The Red Cloud chief., 1888-02-10

q prison life, and loud and many were the
shouts OF laughter that echoed ove the
hke - the Iuckless tyres, one after m
other, came 70 IN ignominious fate
In my Kentucky home I had been &C
cus,oDed to the sport esery winter, and
WAS accounted the champion skater Of the
neighborhood. Many . time had I dis
t1nced . whole party Of young people 10 .
race up the river, and I prided myself on
my accomplishment This, however. l kept
aprofound secret; for the wild thought
had entered my brain, why not make my
escape in this way!' Once across the lake
and in b woods. pursuit would he next TO
impossible: and I trusted TO luck-Sud
pluck-to work my way home
III my skill and speed were only equal to
wha: they ono were. I felt sure the thing
was feasible. But I had not been on skates
for three years. and months OF prison fare
and inactive life had greatly weakened
ne. However. l gladly seized the oppor-
trnisy Of irving, but always fe,ynec reiuct-
ance and ttmici:y whenever I veutured
out: And many were the awkward slips and
tumbies 7 purposeiy made I would have
given any thing TO lave dared, Just Tor .
few slides, to give nv powers full play,
Just 10 satisfy myself hat my Old skill was
as good a. ever; but this would oe:ray me,
so l affected 70 be Is awkward as the
Others: vet all the while the cid familiar
feeling weuld CONE back TO ne ~ each step
I rook, and I fels sure. IL I once plunged
forward, I could skim over hat lake like .
bird.
W had been amusing ourselves thus
for two days. vixen, on the third, - We
were narshsled out 70 our daily exercise,
the guard remarked: Guess ,ksrefu 10 no
moro skating After to-day. boys. There'h
b . thAW pretty soon, 80 you'd better make
the most Of il this BoPring.'
Il lei. She bleed rush 70 nv face as he
spoke. Should / dare to try it to-eaya i;
Wa my las. chance. ! thought Of ny Old
mother n home. who was wearing away
her heart for her boy, and / resolved e
make The attempt
There were no signs Of athaw YET, a.
We anne down 10 the lake. but the temper
atnre vas decidedly miider than II had
teen sor several days. Watched the boys
huckliug on their skates. and then slowly
put on mine. ! examined then carefully.
10 see that they were sound in every re
specr. buckle and tongue and ali, good for
TWO or three mile race
LAS good luck would ave il. none OF our
guards ACCOMPANIED - On the ice this
morning. 50 secure did they :eei OF oar IL
ability 20 get beyond their reach. but sat or
stood around in the sun. prepared 10 enjoy
I the utmost Our awkward teacs.
We'll. I started OF At last very eau
tious.y q. FIRST. as though afraid TO trust
NV insecure footing. Ny ob.ecc vas 10 get
as Ear as possible from lard and the armed
guard before made . dash for freedom
I would 20 . few PAGES. then fall and roll
over. apparently. il tie mos- helpless Mao-
ner imaginable But / managed At each
tumble 20 get . little farther way. till II
iasc / was about Fifty ysrcs from the shore,
and cutie a distance from the res OF the
party before / attracted any attention
Then Q loud voice from the guards sung
out: .
~.HeIlo, you these. Johnnv Reo. Come.
tumble back this q z be quick about
it
Il Immediately tumbled,' but not in
their direction. I'm coming I cried, If
l can ever stand on this p,agry slippery
fhing:' and sitting down ! commenced =
side around in the mos: awkward AID gro
,es1ue fashion,
here tie narrative was interrupted by .
suddea laugh from Mr.. Harcorr- VIVA:
figure you cu;-mus: have cut" he said
Yes. indeed: AMI the guard On shore
greeted my u~Aneu-res and those Of nv
equally graceful c~onpanions, with shouts
Of laughter and such complimentary sjscc-
ns.ons ~ 'buifrne,' rer-spin.' etc.
Il slowly scrambled TO ny feet. ana
while apparently endeavoriuR 70 steady
myself. rapidly too IL the sItus,Nn-
Vas fully sixty yards from The shore. Not
oIe Of the guards was o the lake, ~: il
would take come moments % buckle On the
skates They would W. their Ruas, too,
which would impede taeI: progress. As
All this fitted through NJ mind, I WAS
slowly sAU6lnR bach and forth, - Though
making ny wey toward them sxw taas
At the moment their a,sention was Aversec
from ne BY the gyrstions Of the ether
prisoners. wheeled and sped up tss y Z
ike . shot
.Oai the delicious sensation TIL. t;ngled
through every nerve and tber 81 nv frame
- I Jew like q bird owe the ice In . mo-
Heas Twas GO the river AZ nv Old Kentucky
home. leaving n competitors far IN the
reAc. But now the race was for freedom
for iit-and I felt all nv old skill and deet-
ness return 10 ne tourfold az the thought.
But loud cries, followed by rapid shots.
row cane from the shore. / glanced back
and saw the guards scraIblIng into their
skates. while the prisoners were staring II
stupid amusement At my flying form So
great WA the exhilaration OF ny physical
nature / could not realize the tremendous
dancerI was IN / laughed aloud and
c!appec nv hands in an ecs:acy Of excite
meuc. ! felt as though l had wings. so
smooth and rapid WAS my aight-winEs 20
nv heels, Il Tot 70 uy shoulders, as l FED
ou. Ike uodern Mercury
Il InstInctIvely TEN nv course toward
the mainland lying some ha,f-mi.e Away,
DC. Of course had 10 idea OF attempting a
landing until I lad quite dis;aucej ny pur-
suers: for only on the ICE could l hope 20
prove q Ca,ca for them. nj they were
following II eager and enraged pursuit, /
feI; sure: Ger Haiti Halt was borne on
the wind. and shot ate. sho: cane WIKI
zirg through The IcE air.
Il glanced back. Five or Six Of them
were n full chase; and they were fue
skaters. too, FOX l could see the speed At
which thee came. But for tie good starr |
had made, I tad surely been overtaken- On
and on / sped Trees ano ether objects or
land. whca l gradually reared. few by me
Tx figures in . kaleidoscope The cold
wind wnIstiet through nv hAi. and cloth