The Opelousas courier., 1892-09-10

morn I can tell"
he replied. aHe' a reckless, good for
nothin' kind of a chap, with two harum
scarcum o n 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 Reddeld's Clearin',
among the mountains. How he lives, |
don't know, but this time of the year he
generally comes down to the river an
camps fur a month OF SO In a shantv at
the mouth of Mont ngo Creek. He
ketches fish, | believe, an sells EN-
down at Laceyville. / don't s'pose he'll
modest you, though. Coin. are YET
WAL, good by. Stop next year if you
come this way"
We sprang into our canoes, waved a
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, / was making q eanoe
cruise down the Susquehanna. We were
approaching the border of Bradford
County, after two weeks of intermittent
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, ana 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 ehore,
The river made a bend, and a rocky
promontory jutted out into the water.
We swept into the rapids, Mark taking
the lead, and plunged through the foam.
ing spray aud the half concealed knobs
of stone. We passed in safety through
tho worst part, and as we rounded thu
point of rocks at a terrific speed, and
gIided swiftly into the smoother reach d
water beyond, we saw before us, sub.
merged to his waist in the very centre OF
the channel, a man intently engaged in
fishing an
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 a 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 glided grace
fully over him.
] uttered a cry of horror, aud then, to
make matters worse, just as the poor
fellow struggled to the surface and gol
his head and shoulders out of water,
banged into him sideways and down b
went again, vainly trying to obtain !;
foothold on the slippery stones.
Dale followed close behind, and just
as we all doated into the still, deep watel
below, the man came to the surface and
waded blindly to the shore, choking and
splitting up the water that he had swal
lowed.
He reached the bank and danced abou
for an instant, shaking his dripping
clothes and gasping for breath. He wa
q big, burly looking fellow, with
heavy black beard. W. hesitated for q
moment, not knowing what to do..fo
the man was certainly mad, very mad.
Then Mark called out:
II beg rour pardon; we really couIG
not help it, you know. i was an acci
dent
But the man still continued his viii,
dance; and then. recovering all at ono
the use Of his voice, no began to swea
fearfullg:
.You young wretches!' he cried
ssI'Il skin you alive. Ill break ever,
bone in your bodies. I'll learn you
just here q ft of coughing shut hin
of, and, seiziDg 4 couple Of big stones
be made for us on q run.
We grabbed our paddles and strucl
out for the middle of the river.
As soon as the man saw that we wer
ont of reach he changed bis tactics ant
ran back up stream. We could not I'M
agine what he was about at first, AMI
then the startling truth flashed upon us
ssThat's Lutte Carson J, said Dale,
aand there Is the shaaty he lives Id, J
and he pointed to q rude cabin that wa
built Gloss under the cliff, and had en-
tirely escaped our notice.
HAnd down here ii the mouth q
Montongo Crack = added Mark.
my gracious. look what he's doingis
cried Dale, suddenly.
We now observed for The first time
,oat turned bottom up on the shore.
Carson, for Il was undoubtedly he, hat
cized the chain, AMI was dragging i
oward the water. e resisted his efforts
ind, letting go Of II, be gave i coupI,
il loud shonts.
ISL think ii il time to leave, sug
ested Mark he is evidently calling Hi
ms.
Dale was already oln yarIs ahead,
snd, without losing any time, VI
padded swiftly down steanas
Carson still continued tn sheut, and
se fancied ne could hear y faint reply.
Then, u be sew y inr swiftly eni
of rsSh, be hut.and befors
We III 4 abous, hl
ssSM aRs