Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-06-22
A FEARFUL RIDE.

vas like n hundred years ago, or mat
the fm-provolSing excursion enjoyed so
much nowadays ha1 an ancient and
necessary origin. 1t is probable, how
ever, that as much fun and laughter
accompanied the straw ride then rs
now, for young people are alike in all
ages and the world over.
When our English forefathers settled
In the New Hampshire states, especial
ly Vermont and New Hampshire, they
established their homes Upon The high
lands, because strange as ii now seems,
the larger lakes, ponds and rivers
where the beautiful meadows now are
were comprised about with miles and
miles of thicllly wooded swamps, which
were almost impossible even in sum-
mer.
Last summer climbed the mountain
which is the scene of this story, and
counted there forty old cellar holes,
OvergrOwn with grass and brush, but
ndisputable evidence of former homes.
1 asked stupidly-feeling certain the
answer would be, KILLED by Indians
or devOured by wild bedsts"-"Where
did all the people go TO who lived
there" The practical one of our party
answered, oh they moved down grad
ually, for as the woods Were cut off,
the swamps dried up"
A hundred years ago the settlers on
the mountain made nothing of the deep
SHOWS which in winter covered all that
country, but turned out with shovels
md ox-sleds-the only vehicles known
in the mountains in those times-and
manfully ''broke roads," in order that
their social intercourse with their Not
chite" friends might not be interrupt
ed.
Especially was this the case in n GER
tain winter, when Mr.. Stevens, the
most "forehanded" of them all, had
built 4 frame mansion and was going
10 give Il hOuse-warming ball. y string
Of ox-teams was sent over the rough,
drifted road, and all was ready for
the jewellers. There were enough young
people 10 fill two sleds and Thad Wal
do and Freeman Eddy, each of whom
owned two yoke Of oxen. were chosen
rs teamsters. Their sleds were filled
with straw and blankets, ready for
their respective loads. and they started
II errily off ut o'clock, reaching their
destination before dark. They stayed
there until 3 in the morning, g&yly
thought of danger.
When the teamsters went out TO
tackle up for the return home they
found the sky heavy With dark clouds
and much warmer than when they
came over.
Guess we're going to have our Janu-
larry thaw," remarked =, Dung Waldo.
And I'm afraid we will get Il slump
tIa cid hlA
easy riding over those stumps and
stones" remarked Eddy.
For mile or so the high spirits of
the party made the woods and noun
tains ring with song and laughter; but
Ivy the time they reached the heights,
the fatigue OF the dane, began TO tell
on them, and the younger Of them
commenced making pillows Of the laps
Of their elders. who, also, soon became
silent.
Waldo and Eddy. as they reached the
notch. jumped from their sleds TO bet
ter guide the teams down the noun
tain, and the latter shouted rs he
reached the road, "Old Buck and
Bright will be more lively company
than that sleepy crowd"
The drowsy ripple Of laughter which
followed this sally was suddenly
drowned by a horrible scream which
seemed to fairly fill the pass, echoing
and re-echoing through the mountains
rs if being answered by hundred
others.
The two teamsters sprang quickly
to the head OF their teams, now tremb-
ling and cuddling up TO each other in
fright. The men knew that they had
only moment TO prevent q wild stam-
pede down the mountain; for, as soon
as the poor oxen should recover from
their first alarm they would seek safety
I'm fight, when it seemed impossible
that the whole party could escape being
dashed to pieces.
Every person in the company, from
the oldest TO the youngest, fully appre-
ciated their double danger. They knew
that that defiant scream came from n
hungry panther-and that it meant
death.
Instantly every young man on the
gleds had his gun to his shouldcr-they
never went without them in those
good old days"-peering sharply among
the hemlocks which lined the road for
the two fiery eyes, the only part of the
ugly beast they expected to see in the
cloudy darkness. Failing n shot they
knew that he would jump for them
when they passed under the tree where
he had lodged when he gave his warn
ing scream. Should he miss it would
in nowise end the chase. for they
knew that by his huge vaulting springs
he could soon forge ahead TO vantage
ground in another tree.
The road through which these hapless
young people took their fearful ride
is nearly obliterated now by a sturdy
growth Of young trees. except Three
Lodges" around which the road ran.
No trees can ever cover those cruel
; rocks. Here was the fearful climax
which must end such II race, even
should they keep together until they
, reached the lodges.
, In thirty seconds quick-witted young
Waldo had unhitched his leading oxen
and turned them into the deep snow,
hoping that they might possibly at
tract the panther. Thus he obtained
also better chance TO control the 9th
ers, BY this time a second scream,
, more defiant than the other, rang
, through the woods.
, This second scream came from he