The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-08-10

that after this Is decided.
Both Rockets and Stars were pleased
with this suggestion, and it was unahi-
imously agreed to; and soon thereafter,
a noisy, laughing crowd, the two clubs
shouldcred their bats and turned up the
winding pathway homeward just as the
far-away sun kissed the western hor-
lion. But Ned Edwards babe the 9th
ers goodnight and plunged into the
cranberry swamp upon a Decline for his
father house, something more than a
mile away.
The air was cool and fresh; with
vivid eolors the setting sun painted the
! fleecy clouds that tlOated overhead;
the twitter of the birds seeking shelter
for the night mingled with the drOwsy
tinkle of a distant cow-bell, and the
| faint but plaintive cry of a bewildered
| lamb alone broke the stiffness Of the
coming night, The shout of the player
was stilled, the occasional bursts Of
| laughter from the distant home-going
crowd did not reach the lowland of the
swamp, the croak of the frogs in the
/ great marsh sounded like the mystic
music of some unseen chorus, and
watery echoes, faint and sweet, foated
/ through the ar AS Ned advanced his
/ loneliness became more marked
| This did not trouble the boy, how
ever, for many a mile had he tramped
alone and after nightfall, too; but there
came uncalled-for to his busy brain
| just at this time of all others the rumor
which he had listened to the day before
at the village store, of a panther's cry
which had been recently heard pro-
ceeding from some heavy timber at the
upper end of this very swamp. 1t was
/ n truDFnaSanf fbiuar ~ 1.n1nart1 ba1s G fbEa
shadows were falling ami the distant
woods doomed black and somber; but
Ned laughed at his vague half fear,
even while his heart beat little more
rapidly, and FASTENED forward whistling
checrily.
The swamp was at this season of the
year nearly dry, except where the
water formed deep pools; and to avoid
| these the boy was obliged to make
many turns and detOurs, choosing his
path with great care lest in the dim
light he should become entangled in
the morass and be forced to return as
| he came.
| Although the actual distance through
the swamp was considerably less than
a mile, yet the difficulty of passage was
so great that Ned was not half way
across it when the twilight faded into
night, and the soft stars that peeped out
overhead where the only lamps by
which to guide his footsteps.
He had forgotten the panther story in
his worry about the path, and his only
anxiety now, as he moved slowly for
ward, was to escape the treacherous
vines that continually wound around
his feet, and avoid the water holes that
lay upon either hand.
I he frogs chorus was quiet now, but
the night had other voices all its own:
the gentle whisper of passing breeze,
the distant bark OF some prowling dog,
the far-off rattle of q home-going wagon
upon the hillside road, the soft Groom of
little birds Nesting one against the other
among the growing bushes, the
dismal, lonely boot of an owl from the
darksOme recess of the woods close at
hand.
All these Ned heard, hardly noting
them as he struggled onward; but sud-
denly a new sound broke upon his ear,
startling him; and, pausing, he turned
quickly toward the quarter whence it
came.
1t was a footstep, apparently follow
ing him a 1.-THE tread, not crashing
through vine and branch, but falling as
though padded upon the tangled
growth; and the panther story again
flashed across the boys brain, chilling
him with quick fright and driving the
whistle from his lips. Perhaps the
rumor had been true!
With strain.ng eyes he peered into
the darkness about HIM, listening mean
time intently.
For a moment he heard only the owl
and the PARKWAY dog; he saw nothing.
Then a sudden swaying of the bushes
caught his attention. and an instant
later a black something, an animal with
long body, four feet and a huge head,
dimly appeared, half crouching upon an
open spot not thirty feet behind him. 1t
was the panther!
With a cry of terror the boy turned
and fled.
Over matted vines and quivering
quicksand, through twisted thickets and
| clinging bushes, Ned ran, a desperate
/ haste urging him on, a frantic strength
unfolding him, and ever as he looked
behind he saw the form of his savage
pursuer, following along his broad and
winding trail.
He sought to escape the swamp and
reach the open fields beyond, but, be-
wildered a he was, he ran first to the
left, then to the right, and not at all in
the desired direction, growing each mo e
I lltlib UlOIG COlllUSCu anu WGdElCNA. ullLll
he suddenly plunged into a widespread
pool, and staggering to a clump of ferns
which formed q little island near the
center, utterly exhausted he sank TO his
knees to hide from his terrible pursuer,
for he could flee no further.
And as he crouched, painting, torn and
almost hopeless, he saw the great ami
NAL who followed him pause at the
verge of the pool. survey the situation,
and then lie quietly down with the evil
dent intention of biding his time now
that his prey was within easy reach.
Ned's heart utterly failed him.
For few moments he was but partial
ly conscious, for he was only boy, and
the peril that threatened him was hOr-
rible, indeed, but after a little his blood
ran more evenly and his heart beat less
furiously as he noted the quietness of
his savage captOr. He was a prisoner
now, and his only hope was that the
panther might retire, or that some one
in search of him might come to his res
cue. And with these two chances for
escape before him he grew drawer and
settled himself for long and watchful
vigil.
How slowly the moments passed, he
thought! Once he heard distant call,
and half starting to his feet he was about
to shout reply, when a rustic from the
bushes on the edge of the pool sent a
chill through him, and he sank down
again while the animal opposite him ut
tered warning half grOwl and moved
uneasily. As time went on the night
grew cold and a damp mist crept up
from the swamp, floating like a long
winding sheet in and out among the
black clumps of bushes, and chilling
poor Ned until he shivered as with the
ague The stars moved slowly across