The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-08-05

| H-iS SCttAuS vCiN hOt hCic,
ed 81 thought, perhaps We should find it
/ "Ah.h-hr' he Missed, putting his face SO
close to mine as to glare up into mine under
the very shadow of my broad-brimmed hat /;
"yOu're traitor like all the rest of EN-! But
I'm prepared for you! See."
And with burst of laughter, SO dissonant
that the very tide seemed to tremble and
culver, he flashed long, sharp knife in the
air, describing circle of cleaning light
around his head. My blood seemed turned
to ice in my veins.
"Put up your knife, your Royal Hlghness,"
I said, counterfeiting an off.hand ease that
| by no means felt. 'Where's the use of it be-
tween friends? Let's talk about the Queen"
| l was the more anxious to secure his atten-
ton, as l saw moving figures on the shore
scarcely half mile away from US, the fut-
ter of white handkerchief, and then total
disappearance of the figures. Help was at
hand, felt sure, if could only maneuver so
as to reach it.
mo, not about the Queen" said the poor
maniac; "that grieves and afflicts me-" He
closd his knife as he spoke "But, do you
know" he continued. 81 am haunted T.
Haunted 2" said /.
| ''Yes-haunted by a horrible, ugly, old wo-
|
Now, do you know" he SAID, moving close
up to me, and speaking IN a low mysterious
voice, "she won't let me alone ~
| "No2'
| "She won't Sometimes she climbs up to
the stars at night, and sits there winking
through my bedroom all night. Sometimes
she comes jumping down from the clouds
among the rain drops, and sometlmes-there
she Is now, with three pairs of fins, and face
like ishe's!''
He uttered an elritch scream, as he looked
down into the clear shining deep
"Let's escape from her y exclaimed, Wig
orOusly Selling the oars. "She can't follow US
on to the dry land, that's certain. Pull
away"
"No, she can't. We might hide in the
woods, only, if she should turn into a squirrel
and jump up and down among the trees-she
does sometimes y .I.t'lt.
"Well, then, we'll borrow gun and dis.
pose of her." said pulling towards the shore,
while the Precipitation, cold and clammy as
midnight dews, streamed down my temples.
"What are you in such devil Of hurry
for?" demanded my companion, rather mo-
rosely. "Hold hard little, can't you ~
checked my exertions. Evidently he was
in no humor to trife with. Ht.
mo hurry at ALL" said as calmly as posi-
BILE; "only. you see. the old witch is following
you up pretty closely and"- I'M.
ave are too near the shore" he interrupt
ed, abruptly. .4s.t .l....r..
We were within few rods of the clustering
bushes that knew contained help. Oh heav-
en-, could | but have reached that friendly
shelter. How like mass of lead my heart
sank in my bosom, as / saw him catch up the
| oars and Sfrika ONt Onco moro q cnptro ~
direction.
But as he turned his head away, l caught
up the sheathed knife, and flung it hurting
upon the shore.
whats that?" he demanded, turning
quickly around.
'It's you WITCH" I said as unconcernedly
as could. "Don't you think we ought to 90
ashore, and see what has become of her ~
His eye moved Iestlessly along the green
bank.
II don't know; what do you think ~
"Well, she IS your enemy. No doubt it
was she who spread the report of your death.
You ought to address her in conciliatory
manner; and if you could once bring her to
good terms, what would prevent you from as.
EnglandT
THAT'S very true. Here, head her in to.
wards the shore. ! wonder never thought
Of that before" .##.F~ -
Poor fever.brained lunatic Even in the
consciousness of my own mortal peril, my
heart ached for the crazy flights of his sick
fancy.
We were close to the friendly land the
long silver-green tresses of the willows almost
touched my thrcbbing forehead, when my
strange companion started to his feet, with a
yell that aroused all the echoes floating owe
the peaceful lake.
! "Traitor-spy double dyed villain you
have been deceivng me. Your hrelings
Turk among yonder bushes. But it's in vain !
the Royalty of England shall never fall a
prey to base articles like these"
He sprang toward me like an infurlatcd IL.
ger. AT the same instant the shore seemed to
become alive with hurrying figures; and with
last impulse 1 caught up the rope that lay
coi!ed in the bottom of the boat, with one
end affixed to an iron hook, and threw 1t des-
perately shoreward. could see tall form,
plunging waiet deep into the water to grasp
ut it; and then the clinging arms of my terri.
bic companion were wresthed around me and
l knew no more.
Are you better, sir p
"Better Yes-no: cant tell. Where
am Is'
Here, at the little inn, snug in bed you
have had stormy time of it. What on earth
possessed you to 60 out in a boat with that
= poor gentleman
Mail, isn't he Z" asked with all the fright
fu! occurrences of the morning crowd,ng back
upon my mind. as one may remember the