Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-02-17

lIOlu TIC N'~~
and saw the guards scrambliag into
their skates, while the prisoners were
staring in stupid amazement at my fly
ing form. Sc great was the eNhilara-
tion of my physical nature | could not
realize the tremendous danger | was
in. laughed aloud and clapped my
hands in an ecstacy Of excitement.
felt as though had wings, so smooth
and rapid was my tlight-wings To my
heels. if not to my shoulders, as l fled
on. like a modern Mercury.
Il instinctively bent my course to-
ward the mainland lying some half
mile away, but of course had no idea
of attempting landing until l had
quite distaneed my pursuers; for only
on the ice could | hope To prove a
match for them. That they were fol-
lowing in eager and enraged pursuit,
| felt sure; for Halt Halt was borne
on the wind. and shot after shot came
whizzing through the icy air
Il glanced back Five or six of
them werei in full chase; and they were
fine skaters, too, for | could see the
speed at which they came. But for
the good start had made, | had sure
lv 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 clothing, but my whole body was
aglow with the rapid motion and ex-
element.
Il suddenly remembered the guard :
remark about the coming thaw. What
if should come To thin ice, and find
cold and watery grave. Oh that
there only wete Danger signals ahead!
But the danger signals behind me
were sufficient TO drive me on to any
that might lie before
ION | flew. What distance ! was
making | could hardly guess, but Ger
tainly two or three miles must now lie
between me and my prison home. But
at last the long continued and un-
wonted eXertion began To tell on me.
My breath came short and quick, and
my heart beat To suifocation. | could
not keep il up very much longer, !
felt sure. Again looked back. Far
&,
still struggling on; but. away in ad-
vance Of them. one resolute fellow
was pushing toward me with headlong
speed Though ] kept steadily on,
as looked | saw, TO my dislnay, that
he was gaining on me. He was near
enough for me TO perceive by his dress
that he was an officer, and not being
encumbered with heavy firearms was
thus able, | suppose, To make the
time he did. gathered up all my
energies to make one last and desper-
ate effort to distance him. Ny limbs
began to tremble. Months OF prison
life and prison fare had made me
weaker than, in the first squirt, had
realized.
Halt came within fifteen feet OF
me, and pistol-ball whistled through
my hair and took oil my hat. AT the
same moment n cracking sound came
from under my feet staggered,
lurched violently to one side, then lost
my balance and rolled over and over
on the yielding ice.
"'All is over now | thought; for |
felt too utterly exhausted even to
attempt to rise But, just as all hope
forsook me, loud crash aroused me.
and turned my head just in time 10
see my pursuer go down in the treach-
erous chasm in which ! had been 80
nearly engulfed. Then | knew that
was saved; and with suddenly re-
newed strength got to my feet again
and made of / continued for half
mile further up and then made straight
for the shore There | unstrapped
my skates and took refuge in a deep
thicket. and in few minutes was IN
a profound sleep.
II wonder. now. that had not fro
zen TO death; and had not the weather
moderately greatly in the last few
hours. am sure ] would have done
so. When finally woke, was stiff
with cold. and ached from head 10
foot"
Here Mr.. SHINES paused, and gave
retrospective shiver as he leaned
over the fire.
And what became Of the poor fel-
low who went under the iceY'' asked
Mr.. Harcourt.
Drowned, ! suppose; hoped 30 at
the time. at any rate. / never saw
him again. Well, that is the last time
/ skated. continued Mr SimInes. ris-
ing. and standing with his back com
fortably turned to the fire I've
never had the least fancy for the exer-
else since
But pray continue your narrative
said Mr.. Harcourt, as he rose and
stood on the rug before his friend. Il
cant bear to think Of you in that
thicket with frozen limbs and aching
bones.
Haven't | bored you enough al
ready? You know ] only promised to
tell you my last experience on the
skates"
Indeed have an intense curiosity
to know how you got along after
wards"
Mr. SHINES resumed his seat, and
continued: When / awoke IL was
almost sunset | was In dense wood,
with no sign Of habitation within
sia,hf That I Ehouid find food and