The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-28

gage in any thing 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 an
other, came to an ignominious fate.
I'm my Kentucky home l had been ac-
customed TO the sport every winter, and
was accounted the champion skater Of the
neighborhood. Many time had l dis
tGnced whole party of young people in
race up the river, and prided myself on
my accomplishment. This, however, l kept
profound secret; for the wild thought
had entered my brain, why not make my
escape in this wayp Once across the lake
and in the woods, pursuit would be next to
impossible; and ! trusted to auckland
pluclz-to work my way home
''If my skill and speed were only equal to
what they once were, l 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, l gladly seized the oppor-
tunity of trying, but always feigned reluct-
ance and timidily whenever | ventured
out; and many were the awkward slips and
tumbles purposely made. l would have
given any thing to have dared, just for
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
l took, and l felt sure. if I once plunged
forward, could skim over that lake like
bird.
I'VE had been amusing ourselves thus
for two days, when, on the third, as we
the guard remarked: Guess there'll be no
more skating after to-day, boys. There'n
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 l dare to try it to-day? i
was my last chance. ] thought of my OLD
mother at home, who was wearing away
her heart for her boy, and l resolved to
make the attempt.
There were no signs OF thaw yet, as
we came down TO the lake, but the temper
ature was decidedly milder than 1t had
been for several days. watched the boys
buckling 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 all, good for
a two or three mile race.
guards accompanied us on tho 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 dash for freedom.
l would go a few PAGES, then fail and 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 | attracted any attention
Then loud voice from the guards sung
out:
"'Hellol you there, Johnny Reb Come
tumble back this way, and be quick about
it,
II Immediately 'tumbled,' but not in
their direction. I'm coming / cried, if
l 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
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, withs~sk5uts
of laughter, and such complimentary ejacu-
lations as 'bull-frog,' 'terrapin,' 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, l was
slowly shutting back and FORTH as though
making my way toward them. l 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 fber Of my frame
as few like bird over the ice. In a mo-
ment was on the river at my old Kentucky
home, leaving my competitors fsr in the
rear. But now the race was for freedom
for life-and / felt all my old skill and feet
ness return to me fourlold 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
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. l felt as though l had wings, SO
smooth and rapid was my fiight-wings to
my heels, if not to my shoulders, as l fled
on, like modern Mercury.
II instinctively bent my course toward
the mainland lying some half-mile away,
but of course hsd no idea of attempting a
landing until had quite distanccd my pur-
suers; for only on the ice could hope to
prove a match for them. That they were
following in eager and enraged pursuit,
felt sure; for Haiti HAITI was borne on
the wind, and shot after shot came whiz-
zing through the icy air.
II glanced back. Five or six of them
were in full chase. and they were fine
skaters, too, for l could see the speed at
which they came. But for the good start
had made, l had surely been overtaken. On
and on l 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.
Il suddenly remembered the guards re-
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