New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-10

He does not know this part OF the wood,
but runs on. Oh little midshipman, why
did you chase that owl! If you had kept
the path with that dark man behind you
there was chance that you might outrun
him; or if he had oyertaken you, some pass
ing wayfarer might have heard your cries,
and come to save you. Now you are running
straight unto your DEATH for the forest
water is deep and black at the bottom OF
this bill. 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 a star to gilt
ter on the water and make it visible. The
tern is soft under his feet as he runs and
slips down the hill. At last he strikes
against stone and stumbles and falls. Two
minutes more and he will fall into the black
water.
"Heyday :" cries the boy, what IS this ?
Oh, how it tears my hands! Oh, this thorn
bush Oh, my arms. / can't get freew He
struggles and pants "All this comes Of
leaving the PATH he says. Il shouldn't
care for rolling down if it hadn't been for
this bush. The fern was soft enough. I'll
never stray away in a wood at night again.
There, free at last And my jacket nearly
torn of my back
With a good deal of patience and a great
many scratches he got free of the thorn
which had arrested his progress when his
feet were within yard of the water, man
ages to scramble to the bank, and makes
the best Of his way through the wood.
And now, as the clouds move slowly on
ward, the moon shone her face on the black
surface of the water, and the little white
owl comes, boots and fiutters over it like a
wandering snow drift. But the boy is in the
wood again, and knows nothing of the dan
ger from which he has escaped.
AL this time the dark passenger follows
the main track, and believes that the boy is
before him. At last he hears crashing Of
dead bOughs, and presently the little mid
shipman's voice, not many yards before
him. Yes it IS true; the boy is in the cross
track. He will pass the cottage in the
wood directly, and after that his pursner
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
'Ale p says the wOodman, who was sit
ting at his supper, mo, we have no ale;
but perhaps my wife can give thee q drink
OF milk. Come in"
So he comes III and shuts the door, and
while he sits waiting for the milk, hears the
footsteps OF his pursuer, who goes on with
the stake i'll his hand, angry and impatient
that he has not yet come up with him.
The woman goes to the dairy for the
milk, and the boy thinks she is gone for
long time.
Fast and faster the man runs after him.
1t is very dark, but there is a yellow streak
in the sky, where the moon is blowing up
furrowed mass o. e,ray clouds, and one or
two stars are blink Z through the branches
of the trees.
Fast the bov follows, ard fast the man
runs on, with his weapon in his hand. Sud-
denly he hears the joyous whoOp, not be-
fore but behind him. He stops and listens
noiselessly; yet it is so. He pushes himself
into thicket, and raises his stake when the
bov shall pass.
On he comes, running lightly, with his
hands in his pockets. A sound strikes at the
same instant on 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 rapidly nearer. A man comes up
driving a gig. 'Hilloar he says, in loud,
cheerful voice. What, benighted, young
ster!"
30, is it you. Mr.. D. says the boy;
no, am not benighted, or at any rate
know my way in the wood
The man drew further back among the
shrubs. why, bless the boy" he hears the
farmer say, ito think of our meeting in this
way. The palsOn told me he was in hopes
of seeing thee some Gay this week. I'll give
thee lift. This is lone place to be in this
time o night"
Lone p says the boy, laughing; ~ don't
mind that; and if you know. the way, it's as
safe as the quarterback"
SO be 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 OF a mile nearer than the par
sonage, and in that quarter of mile there
is a chance of committing robbery. He de-
termi1es still 20 make the attempt, and cuts
across the woods with such rapid strides
that he reaches the farmers gate just as the
gig drives up TO It.
We'll, thank yOu," says the midshipman,
as he prepares to get down.
Good might, friend" the farmer replies.
Il say, my boy, it's a dark night enough;
but ! have a mind to drive you to the par
Sonage, and hear the rest of this long story
Of yours about the sea-serpent."
The little wheels go on again. They pass
the man, and he stands still in the road till
the sound dies away. Then he filings his
stake into the hedge and goes back again.
His evil purposes have been frustrated-the
IhOughtless boy has batfied him at every
STEP.
And now the little midshipman is a. home;
the joyful meeting has taken place, and
when they have ali admitted his growth and
decided who he was like, and measured his
height on the window frame, and seen him
eat his supper, they begin to question him
concerning his adventures, more for the
sake of hearing him talk than any curiosity.
adventures :" says the boy, seated be-
tween his father and mother on the sofa.
why, ma. | did write an account of the
voyage. and there is nothing else to tell.
Nothing happened to-day-at least nothing
particular"
You came by the coach we told you Of"
asks his father.
ooh, yes, papa: and when we got about
twenty miles there came up beggar while
we were changing horses. and | threw
down, as l thought. a shilling, but as it
fell | saw it was a sovereign. She was very
honest, and showed me what it was, but |
didn't take II back. for you know. mamma,
it's long time since | gave anything to
anybody
Very true. my boy" his mother answers,
but you should not be careless with your
money, and few beggars are worthy OBJ
iects OF charity.
Il suppose Won got down at the cross
roads," said his eldest brother.
Yes, and went through the wood.
shOuld have been here sooner if | hadn't
lost my way there"
Lost your way!' said his mother alarmed;
my dear boy you should not have lett the
path at dark
ooh, ma said the little midshipman.
with smile; ''you are always thinking
we are III danger. If you could see me
sitting at the jib boom end. or
cross the main topmast cross trees. Won
would be frightened. But what danger can
there be in wOod?"
well, my boy" she answers, II don't
wish to he Over.anxious and make nv chi.
dren uncomfortable by my fears. What did
you stray from the path for?"
only to catch an owl, mamma: but l
DIDN'T catch her, after all | got roll down