The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-11-20
Nv Midnight Peril.

the roar OF the autumnal wind through
the lonely forest, and the incessant
down-pour of the rain :?
"This comes of short cuts | NUT
tered petulently to myself as | plodded
along, keeping close to the trunks Of
the trees to avoid the deep ravine,
through which l could hear the roar Of
the turbulent stream forty or fifty feet
below. My blood ran cold as | thought
what might be the possible conse-
auences of a misstep or move IN the
wrong direction. Why had not been
content to keep in the right road?
Hold on; was that light, or are my
eyes playing me false?
I stopped, holding on to the low, res
nous boughs of hemlock that grew on
the edge of the bank, for it actually
seemed as if the wind would seize me
bodily and hurl me down the precipi-
tous descent.
1t was light-thank Providence-it
was light, and no i0nus fatuuS to lure
me on to destruction and death.
"Halloo-o or
Ny voice rang through the woods
like clarion. plunged on through
tangled vines, dense briers and rocky
banks, until, gradually nearing, I could
perceive a figure wrapped in an oil
cloth cape, or cloak, carrying a lantern.
As the dim light fell upon his face, l
almost recoiled Would not solitude in
the woods be preferable to the compan-
ionship of this withered, wrinkled old
man? But it was too late to recede
now.
whats wanting?' he snarled, with
peculiar motion of the lips that seem
ed to leave his yellow teeth all bare.
81 am lost in the woods; can you di'
rect me to R Station?'
Eyes, RI Station is II miles from
here"
Twelve miles
I stood aghast.
"Yes."
"Can you tell me of any shelter
could obtain for the night?'
"No."
"Where are You going?'
"To Drew's, down by the maple
swamp
SIS it a tavern =
"No,'
Would they take me for the night
could pay them we'll.
His eyes gleamed the yellow stumps
stood revealed once more.
81 guess SO; folks do stop there
at is not far from here =
Not very. about half q mile
"Then let us make haste and reach
it. | am drenched to the skin
We plodded on, my companion more
than keeping pace with me. Presently
we left the edge of the ravine, entering
what seemed like trackless woods, and
keeping straight on until the lights
cleaned fitfully through the we'd fol
iAge.
1t was a ruinous old place, with the
windows all drawn to one side, as if the
foundation had settled, and the pillars
offs rude porch nearly rotted away.
A woman answered my fellow-trav
eler's knock. Ny companion whispered
aword or two to her, and she turned tC
me with smooth, valuable words O
welcome.
She regretted the poverty Of theil
accommodations but l was welcome t.
them. such as they were.
"Where is Isaac?' demanded my
guide.
lie has not come IN yet.
| sat down on a wooden bench beside
the fire. and ate few mouthfuls o
bread
Il should like to retire as soon a
possible for my WEAKNESS was ex
cessive.
Certainly" The woman started NJ
with alacrlty.
"Where are you going to put him {?
asked my guide.
"Up chamber
"Put him in Isaac's room
sNo."
cts the moot comfortable
81 tel. you nor
But here l interrupted the Whispered
eolloqly.
81 am not PARTICULAR don't car
where Won lodge me, only make haste.
So i was conducted up steep ladde
that stood in a corner of the rom, int
an apartment ceiled with sloping beam
and ventilated by one small window
where cot bedstead, crowded clos
against a board partition, and PIN
table, with two or three chairs, formed
the sole attempts at furniture.
The woman set the light-an old oil
lsmp-on the table.
Anything more can get you, sir ?
"Nothing, thank you.
II hops you'll sleep well, SIR. Whel