The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-08-27
NUMBER 1872.
Chambers Journal.

Chambers Journal.
Some years ago l was making a
sketching tour in the West country,
and found myself neSeptember after
noon on Dartmoor, a few miles from
Princes Town. / had been strolling
lazily about for some time, when 1 sud
denly came upon bit of moorland,
which l decided it was imperatively
my duty to transfer to canvas, so
sat down on messy bowlder, and
was soon diligently at work, and alb
sorbed in the task of trying to repre-
sent the lovely autumnal tints on
stream, rock and heather. Intent on
my picture; 1 took no note of time,
till suddenly Iperceived the shadow
getting ominously long; and consult
ing my watch, l found it was past five
O'Clock, and that unless I made a.
speedy start I should hardly reach
Princes Town before nightfall; so hast
lily packed up my traps, deciding that
would come and finish the sketch on
the following day.
Twas just lighting my pipe, prepare
tory to starting, when l fancied that I
saw something move behind large
rock a few yards away and I heard
what sounded very like smothered
cough. l was bit startled, as, save
the birds, no living thing had been near
me for hours; but thought l would
see what it was, so walked up to the
spot, and pushing aside the high
bracken, was going to examine the
place, when suddenly a figure rose up
and confronted me. am not g. ner-
vous man, but I must confess got q
start az Isaw before me a man clothed
in convict garb, bare-headed, wild and
dishevelled. Even in my first alarm
remember noticed the number 402 on
his clothes, and l don't fancy I shall
ever forget that number.
grasped my stick firmly and
thought to myself that I was, so to
speak, in a very nice little fix. Con-
victs arenot pleasant neighbors at any
time; but tete-a-tete with an escaped
convict on a 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 coug ching in way that shook his
wasted frame all over, Poor chap!
he was q plteous spectacle-his prison
dress just hanging about him, he look
ed like a. liyinp skalatOn
The situation was awkward to me.
AS a law-abiding citizen l felt that it
was my duty to take some means of
restoring him to the establishment 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,
1everish eyes. However, the contest
between duty and compassion was
speedily put an end to by No. 2hig<
self, for after more than usually
racking cough, his legs gave way under
him and he rolled down among the
bracken: Duty fled; compassion won
the day. went and picked
him up and propped him with
his back against rock, where he
gasped and choked till Ireally thought
he would die then and there. In
minute or two, however, he revived,
and in a very faint and feeble voice
said: 'I'm nigh starved. g,;,v'nor; /
guess it's about " with me''
went sack to get some sandwiches
put Of my case and offered them to him;
he seized them eagerly, and began to
eat them ravenously; but again a ter
rible fit of coughing came on, and he
sank back saying: ut amt no use: /
can't eat now; s'spose I'm gone too
far"
Here was a pleasant position. The
man was evidently in the last stage of
exhaustion; and even my un=
practiced eye could see that Nc. 492
had his days, or ev en- hours, numbered.
! maiatened his lips with some
brandy out OF my flask, and saw, to
my satisfaction that this produced a
decided Improvement. But what in
the world l should do next perplexed
me sorely, so l repeated the dose of
brandy and took council with myself
as to the next move
Under the Influence of the brandy
,py patient propped himself up again.
and with great difficulty told me how
ne had escaped from the cQAvist prison
three days before, and had wandered
over the moor till want OF food and
exposure had-to use his own words
"spollt his own game" and he was CO.
ing back to prison to give himself up.
Seeing me sketching, and feeling his
strength almost gone, he had decided
aps N0p calf ! l.,
ne got near the poor. fellows courage
failed him, and he had crawlcd away
behind the rock where I had discover
ed him.
I did not think he would die in ouod:
but kept my thoughts to myself, for
| felt sure that before the prison could
be reached No. 492 would be far
enough! away, and it would only be a
quit pf convict clothes on a poor skele-
ton that would enter the gloomy gate.
''Look here, my poor chap" said /,
''you can't stop here; you must let me
carry you as we'll as can, and must
try and get you back to the prison."
felt rather mean as said this, for
did pity him heartily. knew moth
ing about his crimes. He might have
been the greatest villain; vet / ielt for
him having just TASTED liberty and
having TO 60 back to captivity; and a
single glance at him showed pretty
plainly that the prison could not hold
him long, even if we ever got there. Il
expected some att;mpt at resistance;
put, " my surprise, he quietly acqui-
esced, saying:
CAN 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 a long way to
60. and | was rather doubtful about
my powers Of carving him, for he was
or had been Of q toltrable size and
weight; but now he looked s;,pii, a mere
bundle ef hons that thought might
manage it: At any rate, there was
nothing to do but TO try; so hoisted
him Up on my back and started Of in
the direction Of Princess Town.
] shall not easily forget that Journey;
it soon grew quite dark. as toiled IN