The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-07-08

morn I can tell"
he replied. "He' reckless, good for
nothin kind of chap, with two harum
scarcum sons as big as he is, an there
are some as say he wouldn't stop at no
crime ter git what he wanted. Bout
ten years ago he served a term for high
way robbery, an since that he's been
livin' away back at Redfield's Clearn',
among the mountains. How he lives, l
don't know, but this time of the year he
generally comes down to the river an
camps fur month or so In a shantv at
the mouth of Montongo Creek He
ketchcs fish, believe, an sells 'em
down at Laceyville. don't s'pose he'll
molest you, though. Coin, are yea
Waal, good by. Stop next year if you
come this way"
We sprang into our canoes, waved
farewell to the friendly farmer on whose
land we had camped the previous night,
and padded swiftly down the river in
the bracing air of the beautiful July
morning.
With nv companions, Mark Mayns
and jim Dale, l was making a canoe
cruise down the Susquehanna. We were
approaching the border of Bradford
County, after two weeks Of intermittent
Z padding from Otsego Lake, and this
was the first warning we had received OF
peril ahead.
We padded along several hours and
then the river narrowed, and we could
hear some distance below us the roar Of,
the rapids. As we came near we saw
that the channel ran close to the shore,
The river made bepd and a rocky
promontory justed op6 into the water.
sssTe swet int2 zhe rapids, Mark taking
the lead, and plunged through the foam.
ing spray and the half concealed knobs
of stone. We passed in safety through
the worst part, and as we rounded the
point of rocks at terrific speed, and
glided swiftly into the smoother reach OF
water beyond, we saw before us, SUBJ
merged to his waist in the very centre of
the channel, "a man intently engaged in
fishing.
We shouted with all our might, but
the roar Of the rapids drowned our
voices, and the man continued to toss
his lines, unconscious of his peril. Mark
made desperate effort to turn aside, but
the fierce current baffied his attempt,
and he struck the unfortunate fisherman
broadside, and before he could find time
to cry out the latter went head foremost
into the river, while Mark gided grace
fully over him.
uttered cry of horror, and then, to
make matters worse, just as the poor
fellow struggled to the surface and got
his head and shoulders out of water,
banged into him sideways and down he
went again, vainly trying to obtain a
foothold on the slippery stones.
Dale followed close behind, and lust
as we all fioated into the still, deep water
below, the man came to the surface and
.waded bfnndly to the shore, choking aud
splitting up the water that he had swal-
lowed
He reached the bank aud danced about
for an instant, shaking his dripping
clothes and gasping for breath. He was
big, burly looking fellow, with a
heavy black beard. We hesitated for a
moment, not knowing what to do, for
the man was certainly mad, very mad.
Then Mark called out
81 beg your pardon; we really could
not help it, you know. 1t was an acci-
dent"
But the man still continued his wild
dance; and then, recovering all at once
the use of his voice, he began to swear
fearfully:
"You young wretches!" he cried.
"I'll skin you alive. I'll break every
bone in your bodies. I'll learn you"
Just here fit of coughing shut him
off, and, seiziDg couple Of big stones,
he made for us on q run.
We grabbed our paddles and struck
out for the middle Of tho river.
AS soon as the man saw that we were
out OF reach he changed his tactics and
ran back up stream. We could not I'm 1.
agine what he was about at first, and
then the startling truth flashed upon us.
"That's Lutte Carson" said Dale,
"and there is the shanty he lives in, y
and he pointed to rude cabin that was
built close under the clif, and had en- ..
tirely escaped our notice
'And down here is the mouth of
blontongo Creek, added Mark.
"My gracious, look what he's doing!'
cried Dale, suddenly.
We now observed for the first time a
boat turned bottom up on the shore.
Carson, for it was undoubtedly he, had
c!zed the chain, and was dragging it
toward the water. IL resisted his efforts,
and, letting go OF it, he gave couple
# loud shouts
'I think it is time to leave" sug
Sested Mark he is evidently callin his
sons"
Dale was aready some yaris ahead,
aud, without losing any time, we
padded swiftly down steam.
Carson still continued to shout, and
we fancied we could hear faint reply.
Then, as he saw us moving swiftly cut
Of reach, he ran into the hut, and before
we could see what he was about, he