Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-01-19

pile Of arp|e-brusn, sns'l Of which
we dragged after us across severa
fields and pastures till We struck I
road which chanced to run in ou'
course.
just then, saw ON the road ahent
a load Of wheat piled on rack cart
drawn by yoke Of oxen.
"Tun out | turn outl We botl
yelled down ut hum.
"Gae, Buck t. shonted the mar
driving. But before h. could turr
half round, We were overhead. A
you"g fellow on the load gave vel
and leap off at The same moment
none too soon either, for we took IT,
rail off he rack on the high side and
left the apple brush on the losI !!
by jinYI' heard the fellow sing
ont. "Ole spithuf hisss'fs out H
fsh'n to night Dye zee his biz
hook 2
But "dad' Was screaming, "Whos
hish Whoa hish + trying to stop
the oxen. The cattle. frightened hal
to death. We're trying to run away
d.spste the whacks the old man dealt
them with the pi!cEfoIk. We could
look back, AZ we few on, to tee thu
result of this mischief W, had una
voihabiy caused.
A minute after our basket almost
grazed n ledge Of rocks on tho crest
"a hill. and 10, rignt lown IN front
Of us Iav great pond. In the dim
light it looked like a sea. A fos
hung over it.
That's fatal for na, I'm afraid 7
cried Ned. We shall be down into
lit. can't even sea the other side.
We we're not half mile off ION it.
Black and cheerless enough the water
looked.
Ned gave one glsnc: and decided
what to do
Good by, Frank |" he exclaimed.
Stick to the basket III drop Oft
aud take NY chances. Then the bal
loon will rise, ard you will cross ,ha
pond" Before could even speak
he swung out Of the car and wen
down the anchor line hand over hand
The rapid motion wh!rled him ronn |
and round. The hrApple itself was
trailing and bouncing along the
ground. We were close to the water
before Ned WAS half way down the
long line.
Drop Iscreamed. "or vou Il
b. drowned" +"
He looked downward, bnt even then
VAS too late The line switched him
violrnll, thu ongh some willow tops,
and he ball Don sailed out over the
water.
A man of less nerve would assur-
idly have lost his presence OF mind
and iaIlen :nto the lake. For, Of
course, no one could hold on to a
small line like that for many minutes
switched and rked about a. he was.
For nv part, n shudder Of horror
went through me | began TO haul
him up with my might and main as
rapidly ~ | could. 10 nv surprise
Ned called ou, to me to "hold On -
to "s'opl
Glancing down, I saw that he WAS
.t,ll cautiously descending hand over
hand. There WAS less wind and the
balloon waa running slower.
Med Ned T. / shouted. care
YOU crazy? Are you going to drown
vnnrself ? You can never swim
ashore with your clothes aud boots
on !!
But already bis feet were apatter'
ing in the uaIer; n moment more be
was waist deep borne along like
huge bob. For some distance he wat
earned along thns-and tLen l be-
Jan 10 divine his motive.
The pond was not so wide as WI
feared. Immediately l saw that VI
were lose IN to wooded shore.
Tho wind had died away, almos
and 70 well checked was the balloon I
speed that, directly Ned's feet touch
ell the shore, with dextrons tnrn o
the line around stump, he brought
it 10 y standstill. ! had then only tt
let ont the gas; and thus our voyag.
ended.
: New Jersey tries TO claim Noah
because he was a Newark man