The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-08-27
NUMBER 1872. +
Chambers Journal.

Chambers journal.
Some years ago I was making a
sketching tour in the West country,
md found myself one Septem per after
noon on Dartmoor, a few niles from
Princes Town. 1 had been strolling
lazily about for some time, wien I sud-
denly came upon a bit of noorland,
which I decided it was imIeratively
my duty to transfer to canvas, so I
sat down on a messy powder, and
was soon diligently at work and alb
sorbed in the task of tryingto repre-
sent the lovely autumnal tints on
stream, rock and heather. intent on
my picture, I took no note of time,
till suddenly I perceived the shadow
getting ominously long; anC consult
ing my watch, I found it was past five
O'Clock, and that unless ! made a
speedy start I should hardly reach
Princes Town before nightfall so l hast
lily packed up my traps, deciding that
/ would come and finish the sketch on
the following day.
was just lighting my pipe prepara-
tory to starting, when l landed that
saw something move behind a large
rock few yards away AMI I heard
what sounded very like mothered
cough. was bit startled as, save
the birds, no living thinghadbeen near
me for hours; but I thought would
see what it was, so l walked up to the
spot, and pushing aside the high
bracken, was going to examine the
place, when suddenly figure rose up
| and confronted me. I am rot a ner-
vous man, but I must confess got a
start as Isaw before me msn clothed
in convict garb, bare-headed, wild and
dishevelled. Even in my first alarm I
remember noticed the MURDER 492 on
his clothes, and DOM; fancy 1 shall
ever forget that number.
grasped my stick firmly and
thought to myself that I was, so to
speak, in very nice little fix. Con-
victs are not pleasant neighb9rs at any
time; but a tete-a-tete with an escaped
convict on lonely moor, miles from
any house, is decidedly an interview
not to be desired.
However my fears speedily subsidized
for my convict did not seem at all dis
posed to make himself disagreeable,
but merely stood looking at me, trem.
bling in every limb, and from time to
time coughing in a way that shook his
wasted frame all over, Poor chap!
he was a piteous spectacle-his prison
dress just hanging about him, he look
ed like a living skeleton.
The situation was awkward to me-
AS a law-abiding citizen felt that it
was my duty to take some means Of
restoring him to the establishments at
Princes Town, which he had evidently
quilted without leave; while, as an
ordinary human being, / felt the sin:
cerest pity for the haggard fellow who
stood there gazing at me with hollow,
feverish eyes, However, the contest
between duty and compassion was
speedily put an end to yNo. 492 him.
self, for after a more than usually
racking cough, his legs gave way under
him and he rolled down among the
bracken. Duty fled; compassion won
the day. I went and picked
him up and propped him with
his back against y rock, where he
gasped and choked till Ireally thought
he would die then and there. In a
minute: or two, however, he revived,
and III q very faint and feeble voice
said: "I'm nigh starved, gnv'nor; I
guess it's about up with ME" ,
/ went back to yet some sandwiches
out Of my case and offered them to him;
he seized them eagerly, and began to
eat them ravenously; but again a ter
r rn'o 60 e.. 81 co''ohina came on, and he
sank back saying: ut amt no use;
ean,t eat now; s'spose I'm gone too
Here was a pleasant position. The
man was evidently in the last stage of
exhaustion; and even my I'M
practiced eye could see that No. 492
had his days, or even hours, numbered.
I moistened his lips with some
brandy out Of my flask, and saw, to
my satisfaction that this produced g.
decided Improvement. But what in
the world T should do next perplexed
me sorely, so repeated the dose OF
brandy and took council with myself
as to the next move.
Under the influence Of the brandy
my patient propped himself up again,
and with great difficulty told me how
he had escaped from the convict prison
three days before, and had wandered
over the moor till want of food and
exposure had-to use his own words
"spoilt his own game" and he was 60
ing back to prison to give himself up:
Seeing me sketching, and feeling bis
strength almost gone, he had decided
to surrender himself to me; but when
he got near the poor fellows courage
failed him, and he had crawled away
behind the rock where | had discover
ed him:
did not think he would die in aued;
but I kept my thoughts to myself, for
I felt sure that before the prison could
be reached No. 400 would be far
enough away, and it would only be a
suit of convict clothes on a poor skele-
ton that would enter the gloomy gate:
"Look here, my poor chap said I,
"you can't stop here; you must let me
carry you as we'll as I can, and must
try and get you back to the prison."
1 felt rather mean as I said this, for
did pity him heartily. I knew moth
ing about his crimes: He might have
been tbs greatest villain; yet I felt for
him having just tasted liberty and
having to 60 back to captivity; apd 4
single glance at him showed pretty
plainly that the prison could not hold
him long, even if we ever got there.
expected some attempt at resistance;
hit tn INV c,,rnrica he O11iet1v acrl1j-
esced, saying:
"All right, guv'nor; it can't be 'elped
I've had my try, but summat told as
/ wouldn't succeed"
1t was now getting late, and the sun
was just down, so there was no time
to be lost, as we had long way to
60, and was rather doubtful about
my powers Of carrying him, for he was
or had been of toltrab1e' size and
weight; but now he looked such a mere
Ruund!lee 81 bone; that h I thought might h
jnanqge it: At any Fate, there wa
ro+1is,o f1 6a hI1t n f1'v. so hoist I'D