Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-11-28

| tated when she entered the room, ana
| the touch of her hand thrilled me
through and through. / was only by
a mighty effort that controlled my
feeling. All, how lovely she looked.
l dared not dwell upon such thoughts,
so stammered out the business that
brought me there. She smiled when I
told her, mischievot,s smile, and said:
s'Thank you very much, MIR. Jackson,
but have no word for Mr.. Richards
that know of"
I was surprised, and she saw it.
"You have been led into an error"
she said more seriously, shut thank
you all the same. hope you will see
no trouble ON your journey. You must
be careful, however, for fires are burn
ing through all that region. =,
! You don't know how these words
cheered me. Notwithstanding the EN-
barrassing position, l could not feel sor-
ry that l went; and apologizing for the
mistake, 1 took my leave very much
happier, yet, withal, feeling sort of
pity for John Richards. . s..r
The first part Of my journey was per
| formed without serious trouble. 1t is
true had SEINE narrow escapes from
the fires, which l found everywhere,
thus proving my mothers fears not
without foundation. Button Saturday
night, the night for camping out, met
with the first of series of mishaps that
promised a very unfortunate ending to
my trip. .-.. t.-......
The camping out, however, was not
so disagreeable as l anticipated, for our
men on their way up had erected cab
I'm for themselves and sort of stable
for their horses. In the latter I tied
Jim, finding hay and grain enough
for a feed, and then betook my
self to the other cabin, where made
preparations for passing comfortable
night. But l could not sleep at first.
Ten thousand in one pocket is not a
remarkable. narcotic, especially when
one is in lonely cedar swamp, with
fires lighting the heavens above, the
sutfocating smoke retarding respiration,
and men prowling about fol- prey. But
sleep came to me after awhile, and mon
ey, fire, smoke, and robbers were forgot
| ten. t.... p ,,s ~.
| do not know how long slept, but
LIDO know that was awakened very
suddenly. | sprang from the heap of
straw, which had been my bed, and,
by the light Of the fires, which had
burned nearer, saw man standing in
the door, His face was turned toward
me, black face it was, too, but wheth
er artifcially co ored OF natural l could
not say. .-. .- .s-.-.-.
eff you don't want to get burned up
you'd better get out of here !" he said
grufiy. '"Ten minutes more and the
hut will be ablaze' .. ....... ...
III needed no second bidding. | found
that his words were true, his warning
| timely On three sides of the hut the
hungry flames were greedily licking up
everything combustible,; and at one
| point, were only few rods from where
| | stood. - ;.:'.>
The smoke was sitting; the heat was
searching. l had no time to waste.
The stranger was already on the move,
as | knew by the sound of his horses
footballs. was not far behind, as
sure you, for my faithful horse seemed
to realize that we were in peril.
The smoke was so dense that | could
not see rod ahead, but struck out
boldly, and a ride of half an hour
broug ht me out of immediate danger.
Then, for the first time since my awak-
ing,'I thought of the money. quick
ly clapped my hand to breast pocket,
and--it was empty.
!. Can you guess my first wish? 1t was
that had been left to my fate in that
rude hut, for death seemed preferable
to dishonor ,l:sl:.s 't't9s
These thoughts did not remain with
me any length of time, for:;somewhere
in advance of me fleeing from his vic
tim and from the devouring element,
was the robber. My oniy desire, then,
was to overtake him and wreak out my
tengence upon his worthless carcass.
Putting the whip to my horse, dash
ed on, making but lit e progress, how
ever, for the way had never been tray
e'ed unless by some footman. Towards
daylight the way improved, and soon
after sunrise struck road. [ now
moved on more rapidly. l was on the
track of the william, but some hours be-
hind him. | was gaining on him how
ever. As the day waned l heard of
him nearer and nearer. hoped to
overtake him before dark, but failed.
= did despair | kept on, and
somewhere between eight and nine
o'clock reached a village situated on the
border Of a bay to give my horse
drinek, but lie only touched his mouth
to the water, when he lifted up his
head, turned square around, and, with
dilated eyes, swelling nostrels, and ele-
waited ears, gazed :; towards the
woods which surrounded the village.
And too, turned in the same direction,
for low rumbling sound, inexplicable
to- me, broke the Sabbath stiffness.
Louder and louder it grew as we gazed
until it was like the noise of mighty
irresistible waters. sweeping towards
us. The inhabitants of the village were
aroused Though conscious Of some
terrible: danger, they were ignorant of
their awful DOOM Even the domestic
animals took the alarm and fled,
trampling many poor unfortunate I'M
| derfoot in their midst ...s..s..........-
But the worst was yet to come
Dumb with awe rather than fear, /
stood facing the mysterious roar stood
alone, for my frightened horse had bro
ken away and fed-while fiercer and
more terrible became the horrid mystic