The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-07-02

s pRV mor.n ~ ! =. maj a., !,
he replied. "TTe' 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 term for. high
way robbery, an since that he's been
Twin away back at RedGeld's Clearin',
among the mountains. How he lives, I
don't know, but this time OF the year he
generally comes down to the river an
camps fur a month or SO IN shantv at
the mouth of Montongo Creek. He
ketches fish, believe, an sells 'em
down at Laceyville. | don't s'pose he'll
modest you, though. Coin, are yea
WAL, good by. Stop next year if you
come this way"
We sprang into our canoes, waved q
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 my companions, Mark Wayne
and Jim Dale, | was making canoe
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, 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 bend, and a rocky
promontory juttcd out into the water.
We swept into the 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 a terrific speed, and
glided swiftly into the smoother reach of
water beyond, we saw before us, sub
merged to his waist in the very centre of
the channel, 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 batfied 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, and then, to
make matters worse, just as the poor
fellow struggled to the surface and got
his head and shoulders out of water. l
banged into him sideways and down he
went again, yainly trying to obtain a
foothold on the slippery stones.
Dale followed close behind, and Just
as we all tloated into the still, deep water
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 about
! for an instant, shaking his dripping
clothes and gasping for breath He was
a big, burly looking fellow, with q
heavy black beard. We hesitated for d
moment, not knowing what to do, for
the man was certainly mad, very mad.
Then Mark called OUT
II beg your pardon; VIC really could
not help it, you know. II was an acct
| dent"
But the man still continued his wild
dance; and then, recovering all at once
the use ot~his voice, he began to ~swear
| feariully: " . .r~-. ..
''Iou young wretches!' he cried.
cru skin you alive. I'll break every
bone in your bodies. I'll learn you"
Just here tit of coughing shut him
oil, and, seizing couple Of big stones,
he made for US on run.
We grabbed our paddles and struck
out for the middle Of the 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 Im,
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 shauty he lives in"
and he pointed to a rude cabin that was
built close under the ciltT, AMI had en-
treiy escaped our notice.
And down here IS the mouth of
Montopgo Creek, added Marx.
! Ny gracious, look what he ) doing ~
I cried Dale, suddenly.
We now observed for the iirst time a
boat turned bottom up o. t42 snore.
. f, N II