The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-05-25
CIIILDRGN'S CORNER.
ConSx'S cATAsr0uST.
~ LOUIS #. ALCOTr.
(CONTINTED.l

No chance for o bath appeared, 50
ne washed his burning face aud took
rest, enjoying the splendid view far
over valley and intcryale through
the gap in the mountain range. He
was desperately tired with these hours
Of rough travel, and very hungry;
but he would not own it, and he sat
considering what to do next, for he
saw by the sun that the afternoon
was half over. There was time TO 20
back by the way he had come, and by
following the path down the hill he
could reach the hotel and get sup
per and bed, or he driven home
That was the wise thing TO do, but
his pride rebelled against returning
empty-handed after MI his plans and
boasts Of great exploits.
81 wont 90 home, to be laughed at
by Chris and Abner. I'll shoot
something. if stay all night. Who
cares for hunger and mosquito bites?
Not ]. Hunters can bear more than
that, guess. The next live thing |
sec I'll shoot it, and make fire and
have jolly supper. Now, which
way shall COUP or down? A
pretty hard prospect, either way"
The sight Of an eagle soaring above
HIM seemed to answer his question,
and fill him with new strength and
ardor. TO shoot the king of birds
and take him home in triumph
would cover the hunter with glory.
1t should be done, And away he
went, climbing, tumbling. leaping
from rock to rock, toward the place
where the eagle had alighted. More
cuts and bruises, more vain shots,
and the sole reward of his eager
struggles was single feather that
floated down as the great bird scared
serenely away, leaving the boy ex-
hausted and disappointed, in will
derness of granite powders, and
with no sign of path to show the
way out.
AS he leaned brcathless and weary
against the crag where he had fondly
hoped to find the eagles nest, he
realized for the first time what a
fool-hardy thing he had done. Here
he was, alone, without guide, in
this wild region where there was
neither food nor shelter, and night
was coming on. Utterly used up. he
could not get home now even if he
knew the way; and suddenly all the
tales he had ever heard of men lost |
in the mountains came into his head. |
If he had not been weak with hun
ger, he would have felt better able to
bear it; but his legs trembled under
him, his head ached with the glare
of the sun, and a queer faintness
came over him now and then. For,
plucky as he was, the city lad was
unused to exercise SO violent.
"The only thing to do now is to
get down to the valley, if | can, be-
fore dark. Abner said there was an
old cabin, where the hunters used to
sleep, somewhere down there. can
try for it, and perhaps shoot some
thing Oh the way. | may break my
bones, but ] can't sit and starve up
here. | was a fool to come. Pll
keep the feather, anyhow, to prove
that | really saw an eagle; that's
better than nothing"
Still brayely trying to affect the
indifference to danger and fatigue
which hunters are always described
as possessing in such a remarkable
degree, Corny slung the useless gun
on his back and began the steep de-
scent, discovering now the perils he
had been too eager to see before. He
was Il good climber, but he was stiff
with WEAKNESS, and his hands were
sore with scratches and
poison; so he went slowly, feeling
quite unfit for such hard work.
Coming.to the ravine, he found that
the only road led down its precipi-
tous side to the valley, thaG looked
so safe and pleasant now. Stunted
pines grew in the assures of the
rocks, and their strong roots helped
the clinging hands and feet as the
boy painfully climbed, slipped, and
swung along, fearing every minute
to come to some impossible barrier
in the dangerous path.
But he got on wonderfully well,
and was feeling much encouraged,
when his foot slipped, the root he
held gave way, and down he went, /
rolling and humping on the rocks
below, to his death, he thought, as a
crash came, and he knew no more. {
"Wonder if Pm dead?" was the
first idea that occurred to him as he
opened his eyes and saw a brilliant
sky above him, all purple, gold, and
He seemed floating in the air; for !
ne swayed to and fro ON soft bed, {
! pleasant murmur reached his ear, S
mi when he glanced down he saw |
what looked like clouds, misty and 6
white, below him. He lay a few I
minutes drowsily musing, for the l
all had stunned him; then, as he
moved his hand, something pricked g
t, and he felt pine-needles in the 5
myers that closed over them. a
Caught in tree, as sure as fate"
lie exclaimed, and all visions of f
heaven vanished in breath, as he t
at up and stared about HIM, wide I
wake now, and conscious of many
ching bones.
Yes, there he lay among the branch
s of one of the sturdy pines, into
which he had fallen on his way '
lown the precipice. Blessed helpful 5
rec! set there to save life, and to t
each lesson to willful young Il
leart that never forgot that hour. o
Holding fast, lest rash motion {,
ho lid set him bounding further {