Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-02-05

| "'h' S'oF oHu pun Ills revolver round
In front upon his belt. Again he
crawied upon his belly across the
ledge OF rocks, peered over. and then
again let drive with both barrels.
when the smoke lifted little he took
another hasty peep, and. quickly
drawing his ristol, rapidly fired all
six shots into the water.
This done, he waited but for an.
other peep under the ledge, when he
began rolling backwards, and then.
jumping up, ram bach to his old stand.
Placing his hat upon the end of his
gun lse held II aloft, and came Gamer.
Ing down the shore, shouting for me.
| ran out as fast AZ could, answer.
ing m ! ran: when. seeing me com.
ing, he ran back To where / had first
seen him, behind a little stuntrd
cedar, AMI again began loading. BY
Jove /! thinks I, the devil II to nay
np there, stre, or Frank would never
actthat way. As said before. never
having ienrd a whisper Of the lake
being Inhabited 10y any extraordinary
thing, l WAS completely at a loss to
account for Franks very strange
conduct, in fact feared that he had
suddenly become insane.
"As soon as I came near where he
was standing he ceased loading his
six-shooter his gun he had already
reloaded.-and placed his finger upon
his lips as sign for me To make no
noise. He was rs pale ny death, and
his protruding eyes seemed Ia have
In them genuine mauiacal light. &.
For Gods sake make no noise -
he whispered hoarscly, as / came up
to him.
"1s your gun loaded ?" he asked,
and being assured that ii was, he said.
Now / will tell you. There IL,
just over the edge of that rock. the
most terrible monster that hunnn
eyes ever rested upon. II was lead
In the shape of big canoe; is OF a
blood red color, aud away back along
Its body IA far as could see are n
huge pair Of the wickelest looking
eyes ever saw in tho head of any
living thing the Almighty ever made.
and, by thunder! IN XIII it II I have
to wade the lake In blood By the
Eternal! five can kill ii our fortunes
are made !"
"Well. but tell me,". cried I, chow
1t acts? What /. is like? Have YOU
crippled it7'
well, it's like what / told YOU!
L was standing OH the ledge, looking
out over the lake, when | first saw
it. was just on the act Of turning
away when Isaw il come poking It's
ugly snout out of deep water, few
feet out. and still further and further
rs began To back away. The infer
nal thing came after me just as eat
would go after mouse, and I saw
its great, black under jaw working ns
u moved ut me. | believe If I had
not let drive at II just then with both
barrels the blamed thing would have
been up the bank after me. It's II
terrible thing! Shot don + seem 10
Le flea. bite to it. Ii made at me
every time went back just Us at first
only 1t has moved up closer, and
both OF the last times when | went
back 1t was lying watching, just un.
der the ledge Of the rocks.n
According to Franks Directions.
now slipped n couple OF shooter
bullets into each barrel OF NV gun.
threw off my hat, and prepared 10 20
with him to make desperate attack
upon the thing, whatever 1t might
be.
II assure you would rather havs
been thousand miles awny nc that
particular moment, aud would have
given much for even the strength of
nerve aud pluck displayed by Frank:
but being ashamed to show tho white
feather, cooked my gun and signi.
fled my readiness le proceed. Frank.
vivid drscrIption--vivid ~ IL fell
from his lips and rs read Il In his
Imliid lace, bad 80 wrought upon me
That when half way tothe ledge I felt
myself IN such a tremoI that ! wa.
obliged to touch his elbow aud I'm
whisper request him 10 stop until
was more collected. n was not nm.
I'll after Frank had pluckei me sev.
eral times hy the sleeve that / had
courage tn nod that I wis ready 10
move OF agaih Never shall | forget
lie sense or suffocaliOn that oppress
ed my chest, and the nunbnp-s about
my heart, IA we AZ last cautiously
aud silently began craw ling over the
Few feet of smooth rock that inter
ventd between us and the frivIItft,I
scarlet monster. At last we were al.
most mt the edge Of the ledge, and
Frank gave me pluck 90 stop.
Itaising hls head for n moment, he
looked over, and tlien quietly sink.
ing back lie whispered in my ear.
lie is there. He IN Just under the
edge OF the bank. Look. but be care
fuI.n
with mighty effort, and tremhI
Ing In every joint. by halfifches ]
raised my head The water WAS as
clear IA crystal. aud not the slightest
ripple rufIled it, surface, but could
see nothing.
did You see IL ?" whispered Frank
as ! settled back.
Nor
'.Tlien look again." said he. ~
tell ym,, by the Eternal lac IL there.
lie " Just under the edge of the rock
Get your gun ready; 1 II poiht him
out and We'll both hre n, ouce.p
"t'auiionsly W. both r,se together.
and "a we looked down upon the VIA
ter. Frank whispered
"'rherc he comes There There
Look at him !" And up came his
gun.
II saw n sort of red CLEAN In tie
water. and was bringing my gun to
my face when light shoiie In upon
the. and droring tie niuzze Of my
piece broke nut into n regular horse
laugh. Frank glzei n,,an me with |
the stupid stare 1T an iiint.
"L1ok.n crici / a.oas welt nj |
your terrible monster BY Jove. II
II netting but the reflection of yonr
nose ~ He did look, and one look |
convinced him.
by iie Eternal, you are right ~ |
L.. s...y II f....