Litchfield enquirer., 1875-07-01

latter had been a hat, but was divested of its brim so neatly that when drawn over the unmutilated one the whole structure exactly resembled single homogeneous hat, of the most common and unstudied character. Between the two there were found bank-bill of various denominations < to the amount of two hundred and fifty Edollars. Mick transferred twenty-five dol lars to his vest pocket. replaced the bal ance between the hat crowns, read justed the divided ehapeou, and put it on his head, remarkng that that was the way to make a hat sunstroke proof.
 We went into piece of woods that lay about half a mile west of the house, and made our way slowly westward until morning and then started once more due north through a trackless hemlock forest. Owing to the prevalence of west winds in this country the topmost twig of nine Ehemlock trees out of ten inclines to the east. This and several other sylvan pss aaRps af 1aaee ms ass Hssk a ss +h 19roceeded. After we had tramped through the woods some two hours by daylight, ! Mick directed my attention to a1arge gray squirrel
 'aThat felly, said he, ''for all his fop- ! pish ways. would help our dry bread a good deal. Will you try the pistol ?" was glad to see an opportunity of render ing essential service III our flight. l am natural marksman, and brought down the squirrel at the first shot. As soon as we reached some decent1y clear water we boiled the squirrel in the little kettle, with some dry bread, and some roots selected and gathered by Mick. This breakfast was huge success, If enthusiastic appre- clation Is just measure of success on such occasions. After breakfast we slept and watched two hours each. We then took up our line of march again due north. During the afternoon I was so fortunate as to bag another squirrel and a partridge. Night found us in the edge of q dense cedar swamp.
 VIII.
 E This swamp was great triumph of Northern vegetation. It bore dense, tangled profusion- of everything that grows upon low lands in this latitude, and here and there, upon slight elevations were luxuriant growths of upland trees, shrubs, and humber plants. To one of these elevations we made our way across quaking bog.
 
 deal. that day and the night before. Now and threatened to consume us.
 We lighted big fire at the foot of a great elm tree, and numerous smaller ones all around. These latter we partially smothered with turf, in order to make At first 1t seemed as though the mosqui- &ooc cfo of-o For some time after lighting our fires, every step we took among the thick vege- tation seemed to stir up and provoke to the attack numerous and hungry swarm. But when our smudges had been playing upon them half an hour or so, the music of their tiny bugles became fainter, and, as the cloud of smoke extended itself far ther and farther into the swamp, they gradually ceased to annoy us.
 Having procured some passably clear water from neighboring pool, we dressed 0nr game and cooked 1t, ate what we nesded, and left the rest for breakfast After supper we spread our blankets near >the fire, sat down upon them, lighted our cigars, and betook ourselves each to his own meditations.
 The fire-ight shone in a bright streak along the nearest side of each surround ing tree, leaving the rest of it in such black darkness as to suggest the notion that some creature might be lying secure ly in ambush iR each great shadow. The play of the light upon the lower side of the venture overhead hnged the various shades of green with an unwonted ruddi- ness. As the fire gnawed its way through the thick bark of the great elm and fast ened upon its sap-wood, 1t seemed to be repelled by frequent little angry explo- sions or ''snaps," sounding like the crack ing of percussion caps. There was not a breath of wind astir, but the woods seem- ed full of noises. was every moment startled by the breaking of sticks, and the sound of what seemed to be approaching footsteps. Strange calls and cries from birds and beasts began to be heard as the evening deepened into night.
 ''What's that ?" whispered I, referring to light but unmistakable footsteps close at hand.
 ss'Tis some foolish beast reconnoitring. The silly creatures are mortally afraid of a fire at night, and yet they can't help proving around it. {"
 'sThen we are safe from four footed visitors while we keep our fires burning, are we?"
 ''Yes; they'll keep pottering about close by us but they won't come near enough to show us the color of their eyes"
 Mike collected and disposed near the fire luxurious and fragrant couch of hemlock and cedar boughs, upon which we spread our blankets and reposed our weary and musquito bitten bodies. It will be remembered that we had each ta- ken pretty substantial nap that day. We were therefore not drowsy, and we put far from us the question who should first sleep and who watch when the time for sleeping should come. There was near us pond or pool full of noisy bull frogs. They seemed to have for leader q basso of great power and profundity.
 "That old fellow moinds me-" said Mick, ''Of an old chap in Philadelphia who did use to stand on the docks when the steamb0ats came in, and keep saying Globe Hotel, Globe Hotel, Globe Hotel. :"
 "You've lived in Philadelphia, have you ?"
 'sYes. indeed. I was there more nor & year. It's a drowsy old place, by reason of the streets cutting one another square across, like the lines of a multiplication table. The houses are mostly all aloike, and every house has a nice nurse-maid, leading two nice children up and down in front of 1t.
 '.Mick," said I, ''when did you leave Ireland, and why? Tell me all about yourself. I'm dying to hear your story. !"
 Mick went to the cigar box, now run ming low. took one weed for himself. and tossed one to me. When we had them lighted and were once more upon our couch, each with his head resting on his elbow, Mick proceeded :-
 'tI suppose l was born in Dublin, though in what corner or cellar or garret I have no idea. My first recollection is of lead ing an old woman around the streets. who pretended to be blind, but could see like cat. She called herself my grandmother. If that was true it was the only truth I ever heard her tell. She begged in the streets. and did little in the way of look ing up good jobs for the burglars. We lived in a cellar in the thieves and beg gars quarter. Old Mag RunnelIsL was the old woman's name-was quite a character there. People who feared the police, or who had stolen something bad to hide or hard to sell, used often to come to her for advice They always hrou cl+