Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-01

snOutS Oh l0ugnGof That GCnOe0 over the
lake as the luckless tyros, one after an
other, came to an ignominious fate
I'm my Kentucky home I had been &C
customed to the sport every winter, and
was accounted the champion skater of the
neighborhood. Many time had dis
tenced q whole party OF young people in q
race up the river, and prided myself on
my accomplishment, This, however, kept
a profound secret; Tor the wild thought
had entered my brain, why not make my
and in tho woods, pursuit would be next to
impossible; and trusted to auckland
pluck-to work my way home 49,. +.
IF my skill and speed were only equal to
what they once were, I 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-
ance and timidity whenever I ventured
out; and many were the awkward slips and
tumbles I purposely made. would have
given any thing to have dared, just for a
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,
so l affected to be as awkward as the
others; yet all the while the old familiar
feeling would come back to me at each step
took, and felt sure. If I once plunged
forward, could skim over that lake like q
bird - ~ -
1--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 there'u be no
more skating after to-day, boys. There'll
be thaW pretty soon, SO you'd better make
the most of it this morning.
81 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, VIII o was wearing away
her heart for her boy, and resolved to
make the attempt. r. Y l.
There were no signs of thaw yet, as
we came down to the lake, but tho temper
allure was decidedly milder than it had
been for several days. watched the boys
buckling on their skates, and then slowly
put on mine. I examined them carefully
to see that they We're sound in every re-
spect, buckle and tongue and I'LL, good for
two or three mile race. '1
''As good luck would have it, 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 made dash for freedom.
would go few PAGES, then fall aud roll
over, apparently, in the most helpless man
ner imaginable. But managed at 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 I attracted any attention.
Then q loud voice from the guards sung
out:
"'Hello! you there, Johnny Rebl Come
tumble back this way, and be quick about
it, . ~ ~
II Immediately 'tumbled,' but not in
their direction. Pm coming cried, If
l can ever stand on this plaguy slippery
thing;' and sitting down I commenced to
slide around in the most awkward and gro
tesque fashion, 49,. < 49,. = -.
Here the narrative was interrupted by
sudden laugh from Mr.. Harcourt. "What
figure you cut-must have cut" he said.
Eyes, 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,' sterrapin,' etc.
II slowly scrambled to my feet, and,
while apparently endeavoring to steady,
myself, rapidly took in the situation. !
was fully sixty yards from the shore. Not
one of the guards was on the lake, and it
would take some moments to buckle on the
skates. They would have their guns, too,
which would impede their progress. AS
all this fitted through my mind, I was
slowly shutting back and forth, as though
making my way toward them. saw that
at the moment their attention was diverted
from me by the gyrations of the other
prisoners. wheeled and sped up the lake
like shot.
ooh! the delicious sensation that tingled
through every nerve and fiber of my frame
as flew like a bird over the ice. In O. mo-
ment Twas on the river at my old Kentucky
home, leaving my competit tors far in the
rear. But now the race was for freedom
for life-and felt 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. Iglanced back
and saw the guards scrambling into their
skates, while the prisoners were staring in
stupid amazement at my flying form. So
great was the exhilaration OF my physical
nature could not realize the tremendous
danger was in. laughed aloud and
clapped my hands in an ecstacy OF excite
ment. felt as though I had wings, so
smooth and rapid was my f1ight-wings to
my heels, il not to my shoulders, as l fed
on, like modern Mercury.
III instinctively bent my course toward
the mainland lying some half-mile away,
but Of course had no idea OF attempting
landing until had quite distanced my pur-
suers; for only, on the ice could l hope to
prove match for them. That they were
following in eager and enraged pursuit, l
felt sure; for Haiti Haltp was borne on
the wind, and shot after shot came whiz-
zing through the icy air. r.
II glanced back. Five or six of them
were in full chase; and they were fine
skaters, too. for I could see the speed at
which they came. But for the good start
had made, had surely been overtaken. On
and on sped. Trees and other objects on
land, which gradually neared, flew by me
like figures in Kaleidoscope. The cold
wind whistled through my hair and cloth
ing, but my whole body was aglow with
the rapid motion and excitement. &"@
81 suddenly remembered the guards re-
mark about the coming thaw. What il