The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-08-10
HOYT g. CO., Proprietors.


The white owl still leads him on the path
gets darker and narrower; at last he finds that
he has missed it altogether, and his feet are on
the soft ground He founders about among
the trees and stumps vexed with himself, and
painting after his race.
At last he hits upon another track, and push
es on as fast as he can. The ground begins
sensibly to descend; he has lost his way-but
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 midshipman why did you
chase that owl if you had kept the path of the
dark man behind you, there was 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 on to your death, for the
forest water is deep and black at the bottom OF
this hill. O that the moon might come out
and show it to youl
Tie 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
and he will fall into the black water.
"Heydey |" cries the boy, "whats this I? Oh,
how it tears my hands, Oh, this is thorn
bush! Oh, my arms can't get freel'
He STRUGGLES and pants. Call this comes of
leaving the path" he says; ri shouldn't have
cared for rolling down if it hadn't been for
this bush. The fern was soft enough. I'll
never STAY away in woods at night again
There, free at last! And my jacket nearly
torn off my back"
With a good deal of patience and great
many scratches, he got free of the thorn that
| - Il x1,bap hic foot
within yard of the water, manages 10 scram-
BILE up the bank, and makes the best of his way
through the dark dreary wood.
| And now, as the clouds move slowly onward,
the moon shows her face on the black surface
of the water, and the little white owl comes
| and boots and futters 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 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 midshipman'S
voice, not twenty yards before him. Yes, it is
true the 10y is in the cross track. He will
pass the cottage in the wood directly, and after
that his pnrsuer will come upon him.
The boy bounds into the path, but as he sees
the cottage he is thirsty and so hot, that he
must ask the inhabitants if they can sell him
a glass of ale. uo,
the woodman, who is sitting at his supper
'sNo, we have no ale; but perhaps my wife can
give thee drink of milk. Come in"
So he comes in and shuts the door, and while
he is waiting for the milk footsteps pass.
They are the footsteps of the pursuer, who
impatient that he has not yet come up with
him.
The woman goes to the dairy for the milk,
and the boy thinks that she is gone a long
time. He drinks it, thanks her. and then 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 plowing up turrowed
mass of grey clouds and one or two stars are
blinking through 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, but be-
hind'him. He stops and listens noiselessly.--
Yes, it is so. He pushes himself into the
thicket and raises his stake when the boy 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. "Hallos,"
he says, in loud cheerful voice. "What, be-
nighted, youngter"
SOh, is it you, Mr.. d." says the boy:
'No, I'm not benighted; or, at any rate, l
know my way out of the woods"
The man drew back farther among the BUSH
"Why, bless the boy" says the farmer, "to
think of our meeting in this way The parson
told me he was in hopes of seeing thee some day
this week. I'll give thee lift. This is a lone
place to be in this time of night"
'sLone?" says the boy laughing. 81 don't
mind that and, if you know the way, it's as
safe as the quarter deck"
So he gets into the farmers gig, and is once
more out of reach of the pursuer. But the
man knows that the farmers house is quarter
of mile nearer than the parsonage, and in
that quarter of mile there is still chance of
committing robbery. He determined still to
make the attempt, and cuts across the wood
with such rapid strides that he reaches the far
mer's gate just as the gig drives up to it.
"Well, thank you, farmer" says the MD
shipman, as he prepares to get down from the
wagon.
n wish you good night, gentlemen" " says the
man when he passes.
"Good night, friend" the farmer replies: II
say, my boy, it's dark night enough; have
a mind to drive you on to the parsonage and
hear the rest Of that long tale of yours about
the sea-serpent."
The little wheels go on again. They pass the
man, and he stands still in the road to listen
till the sound dies away.
He filings his stake into the hedge, and goes
back again. His evil purposes have all been
frustrated-the thoughtless boy has bafied him
at every step.
And now the little midshipman is at home
The joyful meeting has taken place, and when
they have admired his growth, and decided
whom he is like, and measured his height on
the window frame, and seen him eat his supper,
they begin to question him about his adven-
/ fnres more for the pleasure of hearing him