worms from beReath were
anticipating his decay f; and oh horror of
| horrors, that the air rung with dismal
cries, which seemed to be approaching
! from distance, until he became over
powered with his fears, and trembled and
| ,11ozsr1ed hel;slessly like sns iafa.nt-B But he
was now really i'll. The chiIls and ague
creDt over him, and happily rendered linn
| insensible to every thing but physical suf-
fering, until he was reused 10y the crack
ling of twigs near him as of something
stcalihily approaching. This was the eli
max He jumped up with cry of terror
more like yell than a human voice, ant
rushing toward the waters edge, fell un
conscious to the ground.
If he had retained his faculties he nigh
have known that light was at no grea
distance, that the water reflected the fam
of beacons blazing on every island; tina
boat full of men was approaching tha
} these men were shouting for him with al
their might, and that help was at hand
Though he knew it not.
Some days after, when his ship had GO
} well out to sea, and he had recovered fror
the delisium of high fever, they ventuI
| ed to tell him about his escape. Th
boats crew had at first searched for hin
, in every direction but the right one, an
foolishly sone back to the snip for orders
e They were immediately dispatched agai
e with lanterns, and instructions to renal
2 all night if necessary. They soon di
s covered his fire, and after infinite pain
b contrived to reach the spot in time to re
n cue him from watery grave.
n Though some years have now passe
a over his head, and he has attained Il
e command of large ship, yet it alwa.
d gives him pain to be questioned rs to Il
i cause of his premature gray hairs; n
!, can he ever recall without tremor, Il
If sufferings Of that night in the bayou.
t,