The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-28
impossible; and I trusted to luck.-and

pluck--to work my way homo
"If my skill and speed were only equal 10
what they once were, felt sure the thing
was feasible. But had not been on skates
for three years, and months Of prison fare
and inactive life had greatly weakened
me. However, gladly seized the oppor.
tunity OF trying, but always feigned reluct-
anco and timidity whenever I venturcd
out; and many were the awkward slips and
tumbles purposely made. I would have
given any thing to have dared, just for q
few slides, to give my powers full play,
just to satisfy myself that my old skill was
as good as ever; but this would betray me,
80 l affected to be rs awkward as the
others; yet all the while the old familiar
feeling would come back to me at each step
1 took, and / felt sure, II once plunged
forward, could skim over that lake like q
bird.
| 1--WE had been amusing ourselves thus
Tor two days, when, on tho third, as we
were marshaled out to our daily exercise,
the guard remarked: Guess there'll be no
more skating after to-day, boys. There'll
be thaw pretty soon SO you'd better make
the most Of 1t this morning.
" felt the blood rush to my face as he
spoke. Should dare to try 1t to.dayl 1t
was my last chance thought OF my old
|
her heart for her boy, and resolved to
make the attempt.
''Thcre were no signs of thaw yet, us
we came down to the lake, but tho temper.
ature was decidedly milder than 1t had
peeh Tor several days. l watched the boys
| ouckling on their skates, and then slowly
put on mine. l examined them carefully,
| to see that they were sound in every re-.
spect, buckle and tongue and oil, good for
two or three mile race
"As good luck would have IL, none of our
guards accompanied us on the ice this
morning, so secure did they feel of our in
ability to get beyond their reach, but sat or
stood around in the sun, prepared to enjoy
to the utmost our awkward feats.
| "Well, started off at last, very eau
tiously at first, as though afraid to trust
my insecure footing. My object was to get
as far as possible from land and the armed
guard before l made q dash for freedom.
would go a few PAGES, then fall and roll
over, apparently, in the most helpless man.
ner imaginable But 1 managed ut each
tumble to get little farther away, till at
last was about fifty yards from the shore,
and quite distance from the rest of the
party before 1 attracted any attention.
Then loud voice from the guards sung
out:
"'Hello! you there, johnny Rebi Come
tumble back this way, and be quick about
it,
II Immediately 'tumbled,' but not in
their direction. I'm coming cried, If
can ever stand on this plaguy slippery
thing;' and sitting down l commenced to
slide around in the most awkward and gro
tesque fashion,"
Here the narrative was interrupted by Q
sudden laugh from Mr.. Harcourt. What
hgure you cut-must have cut" he said.
"Yes, indeed; and the guard on shore
greeted my maneuvres, and those Of my
equally graceful companions, with shouts
OF laughter, and such complimentary ejacu-
lations as 'bull-frog,' 'terrapin,' etc.
II slowly scrambled to nv feet. and.
while apparently endeavoring to steady
myself, rapidly took in the situation, 1
was fully sixty yards from the shore. Not
one Of the guards was on the lake. and IL
would take some moments to buckle on the
skates. They would have their guns, too,
wnlch would impede their progress. As
all this lifted through my mind, I was
slowly stunning back and forth, as though
making my way toward them. saw that
at the moment their attention was diverted
from me by the gyratons Of the other
prisoners. Wheeled and sped up the lake
like shot.
"Ohl the delicious sensation that tingled
through every nerve and fiber Of my frame
as new like bird over the ice. In mo-
ment was on the river ut my old Kentucky
nome, leaving my competitors far in the
rear. But now the race was for freedom
1or n1e-and Ielt all my old skill and fleet.
ness return TO me fourfold at the thought.
"But loud cries, followed by rapid shots.
now came from the shore. glanced back
and saw the guards scrambling into their
skates while the prisoners were staring in
slupid amazement az my hyinR form. So
great was the exhilaration Of my physical
nature could not realize the tremendous
oanger was IN. l laughed aloud and
clapped my hands in an ecstacy of excite
meht. I1eit as though l had wings, so
smooCu anu rapid was my hight-wings to
~. NY ii,,s msois no. 10 my shoulders as l fled
on' nAe houeih mercury
II lnstinctively bent my course toward
tne mainland lying some half-mile away,
DuS OF course had no idea OF attempting
ianding until mad quite distanced my pur-
suers; lor only on the ice could hope to
prove match Tor them. That they were
following IN eager and enraged pursuit, I
ielt sure; 1or HAT! HaltV was borne on
the wind' and shot after shot came whiz-
zing through the icy air.