Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-08-21


tracks in the mud. r
"lf ! could have come across that copper.
skinned gentleman about that time, tf
would have been a fight but he was gone,
and so was the boat, and the only thing /
could do was to ride the horse and swiin
over. That wasn't very pleasant outlook, ~
for the only part Of my garment would be
able TO keep dry would be the top of my hat
Besides that, the river was very high from
the spring freshets, and as chilly as snow.
But, tomorrow is my wedding-day,' |
shouted, as | directed old Emperor into the
broad, swiftly-Aowing river.
The horse knew what was expected of
him, and he went at the business like a hero
as he was, sitting on the saddle and let
ting him run the machine without any or
ders from me, which was the only sensible
way of doing
You generally find that when a thing
starts wrong like that it goes wrong all the
way through. But the time the horse got
fairly TO swimming, | noticed the current
was running swifter than had ever known
it; it chilled me to the marrow. The only
way could keep warm was by reminding
myself that Mary was to become my bride
On the morrow.
"By the time Emperor reached the mid.
die OF the river, it was so dark that / couldn't
see either shore That which was in front
of me was all woods, and the route to the
Hunters being nothing but bride path, /
knew when he struck the other side it would
be a long ways below where it ought to be-
But calculated that with the help of
the horse we would be able to find it, and
then it would be clear sailing straight to the
house.
Z" / was peering ahead for sight of the
dark line of forest, when my animal gave
snort and made such tremendous and pecul-
lar plunge that ! was thrown off. was
pretty well astonished and called to the
beast with the idea of regaining him. but he
was so scared that he swan like a steam
boat, and in twinkling was out of sight.
"Seeing that / must look out for myself, !
struck out for the Shore taking it very easy,
for with such current | needed to save my
strength. I supposed Emperor must have
caught sight of some animal swimming near
him-probably black bear-and he had
turned to get away without stopping to note
the direction he was following.
81 hadn't any fear but that would reach
the shore all right, though it was tough
work with my clothes clinging to me- and
the current running like mill-race but |
hadn't yet caught sight of the shore, when
there was snorting sound at my elbow, and
| saw big black hump coming towards me
something that | knew by the looks was
The head Of some animal.
"That was the first regular scare had
since starting, and own up that was start
led almost out of my boots. wasn't in a
condition to make fight, and all | could do
was to depend on my swimming so made
a deep dive, and swan as far as | could under
the surface. When | came up, did it quiet
like, in the hopes that a critter wouldn't see
me, and | would have chance to swim on as
before to the other side of the river.
Looking slyly around, couldn't see any
thing alarmin', and struck out for shore
again but I'll be hanged if had taken a
dozen strokes when there was snorting
| puff behind me, and there was the critter
sure enough. BY this time | had learned
| that he was bear, certain, and he was 60
| ing for me with vengeance.
"If we had been on land, of course,
wouldn't had any show, but | wasn't much
afraid of the crtter, after thinking the mat
ter over, when had a chance to fight him
in the water. So held up till he was close
| by me, and then | made dive that carried
| me right under him.
"As good luck would have it came up
within foot of the short tail of the bear,
and reaching out grabbed both hands in
the shaggy hair on his flanks. That scared
the brute terribly, and with another snort
he tried to turn round so as to grab me; but
he was like a cat trying to get her tail.
| When he turned | turned with him, 'cause
you may be sure | hung on mighty tight
4" The bear tried till he got tired, and then
he struck out straight for land, taking me
in tow, just like a tug with steamer. That
was all very well, you see in the water, but
didn't care about landing at the same
time. So when l caught sight of the trees
Just ahead, | let go, and the brute was so
scared that he kept on until he walked out,
shook himself and disappeared. When |
was sure he was gone, followed suit, and
began hunting the bride path. | had
drifted nearly mile below it, and it took
me a good WHILE but | hit it at last, and
then struck off at a rapid walk for home, as
| had come to view it.
"If / hadn't walked fast | would have
perished with cold but half way there |
met Joe, galloping along pretty well scared.
He said my horse had come up to the gate
in canter and trembling with fright, so
they were sure something dreadful had hap
pened to me, and Mary was wild with grief.
"Well, | soon cheered her up by my pres
ence and the wedding took place on the
morrow and here is Mary at my side, as
! loving, as good and as handsome-as
she was half hundred years ago. And a
couple of miles down the road you will find
my friend Joe Hunter and his wife. They
have been married five years less than we,
but you will be just as welcome there as you
are here"