The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-11-16


the Insubordinate soldier twice across the
face, each time raising an angry red mark.
Before the guards had time to interfere,
Samson sprang upon the officer, lifted
him like child above his head and dash
ed him with q sickening crash to the
ground, where he lay motionless.
A cry of horror went up from every one
present.
L have had enough" cried Samson,
turning to go, but he was met by brist-
ling hedge of steel. He was like rat In
trap. He stood defantly there man
maddened by oppression, and glared
around him helplessly.
Whatever might have been his punish
ment for striking his comrades, there was
no doubt now about his fate. The guard
house was rude hut of logs situated on
the bank of the roaring stream. Into this
room Samson was flung bound hand and
foot to await the court martial next day.
The shattered officer, whose sword had
broken to pieces under him, slowly re-
vlved and was carried to his quarters. A
sentry marched up and down all night
before the guard house.
In the morning when Samson was cent
for, the guard house was found to be
empty. The huge Breton had broken
his bonds, as did old Samson OF old. He
had pushed out log of wood from the
wall and had squeezed himself through
to the bank of the stream. Then all trace
Of him was lost. II he had fallen in, then
of course ne had sentenced ana executed
himself, but in the mud near the water
were great foot prints which no boot bnt
that of Samson could have made; so If he
were in the stream it must have been be-
cause he threw himself there. The trend
of the footprints, however, indicated that
he had climbed on the rocks, and there, OF
course it was impossible to trace him. The
sentries who guarded the pass maintained
that no one had gone through during the
night, but to make sure several men were
sent down the path to overtake the run
away Even if he had reached town or
a village far below SO huge a man could
not escape notice. The searchers were
instructed to telegraph his description
and his crime as soon as they reached
a telegraph wire. It was impossible TO
hide in the valley, and rapid search
speedily convinced the officers that the
delinquent was not there
AS the sun rose higher and higher, un-
| til it began to shine even on the north
ward facing snow fields, sharp-eyed
private reported that he saw q black
speck moving high up on the great white
| slope south of the valley. The officer
called for field glass, and placing it to
his eyes, examined the snow carefully.
Call out detachment" be said; ''that
| is Samson on the mountain"
There was great stir IN the camp
when the truth became known Ennis
saries were sent after the searchers down
the pass calling them to return.
He thinks to get to Italy," said the
officer. Il did not imagine the fool knew
SO much of geography. We have hin
now secure enough"
The officer who had been flung ovel
about, and he was exceedingly bitter
Shading his eye and gazing at the snow
he said
"a good marksman ought to be able t,
bring him down."
All of which was perfectly true.
A detachment crossed the stream ant
stacked its arms at the foot OF the noun
tain which Samson was trying to climb
There was small level place few yard
wide between the bottom of the hill anC
the bank of the raging stream. On thi
bit of level ground the soldiers lay in tn
sun and smoked. while the officers stoo'
in a group and watched the climbin,
man going steadily upward
For short distance up from the pla
teau there was stunted grass and moss
Will oul pci1I5 Ol ibSh W llCl
the scant soil. Above that again was
breadth of dirty snow, W hIch, now tia
the sun was strong, sent little trickln
streams down to the river. From ther
, to the long ridge OF the mountain e2
tended upward the vast smooth slope {
virgin snow, pure and white sparkling
| hA ,rlt - b,l l. IL
| with diamond dust. A black spec
; against the tremendous field of white tt
giant struggled on, and they could Sc
, by the glass that he sank to the knees
| the sottening snow.
5 Now" said the officer, she Is begin
T ming to understand his situation"
r Through the glass they saw Samso
I pause. From below it seemed as if ii
/ snow was as smooth as slopIng roc
0 but even to the naked eye a shade
crossed 1t near the top. That shade
)" was tremendous ridge of overhangir
g snow more than 100 feet deep; ard Sal
| son paused as he realized that it was i
n
doubtedly saw a part of the regime
! waiting for him below. He turned a.
r. plodded slowly under the overhangi
= ridge until he came to the precipice
N his left. 1t was 1000 feet sheer dow
He ratraced his steps an d walked to t
J. similar preciplce at the right. Then
t, came again to the midd lie of the great
m which his foot marks had made on Il
virgin slope. He sat down in the sno'
er No one will ever know what MON,
It. of despair the Breton m ust have pas
< through when ne realize the hopele
at ness of bis toll.
b. The officer who was gaz ing through
v glass at him dropped his hand to his
Il: and laughed.
ssTha e Il.