Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-06-26
A NIGHT OF DANGER.
Thrilling Adventure of a Traveller
in a Southern Forest

0OADL DlN NldL 1 N0N lust
All that day I had been tramping
through a wild and almost unbroken
forest. il one Of our Southwestern
States
Since morning. had not seen more
than a half-dozen human habitations,
and they We're Of the poorest and rudest
description hardly fiji Tor the abode Of
a wild animal.
Since the middle OF the afternoon, the
forest had been unbroken on either side,
so thickly matted with trees and vines
that the eye could not penetrate dozen
feet into the gloomy shadows.
All there was to show that a human
being had ever been that way before
was the apology for a road that was
pursuing If there had ever been any
travel upon it, there was little sign now
that such had been the case. Bushes
had grown up whore the ruts might have
been. and in many places the stout vines
had crept around. 50 that one had to
keep a constant lookout 70 prevent him
self from being tripped up by them
Now and then, in the thickest portion
of the forest. it was almost impossible
to keep what, in fact was hardly more
than trail Here it would seem to
branch either to the right or left, but
up to nightfall f1attered myself that |
had not gone astray. But now l had
grave reason to be worried.
At the cabin where l had passed the
previous night. had been told that /
should come to another by the middle
of the afternoon. or little later, pro-
viding l made good time. But now
night was close upon me, and the habi-
tation | had been looking for at every
turn had failed to materialize.
The prospect Of a night alone in the
dismal forest was not pleasant to con-
template knew that in the dismal
depths about me. outlaws, moonshiners
and cut-throats had their refuge and
did not relish the idea Of meeting them
at any time. much less OF encountering
them in the darkness.
1t had begun to grow dark about me.
when | came to point in the way
which puzzled me The road forked
again. and for the life Of me | could not
determine which to take, the right or
left
As many had done before me, l let
chance decide the matter. Setting a
stick upright, l removed my hand. and
let it fan in the direction it would. 1t
fell to the left, and so ! took that way.
| hurried onward now as fast as
could | wanted to make use of what
daylight still remained, and get to the
cabin where was to pass the night be-
fore it became so dark that travelling
would be impossible. But my haste
amounted to nothing. A darkness
which could almost be felt closed Il
about me, and | felt certainty that l
must be lost. The cabin | expected TO
find had not appeared, and of its exist
ence had no reason to doubt. The
people where had passed the previous
night could have had no motive in de-
ceiving me.
Stumbling along in the darkness,
trying to make up my mind to face the
inevitable, that of passing the night
out of doors, ! suddenly tripped over
something which lay across the path,
and went headlong over it TO the ground
Mingled with the shock of striking the
earth was a thrill OF fear, coupled with
establishment ! did not get upon my
feet at once, but sitting up, reached
out toward the obstruction over which
had tripped A thrill of horror ran
through my frame as my hand touched
it, 1t was the body OF man.
sprang to my feet, while could feel
the hair rising upon my head. Had the
body been stiff and cold, my fright would
not have been so bad. BY chance | had
placed my hand upon its face, and felt
there was the warmth of life still in il.
This was not all 1t was wet, and the
moisture stuck to my hands. Although
| could not see, felt sure that il was
blood that was sticking to them. An &C
cident had occurred, or a murder had
been committed, within few minutes
of my coming.
With trembling hands sought for a
match. and when | found one, struck
it and glanced down at the object before
me. 1t was the body of a man, its face
SO covered with blood that It's features
were not discernihle The match went
out and / was alone again in the dark
ness, with the body Of the murdered man
lying at NY feet.
lighted two or three matches at once,
but their light only revealed TO me
what bad already seen. What could
do? The thought Of remaining By the
side Of the dead man until morning ]
could not entertain for a moment !
must 20 on until considerable distance,
at least. was placed between it and ne.
This lost no time in doing, As fast as
nv feet would carry me, hurried on,
half unmindful if was keeping the
trail or not