The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-31

1
paths, and the bird goes down the
wrong one. The temptation to follow
it is too strong to be resisted; he
knows that somewhere, deep in the
wood, there is cross track by which
he can get into the track he has left
it is only to run a little faster. and he
shall be home nearly as SOON.
On he rushes /; the path takes bend
and he is just out of sight when his
pursuer comes where the path divides
The boy has turned to the right-the
man takes the left, and the faster they
both run, the farther they are asunder
The white owl will lead him on
the path gets darker and narrower
at last he finds that he has missed il
altogether, and his feet are on the soft
ground. He founders about among
the trees and stumps, vexed with him.
self, and painting after his race. AT
last he hits upon another track and
pushes on as fast as he can. The
ground begins sensibly to descend he
has lost his way--but he keeps bear
ing to the left: and, though it is now
dark, he thinks he must reach the
main path sooner or later.
He does not know this part of the
wood, but runs on. Oh, little mid
shipman, why did you chase that owl ?
If you mad kept the path with the
dark man behind you, there was a
chance that you might outrun him: or
if he had overtaken you, some passing
wayfarer might have heard your cries,
and come to save you. Now you are
running straight Oh to your death, for
the forest water is deep and black at
the bottom of the hill. Oh that the
moon might come out and show it to
you!
The moon is under thick canopy
of heavy black clouds, and there is not
star to glitter on the water and make
it visible. The fern is soft under his
feet as he runs and slips down the
sloping hill. AT last he strikes against
stone, stumbles and falls. Two mill
utes more and he will fall into the
black water.
"Heydey!" cried the boy, "what's
this? Oh. how it tears my ands
Oh! this thornbush. Oh! my arm
l can't get free!' lie struggles and
pants. "All this comes ofleaving the
PATH" he says; j shouldn't have
cared for rolling down If it hadn't
been for this bush. III never stray
away in wood at night again. There,
free at last. And my jacket nearly
torn off my back!"
With a good deal of patience, and a
great many scratches, he gets free of
the thorn which had arrested his pro-
gress when his. feet were within a
yard of the water, manages to scram-
BILE to the bank, and makes the best of
his way through the wood.
And now, as the clouds move slow
ly onward, the moon shows her face
on the black surface of the water, and
the little white owl comes and boots,
and flutters over it like a wandering
snow drift. Bat the boy is in the
wood again, and knows nothing of The
danger from which he has escaped.
All this time the dark passenger fol-
lows tie main track, and believes that
the boy is before him. At last he
hears a crashing of dead boughs, and
presently the little midshipman's
voice fifty yards before him. Yes, it
will pass the cottage in the wood di-
rectly, and after that its pursuer will
come upon him.
The boy bounds into the path, but
as he sees the cottage he is thirsty. and
so hot. that he thinks he must ask the
Inhabitants if they can sell him glass
of ale.
He enters without ceremony.
"A.e!' says the wocdman, who is
sitting at his supper, "No, we have no
alse; but perhaps my wife can give
thee drink of milk. Come in" So
he comes in and shuts the door, and
while he sits waiting for the milk,
footsteps pass.
They are the footsteps of the pursu-
er, who goes OH with the stake in his
hand, angry and inpatient that he has
not yet come up with him.
The woman goes to the dairy for
milk, and the boy thinks she IS gone
long time. He drinks it, thanks her.
and takes his leave
Fast and faster the man runs after
him.
1t is yer, dark but there is yell
low streak in the sky, where the moon
is blowing up furrowed mass of gray
clouds, and one or two stars are blink
ing through the branches of the trees.
Fast the boy follows, and fast the
man runs on, with his weapon in his
hand. Suddenly he hears the joyous
whoop, not before him, but behind
him. lie stops and listens noiselessly.
Yes, It is so. lie pushes himself into
the thicket, and raises his stake, when
the boy shall pass.
On he comes, running lightly, with
his hands i'm his pockets. A sound
strikes at the same instant the ears of
both; and the boy turns back from
the very jaws of death to listen. 1t is
the sound of wheels, and it draws rap
idly nearer. a man comes up, driving
a gig.
"Ililloa. he says, in a loud, cheer
ful voice, "What, benighted, young
ster!"
"Oh, is it you, Mr.. D." says
the boy; mo, l am not benighted; or
at any rate, | know my way out of the
woods"
The man drew further back among
the shrubs. "Why, bless the boy,' he
hears the farmer say, ito think OF onr
meeting in this way! The parson
told me he was in hopes of seeing
thee some day this week. III give
thee lift. This is lone place to
be in this time o'night.'
"Lone," says the boy laughing. ~
don't mind that; and if you know the
way its.as safe as quarter deck
So he gets into the farmers gig, and
is once more out of the reach of the
pursuer. But the man knows that
the farmers house is quarter cf a
smile nearer than the parsonage, and
in that quarter OF mile there is still
a chance of committing robbery. lie
determined still to make the attempt
and cuts across the wood with such
rapid strides that he reached the
farmers gate just as the gig drives
up to it.
w ell, thank you, iarmer, says the
midshipman, as he prepares to get
down.
"Iwish you goodnight, gentlemen
SAYS the man, when he passes.
Good night, friend the farmer re-
plies."1 say, my boy it's dark night
enough but l have mind to drive
you Oh the rest OF this parsonage and
l,nop ho Io, f..to g oh hr,