The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-05-20

ab0 NUO uGaf tiiG SHtIauS6 Oh kAlS WtOQ,
but he knows that shortly the path will
branch off into two, and the right one
for the boy to take will be dark aud
lonely.
But what prompts the little midship-
man, when not Fifty rods from the branch
ing of the path, to break into sudden
run? 1t is not fear-he never dreams of
danger. Some sudden impulse, or wild
wish for home makes him dash off sud-
denly after his saunter, with whoop and
bound. On he goes as if running a
race; the path bends, and the man loses
sight of him. "Bus I shall have him
yet" he thinks; he cannot keep up that
pace long. The boy has nearly reached
the place where the path divides, when
he starts up white owl, that can scarce
| ly Hy as he goes whirling along close to
the ground before him. He gains upon
it; another moment and it will be his.
Now he gets the start again; they come
| 20 the branching of the paths, and the
bird goes down the wrong one. The
tempta tion to follow it is too strong to
be resisted; he knows that somewhere
deep in the wood, there is a cross track
by which he can gel into the track he
has left; it is only to run 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 pur-
boy has turned to the right-the man
takes the left, and tho faster they both
run the further they are assunder.
The white o@.still leads him on the
path gets darker and narrower; at last
k.G Al. l. = Ii
and his feet are on soft ground. He
founders about among the trees and
stumls, vexed with himself, and painting
after his race. At last he hits upon
another track aud pushes on as fast as he
can. The ground begins sensibly to
descend he has lost his way-bus he
keeps bearing 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 midship-
man Why did you chase that owl? If
you had kept the path with the dark man
behind you. there was chance that You
| might ou,run him, or, if he had overtak.
en- you, some passing wayfarer might
/ have heard your cries, and come TO save
j you. Now you are running straight on
to your death, for the forest water Is
/ deep and black at the bottom of this
Hill. Oh that the moon might come out
and show it to you
! The moon is undcra thick canopy of
heavy black clouds, and there is not
star 10 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,
stumblcs and falls. Two minutes more
and he will fall into the black water.
'Heydey." cried the boy, ''what is
this? Oh. how it tears my hands Oh !.
this thorn-busb? Oh! my arm can't
get free. :" He struggles and pants. "All
this comes Of leaving the path" he says;
II shouldn't have cared for the rolling
down if it hadn't been for this brush.
The fern was soft enough. III never
stray away in wood at night again.
There, free at last. And my jacket near
y torn of my back =,
With j guod deal of patience. and
great many scratches, be gets free Of
the thorn which has arrested his pro-
gress when his feet were within a yard
of The water, manages 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 shows her face on the
black surface of the water and the little
white owl comes and boots, and fiutters
over it like wandering snow drift. But
the boy is in the wood again, and knows
nothing of the danger from which he has
escaped. All this time the dark passen-
ger follows the main track, and believes
that the boy is before him. At last he
hears crashing of dead boughs, and
presently the little midshipmau's voice
Fifty yards before him. Yes, it will pass
the cottage in the wood directly, and af-
ter that his 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 in
habitants il they can sell him glass of
ale.
He enters without ceremony. eAle?"
says the woodman, who is sitting at his
supper. "No, we have no ale; but per-
haps 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 pursuer,
W no goes on with the stake In 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 has gone
long time. He drinks it, thanks her,
and takes his leave.
Faster and faster the man runs after
him.
1t is very dark but there is yellow
streak in the sky. where the moon is
blowing upa furrowed mass OF gray
clouds, and one or two stars are blinking
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
mot not 6s1ors isiors Da;.a,saI but Dshlnd @ steps
pushes himself into the thicket, aud
raises his stake, when the boy shall pass.
On he cones running lightly with