The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1878-06-01

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got in; aud bc it distinctly understood
that tho Rock Of Gibraltar does not sit
steatier on its base than sat in that
old rotten canoe. We got along pretty
well, until We reached tho middle OF
the river, when Haverty sung out
"Look out! Look out! WLirl. Pool!''
My boatmuu tool: up tho cry, aud
yelled, whirlpool! Whirlpool! |
cant keep cut ofit;" aud ho would
bang til, sides of tho boat with his pad
dies, splasLirg the water over me. !
begged and | prayed; ny whole life
flashed through ny brain. l thought
when as q child | kael: before my
mother and repeated my infant prayer,
"Now I lay me dOwu to sleeps" and
now ln manhood's primo I had lsls the
fairy land of "Tuckahoe," and came to
this ID heathcn country to be
drowned and eaten By Kauuwha catfish
1t was too much for my nerves, aud l
was about to yell out. Farewell, vain
world" when We reached tho opposite
shore. In turning tho boat parallel
with with the bank, and just before
rcaching it, gave desperate spring
and landed; but in SO doing | tilted
the boat, and out went my friend in the
surging deep. A few strokes, and he
came out wet as o drowned rat. He
shook himself. .bu. said nothing. I i'm
agined I could sec coming from bis
mouth stream Of forked lgteping,
and his nose smoked like o tar kiln.
We mounted our horses, and PRO-
ceelci on our way; wo had not gone q
great distance before night overlook
US; night; beautiful night! the stars,
those Orbs, that nightly gem tho mys-
tcriocs aud everlasting bluc," " were
coming forth from their mystic hiliug
places filing their diamond lamps.
with spleudOrs that night had no power
to Shade; tho silvcr7 crescent Of the
"queeu Of night" was walking the
"milli-maid's" path, throwing its sill
very sciatil!atioas ever the boughs ol
tho forest trees, through which the
night wind sighed n low monotone
like the refrain Of a far of dirgo!
The stiffness was unbrokcn, sayc the
occasional scream Of night Bird.
the howl Of tho wolf, or tho roar Of u
distant waterfall. On ascending to the
top Of the mountain ridge, along which
our pathway led. a broad red luminous
glare was sec looming up, tingiug the
horizon in tho distance before US.
Reaching point when our path turned
suddenly at righs.auglcs, sight pro.
sented itself. OF which had often
heard, but had never witnessed the
forest on Gre. On the side Of an ada.
cent ridge Of mountains. as fur almost
as tue eye could reach, appearing like
so many camp fires tho fro impcIlGd
by the increasing current Of wind which
swept tho mountain sides, would leap
from point, to point; now circling the
body Of some fallen tree, in snake like
coils, then dartiug of, would run in
zigzag lines through tho dry leaves,
iguitius fresh heaps Of dry uudcr-brusA,
which would send up fresh volumes Of
white fame.
Here and there, dccayed monarch
Of tho woods standing like a lone sen.
.iuel, was seen eucircled by spiral
column, which shooting upward would
wrap the dry branches in its embrace.
emitting JET like flames; usaiu, some
glant tree succumbing to the combined
influence Of Ere Ind wind would come
crashing to the earth, scattering fire
brands in every direction.
1t 4 4 II Il Il
In tho meantime, tho scene was
shifting with dramatic rapidity; tho
dense volume Of smoke produced by
tho fire. was rolling up, forming into
masses Of dark clouds; the low NUT.
teFings Of thunder, accompanied by the
roar Of tho wind. warned US that Il
storm was approaching; seeking shel.
ter beneath shelving rock, We had
not long to wit before the storm broke
loose in all its fury tho rain descend.
ed iu torrents ; tho wind hoslrd through
the pendulous branches OF the trees,
wriuging of, and hurting them high
in the mir great trees that had with.
stood the blasts of centuries, were
torn up BY the roots, or wero shiycrcd
into spiiuters by the red lance Of the
fingered s,orm-kiug. The child like