Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-28

a steady trof. My net which was a
strong serviceable one. kept in my hand
thinking ii might be of some use.
Scanning the very limited horizon
eagerly I, catch sight Of any shelter that
might be visible, saw nothing that could
help me. 1t was clear that my best
chance Of safety lay in my being able to
foil the hounds By making them lose the
trail. The tales had read in my boy
hood Of the hair-breadth escapes of run
away slaves in Cuba flashed across my
mind, and suddenly recollected that in
these stories water almost always played
prominent part To cast my eyes round
in search Of stream was the work OF a
moment; but as NAV be imagined. on the
high ground where | was no stream was
possible. No time was 10 be lost. for al
ready the notes oil ms pur-uers sounded
clearer and clearer. showing that they
were gaining on me. dare not run at
too great speed. tor knew that | should
become exhausted. The undulating na-
ture OF the ground made ii very hard for
me but for all that, IL was not an I'M
mixed evil, as it prevented the hounds,
which now gained steadily on me. from
quitting the trail to run by sight. On de-
scendine slope ! was delighted to he
hold long and somewhat winding pool
of water Here. thought I. is nv chance
and Immediately made for it. The run
was beginning to tell upon me, and
knew we'll that the reduction in my speed.
rendered necessary by my having to wade
almost knee deep in water. would enable
me 10 recover my breath somewhat. For
tunaiely the water was not very deep, little
more than a foot. and after the first few
steps the bottom was firm and hard.
My progress now was rot Only slow, but
very iatiguing, and nearer and nearer
came the hounds. After wading about a
hundred yards stronger gust Of wind
than usual waited the deep tones of nv
pursuers even more clearly to my ears.
and the fears that my ruse might not be
successful compelled me to quit the
water once more and toll YEARLY ND the
sloping side of the miniature glen in
which the pool was situated. Once on the
summit of the slope, paused and looked
behind me to catch il possible. e hurried
glimpse of my pursuers. To my horror,
] saw them stream over the side of the hill
. I'd make straight for the spot where l
entered the water. Here. as had hoped
the hounds We're puzzled, but only for a
little.
Twas rapidly becoming exhausted with
my long run. and more than once | was
tempted to stop and collect a heap of
stones and try to keep the hounds at bav
until help should arrive. Rejecting, how
ever. that it might be an hour or two be-
fore the kennel man discovered the where
abouts OF his lost pack. | gave up the
idea for the present. and moved on with
all the speed could muster. Since losing
my trail the hounds had been silent, and
! began to flatter myself that they had lost
the track, when suddenly the recon-
Of their cries told ME that they
hit off the scent again.
On. on tottered. my head Keeling, and
my eyes swimming with the unwonted
exertion. Thoughts of the home | might
never see again floated across nv brain,
and renewed my strength. NV pursuers
were gaining fast now. and already not
more than couple of hundred yards in
tervened between us. Presently. sud
den increase in the music behind-which
just then was anything but music to me
caused me to look round, when saw that
the hounds had viewed their quarry. and
with heads in the air. were racing on at
well nigh double their former speed In
my pace without even looking
where ran. caught my foot in tuft of
grass. and nearly fell. turning halt round
to save myself.
1t was a fortunate trip for me: for at a
short distance OFF. on nv right, saw a
stunted oak. nearly dead it is true, but
high enough from the ground to afford me
a safe resting place, il | could only climb
up into the branches before the dogs
reached me. II had not tripped. should
have passed this tree without seeing it I'M
til it was too late to he of service to me.
for it was hidden by some higher ground
from my view until | reached the SPOT
where nearly fell, and then was past
it.
With the little strength | had left I
dashed for the tree. but. to my dismay, |
saw that the lower branches were beyond
my reach. No time was to be lost. for
already the hounds were close at hand.
Suddenly remembered that I had NV
butterfly net. which. providentiallv. was
strong and serviceable. in my hand; and
on reaching the foot Of the tree, hooked
the ring of the net over the broken stump
of a bough and by dint of almost SUPER
human exertion. | managed. / hardly
know how. to scale the rough bark and
drag myself into the polled head of the
tree. was only Just in time. for, as |
reached the place of safety, the hounds
were round the foot of the tree. baying fu-
riouslv.
Feeling deadly faintness creeping over
me. | had enough presence of mind left to
undo the stout leathern belt wore round
my waist. and fasten myself by it to one of
the branches. Then the baying OF the
hounds. the rustling of the leaves, and. as
| fancied, the blowing of a horn. were min
gled together in confused murmer. and
swooned.
When | recovered consciousness. | was
stretched to the ground. my head support
ed on the knees Of the old kennel-man:
while one of his assistants was attempting
TO pour little brandy through my clench-
ed teeth. My old pursuers were lying on
the ground close by. watching the pro-
ceedings with solemn Indifference; and
couple of horses were cropping the grass
a few PAGES away. was soon sufficiently
to mount one of the horses; and
as we walked slowly home. the old man
told me how it happened that the hounds
had broken loose. He had taken them out
for run on the heath. As usual, he said,
when suddenly they appeared to hit on
trail of some kind. Thinking. as l did.
L \ q l. Al Al. Al