The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-06-26

THAT SHREK CAUSED THE HORSE TO SHY.
! self thoroughly, but my thoughts-ef the
danger behind were too pressing just
then to allow. me to take any notice of
such q small matter as soaking
Without moments hesitation
| sprang up and started across the river,
little caring what course | took, only
so it led away from the dreaded panther.
l had nearly reached the opposite
bank, when suddenly the ice cracked
undcr my feet, and in another instant
parted, and | went down.
AS sank | threw out my arms, and,
| fortunately, caught the ice on either
side, and by superhuman effort man
aged to stay my descent.
| | was thankful for this good fortune,
but had presence of mind enough to
realize that my position was critical
one, for, try as l would, / could not re-
lease myself from the trap into which l
had fallen.
1t was all could do to keep. my head
above the water that flowed over the
| ice, and 1'knew that If re manned there
Hong, n would become u umbed and must
at last loose my hold, and be swept
under the ice. Then, to add to the
terror of the situation, L. discovered
EafteR the lapse of ~as few minutes that
Ethics wafer on tho ice was growing
| deeper all the time, and that soon ii
sMould be impossible for me to keep my
head above it.
No one can imagine the horrors of that
time, and it would be utterly useless to
attempt to portray what | suffered. Ii
ever boy thought seriously Of death, I
did and if ever any one longed for homo
nd''friends, | certainly did.
/ forgot all about the panther, and
thought only of death and of my home.
II had little hopesof rescue, for It was
nearly two miles TO cur house, and no
one else lived. nearer, and it was i'm
+ probable that any one would pass the
road at that time of night.
/ / felt sure tirat no one could be near,
yet I called out again. and again at the
top of my voice, acting on the principle,
| suppose, of the drowning man who
catches at a straw.
| 1t seemed TO me that almost an hour
passed, though it was probably enot;so
long: Anyhow, know my arms began
| to ache drea1fully, and my lower limbs
grew stifr and lifeless.
The water crawled up slowly but
steadily, until, raising myself as high as
l could, was barely able to keep my
mouth above it. Another rise OF a
fourth of an inch and the water would
strangle me, and the lapse OF another
five minutes and my arms would refuse
to bear my weight longer.
tried to resign myself to my fate,
for | had abandoned all hope Of rescue.
was about to close my eyes and cease
my endeavors to keep above the water,
when voice from the bank broke the
awful stiffness.
1t was voice l knew, and in an in
slant all the desire to live came back
upon me, and with mighty effort |
shook off the stupor that had stolen
over me, and raised my head clear of tho
water, and answered back.
The next instant the man-for it was
one of our neighbors who had called me,
came down the bank and across the
flooded ice. 1t was so dark that he had
some difficulty in locating me, and
though l attempted to call to him, was
too weak to make my voice heard.
While he was still looking fo-m me, his
DOG. which followed him, came to me
and set up furious barking, thus guild
ing his master to my side.
i remember nothing m ore OF that
night, and when | came TO conscious
ness again / vas at home in bed, and
the sunlightof another day was falling
into the room. The neighbor was still
there. and when ! opened my eyes al
most tbs first object that met them was
my pan shar Of the night.insthe form Of
the neighbos's big black dog. The man
was out hunting, and, fortunately, was
not far away when got my terriblo
scare. Thomas 7. Montfort, in Golden
Days.
Iris wrong to compel a horse to wear
stifr, heavy harness that does net fit
his body anywhere. On his body rests
cuinbrous pad, stiif, unyielding and
pressing upon set OF muscles Which
ought to e free from any pressure.