Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-09

ness came swiftly uoW III upOu US, SuIIoun-
ded as we were with towering mountains
and mighty trees. The fires were lighted
and we sat beneath the overhanging
roof of the rude hut which formed the nu-
cleus of the camp. In front of us the
great fire of hemlock logs and branches
roared and blazed and cracked. as its
huge tongues of flame leaped upward tow
ard the leaden sky, and made the dark
ness of the forest seem yet more awful
and lmpenetrable. The ruddy light that
shone upon our faces as we sat motionless,
Illuminated another and more active
group close at hand-three or four who
were preparing the game which had been
shot, for supper In 'front.'"
"A dull. dark afternoon, just such an
other as this one; and you were sitting
around the fire as we are!" interrupted
Kate who could never be silent very long.
"Oh, very much like this" answered
BERTHE, with queer SINE. After which
he went on with his narrative. Gin front
of. and below us, lay the river, its swift
current chained by the ice, and its white
surface stretching far out, until it was lost
in the gloom beyond. No sound came to
break the stiffness of that vast solitude,
save our own voices, the signing of the
wind overhead among the pine cones,
which announced that storm was getting
up, the intermittent howl of the wolf. and
now and then the shrill cry of some dis
tant loon"
evolves ~ cried Kate. in a whisper
Il should not have liked that. Why do
you stop, BERTHE ?'
s.My chief friend in the camp, nay, my
only one. was James Widing. He had
come from the old country, no installing
that. or that he was an educated man and
a gentleman Often | wondered what
brought HIM out in place so little suited
to his refinement, and did not like to ask
questions. Another Englishman there
was. called Gregory ; the rest were of vari
Gus breeds chiefly Yankees. That Greg
indeed. was so still lin degree. we knew ;
but in the camp all ranked pretty well as
equals. Gregory was a hearty, honest
man. much attached to his master"
"Was he very good looking?" deman-
ded Kate.
"Who?' asked BERTHE, when he and
had had our laugh out. "GregoryP"
"No; James Wilding."
Very good looking indeed. sister NINE
Fit for hero of romance. Now am | to
90 on ?'
"Whv. you know you are"
Eyes, Wilding was good looking even
you young ladies would have thou ht him
so; but he was worn, and sad land wasted
The man had some great care upon him
| had always seen that. Sometimes
would catch Gregory's eyes fixed upon
him with a strange yearning This after
noon of which | am speaking, Wilding
seemed quite buried in gloom, scarcely
replied to remarks, and hardly ate any
supper when we sat round it. For man
sharing camp lite. out in those wild and
desolate regions to be off his food to the
extent of refusing supper, is remarka-
BILE tact.
Supper was half through, the rest of
us were eating like wolves. when spoke
to him.
whats amiss, Wilding, this evening
You seem to have fit of the blues upon
you"
Wilding did not answer for a minute.
Yes" he said. with hesitation; "it's
true feel depressed. The fact is, Erring-
ton, I-I-was a little disturbed to-day.
Met with something which startled me-
What was it ?"
But he did not say. He was leaning
his head upon his hand, gazing outward
with troubled look, as if he wanted to
see through the dark pine trees. By and
by, when we had finished supper, and
most OF them were stretched round the
largest fire at distance, Gregory came
to the tent for something he wanted. His
master lifted up his head, and spoke to
him.
Gregory" said he. "when | was down
at the lower clearing. to-day. and you
we're near me. did you hear anybody speak
to me p''
No SIR" said Gregory, in a sharp,
quick tone.
ANY ones voice ?" went on Wilding.
ANY voice that-that you knew p''
81 shall never forget the startled look
that crossed Gregory's countenance. But
he answered carelessly:
There was nobody's voice near. MIR.
Wilding, but yours and mine. The rest
of EN- were on the other side of the
swamp. heard nothing at ALL SIR"
at was Just before fell.n
81 was quite close to you. sir, when
you fell. You first dropped the axe YOU
were holding. and then dropped yourself
right on to the handle. l thought you'd
got hurt in some way, but when came
to pick you up, saw it was a faint
"Yes, faint" assented Wilding in a
low tone. "You We're close to me. and
yet you heard nothing?"
Nothing at all out of the way, sir.
Just before, there had been bird scream
ing in the pines''
at is strange" murmured Wilding to
himself, as the man went away, lit is
very strange. But could not have been
mistaken"
What did you think you heard, Wild
ing?" | asked. after minute or two.