Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-02-17

leaned forward attentively.
Yes, in prison on Lake Erie. Once
the lake was frozen over, and onr
guards and the prison employees
amused themselves by skating; and as
we were taken out for our daily exer-
cises we were allowed the privilege Of
watching them. | don't think there
was a man among the prisoners, be-
sides myself. who had ever had on
skates: and the guards urged. and
even insisted on our trying them, for
the diversion our awkward attempts
afforded them. The poor fellows were
nothing loath TO engage in anything
that broke the monotony of prison
life, and loud and many were the
shouts of laughter that echoed over
the lake as the luckless tyros, one
after another. came TO an ignominious
fate.
In my Kentucky home | had been
accustomed TO the sport every winter,
and was accounted the champion .kat-
er of the neighborhood Many time
had diStanceda a whole party of young
people in race up the river, and /
prided myself on my accomplishment.
This. however, | kept a profound Sc
cret: for the wild thought had en-
tered my brain, why not make my es-
cape this way Once across the lake
and in the woods, pursuit would be
next TO impossible; and trusted to
luck~an pluck-to work my way
home.
IF my skill and speed were only
equal TO what they once were, ! felt
sure the thing was feasible. But | had
not been on skates for three years,
and months ofprison fare andinactive
life had greatly weakened me. How
ever, | gladly seized the opportunity
OF trying, but always feisned reluc-
tance and timidity whenever l ven
tured out; and many were the awk-
ward slips and tumbles purposel.
made. | would have given any thing
to have dared. just for few slides, TO
give my powers full play, just TO salts
fv myself that my old skill was as good
as ever: but this would betray me, so
| affected 70 be as awkward as the
others; yet all the while the old famll-
iar feeling would come back TO me at
each step took, and felt sure, If ]
once plunged forward. | could skim
over that lake like a bird.
We had been amusing ourselves
thus for two days. when, on the third,
as we were marshaled out to our daily
exercise, the guard remarked: Guess
thereIl be no more skating after to-
day, boys. There'll be a thaw pretty
soon. so you'd better make the most
of it this morning.
Il felt the blood rush to my face as
he spoke. Should | dare TO try it to-
day? 1t was my last chance. | thought
of my old mother at home, who was
wearing away her life for her boy,
and resolved to make the attempt.
There were no signs of thaw yet,
as we came down to the lake, but the
temperature was decidedly milder
than it had been for some days. |
watched the boys buckling on their
skates, and then slowly put on mine.
! examined them carefully, TO see that
they were sound in every respect.
buckle and tongue and all, good for n
two or three mile race.
LAS good luck would have it, none
of our guards accompanied us on the
ice this morning, so secure did they
feel of our inability to get beyond
their reach, but sat or stood around
in the sun, prepared to enjoy TO the
utmost our awkward feats.
We'll started off at last, very eau
tiously at first. as though afraid to
trust my insecure footing. My object
was to get a. far a possible from1and
and the armed guard before | made
dash for freedom | would go II few
PAGES. then fall and roll over, appar-
emily, in the most helpless manner
Imaginable. But ] managed at each
tumble to get little farther away,
till was about fifty yards from the
shore, and quite Il distance from the
rest Of the party before | attractedany
attention. Then a loud voice from the
guards sung out:
Hello! you there, Johnny Reb.
Come! tumble back this way, and be
quick about it,
Il Immediately 'tumbled,' but not
in their direction. I'm coming, /
cried. If | can ever stand on this
plaguey slippery thing; and sitting
down commenced 10 slide around in
the most awkward and grotesque
fashion
Here the narrative was interrupted
by sudden laugh from Mr. Harcourt.
What figure you cut-must have
cut, he said,
Yes. indeed; and the guard on
shore greeted my manPuvers, and
those of my equally graceful eompan-
ions, with shouts OF laughter, and
such complimentary CALCULATIONS as
'bull-frog, 'terrapin,' etc.
Il slowly scrambledto my feet. and,
while apparently endeavoring 10
steady myself, rapidly took in the sit
uation. was fully sixty yards from
the shore. Not one of the guards was
on the lake. and il would take some
moments 10 buckle on the skates.
They would have their guns. too.
which would impede the progres. As
all this fitted through my mind. was