The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-01-07

To add to their distress they saw that
they were on the northern bank of an
other river flowing into the ChattahOOchee,
probably the Flint. and SO could get no
farther without boat. They found dry
hummock and passed Il wCeful night. Hun
ger, with all its horrors, was preferable to
being stranded in a swamp without means
to continue their journey.
A day was passed wandering about the
swamp, and at nightfall they saw boat
across the Chattahoochce. Some limbs
and Griftwood were spliced together with
grapevines, to serve as a raft, and with
this Wilson, half sunk in the water, man
aged to get across. To his JOY the new
boat was the best of all. and without a sin
gle qualm of conscience, now that the joke
was on some one else, he cOntisc&ted it,
took Wood on board and started full speed
down the river.
When hunger pressed again Wood re-
manned behind to guard the boat while
Wilson foraged the shore He didn't get
much that was edible, but finally found
some fish lines and hooks, and the problem
of living was solved. Fish was abundant.
Although compelled to devour it raw, they
ate large quantities, and doubtless the find
of fishing tackle saved their lives Farther
down stream they secured matches, and
later on n quantity of sweet potatoes.
They kindled a fire in a spot of primeval
Wildness and roasted and boiled and ate
Wilson says the only drawback to happi-
ness was the fear that the banquet might
be too much for them lie determined to
draw the line when they had eaten enough
for eight men, and persuaded Wood to hold
up q spell and cook for future needs After
piling up a stack of roasted sweet potatoes
and broiIcd fish they surveyed their stock,
and il looked SO good that they fell to and
ate some more. Then they slept, and after
that resumed the oars.
Finally they reached Appalachicola bay
A long search for stauch sea vessel was
fruitless, for fishing smacks and such craft
are not left lying abOUt so recklessly as
rOWhOats, ard they set out in their slight
sliif upon a voyage that would have APP
palled them, but fer the fact that they
cOurted death on the ocean in preference
to the doom that lay behind them. Should
the sea swallow them it would be Il fate
worthy of brave men and their enemies
would be outwitted. The water was so
rough that the skitf sank out of view of
passing vessels, and after rowing beyond
sight OF land they reached the long, bare
island that shelters the harbor late in the
afternoon. They made for that and lit
upon an oyster bed. which absorbed all
attention for time.
Shortly they noticed, beyond the island,
what appeared to be a clump of bare trees
! and little later, to their JOY, made out
| SmokestaCkS among the trees. Next the
| old fla. laZily swung into view and the
| happy fellows could hardly restrain the
| Impulse 10 jump into the water and try to
swim TO the fleet. They rowed swiftly to
| the nearest gUuhoat AMI We're soon drawn
| up the ships ladder, nearly naked, except
| for II sCant covering Of swamp moss that
| had replaced their worn ont garments
! They We're fOrlorn looking vagabonds in
| deed. but the very daring of their voyage
| to sea IN an open boat confirmed their re-
! marnah.e story and their welcome by the
fleet officers was as hearty as the occasion
| demanded. GEORGE L. kILMER