Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-28
B0BBY'S ADVENTURE.

"Red Fork is situated on the bank of the
Arkansas river about two miles from Little
Rock Some years ago there dwelt family
consisting of Malcolm Grey, his wife and one
son, IL years Of age, named Robert They
had one slave named Sam. For short the
boy was called Bobby One dav in August
Bobby, who had been to visit his uncle Job
Sackett, started GA his h0meward way. He
had to pass through a stretch of forest I'M
broken for eight miles He left his uncle's
house about 4 O'Clock. 1t was a beautiful
afternoon, the rays OF the SUI had heated the
forest, making it uncomfortably hot The
boy proceeded on, whI5tling a merry tune
anon stopping to try the virtue Of his new
jackknife, given him by his Aunt Polly.
The paroquets fitted through the OPENINGS
tn the forest, or rested. a dozen or more at a
time, on some dry limb, projecting from the
trunk of some aged pecan tree chatteriney
and twittering at Bobby as be halted to look
up at them far above his head They did not
seem to fear him in the least. but turned
their little heads sideways and looked down
wards with inguisitive eyes at the boy. as if
wondering why he did not proceed on his
journey and leave them to settle down on
their perch, apparently their resting place
for the night
Bobby trudged joyously on after satisfying
his curiosity, laughing gleefully to himself,
and bidding the paroquets good night, which
the little creatures Acknowledged by ruffiing
their plumagye and keeping up a ceaSeless
chattering until distance put an end to the
sound and a turn in the cart path hid them
from view. The dusky shades of night began
to fall and filed the forest with somber
shadows. The little fellow quickened his
pace that he might be able to get OUT of the
woods before night set in in earnest. 1t grew
dark very fast and objects could be discerned
only little way in advance. Bobby hurried
on, but the accompaniment the merry
whistle, had ceased and he walked silently
nheed, frequently stopping to listen TO some
unusual sound rCver5erating through the
forest, falling limb from some aged tree,
perhaps: Bobby's heart quickcned its pulses
III the sound, and he jumped nervousiy aside
us some II ut bird flew in close proximity to
his face with whirring wings. He was not a
coward; he had been in the forest before
and be had been startled by similar sounds
and he did not apprehend any danger unless
by some wild beast lurking around which
was not likely, he thought, as none had been
seen in the forest for a number of days, hav-
ing been driven across the river by the hun
ters and their dogs
The owls commenced to boot, to-hoo, to
hoo! The katydids uttered their mournfuI
lay, Katy did, Katy didn't: and Bobby toiled
on, more slowly now, because of the increas-
ing darkness Suddenly there came a sound
from the forest IN the direction he had but
recently passed over. He stopped irresolute,
as if his first thought was to flee; he listened
with fast beating heart. In a moment it
came again, seemingly nearer than before,
and long drawn out: Northumberland
our
Bobby did not wait for repetition If the
blood curdling cry, but turned and fled in the
direction of the clearing, which was now near
at hand; terror lent strength to his sturdy
little legs, and he picked his feet up and put
them down faster than he ever did playing
81 spy" with the boys at "Red Fork" He
reached the edge of the forest in an incredi-
bly, short time, regarding the distance he had
to run-a little over mile He bounded into
the clearing, and, after a short un, discov- |
cred cabin, which had been formerly occu-
pied by the slaves when engaged in burning |
the logs of the fallen trees on the cleared
land
As he ran quickly toward it. he was star
tied again by that fearful cry 'ool--ou-ou-
resembling the shrill voice of a
frightened child
Bobby had lived too long near the forest to
be mistaken in the terrible cry, and he fed
EDWARDS, in mortal terror, to find place of
safety. Dashing breathlessly up to the cabin,
through the underbrIsh he discovered it in a
state of decay, The door of its hinges and
held only by the leathern deer thongs which
had been their former fastenings
Evidently tha-a was M safety for +l,o how
there, so thought Bobby as be looked in dis
may in the darkness around him. Stumbling
through the underbrush he came across q half .
Of hogshead turned upon its side: it had evil
IDENTIFY been used by the former occupants of
the cabin to catch rain water The thought
struck him at once that this was his only
chance of safety from the pursuing brute,
whose howlS he now heard il close proximity,
at the edge of The forest. Grasp
ing the huge tub firmly by its edge he esSayed
10 end it over towards hinl, but as it had lain
4 long time exposed 10 all veatherS and
soaked by the raiafalis, il had become soddcn,
and it was only after repeated efforts, the
lowls of the animal approaching nearer and
nearer all the while that be could move the
thing.
Terror lent him strength again, however,
and he succeeded in pulling it over partially,
md sQuattiHg himself beneath the opening as
&c held it tipped partly over ne finally let 90
wish his hands and the horshead came down
With a thud; and for the time being he was
afely ensconced beneath it; none too soon.
or as 1t came down encompaSSing him in
Egyptian darkness. he heard a scratching out
ide his prison house. then a shifting round
he edge of the Upturned tab. and ne knew
nat h., foe had tracked him and scented out
lis hiding place.
The brute ran round and round the tub in
circle, smiling and growing, the fetid
team from tie creatures breath entered be-
heath the tab where it had lodged on some
mall shrubs, and it made Bobby sick with
he sitting stencil. Nothing daunted, how
ver, at this state Of the siege, Bobby be-
bought hum OF his new jackknife: drawingit
orth from his pocket and opening the blade,
le cut the twigs away that bent some inside
rs Enclosure and some outside. and the tub
ested more evenly and firmly on the ground
The stir within caused by the ruStling Bobby
made as he pulled and pushed at the Looping
wigs aroused the brute's fierce anger, and he
edoubled his attempts TO get III, digging
round the edges OF the tub
Bobby trembled in alright as the animal
cratched and tore at the obstruction prevent
nc his entrance, and he shouted at intervals !
nth all his might III hopes THAI some one ;
7ould hear and come TO his assistance. but
be sound Of his voice was sInothe-ed in the
onflnes Of the hogshead and only caused the
rute TO desist from digging awhile at the
IieS, but continued 10 dig again as soon Is
,Jo.)g ceased TO slout
he soon made an opening large enough 10 5
dnnt one paw. which, rs soon as thrust il i
be aperture, received q stab from Bobbys