The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-04-22
INA PUNT.

breath near the edgp Of SOME reeds The
weather was Rlorious, the moon wa
radiant the river sparklrd, the air wa,
cool and sweet Thi, tranquility tempt.
ed me, and thought II would be very
pleasant to 81 o>c my Ile IN this place.
The action followed the Thought. ]
seized my anchor and east It into the
river The punt, which naaled with the
current, dIitted as far a. the end Of IT.
chain, and then stood still ! seated my.
sell III the stern on my sheepshIn as com.
fortably rs possible.
/ heard nothing, not a sound, only al
intervals ! imagined | heafd a slight.
almost inaudihlc, Ilasb dt the wate1
against the shore, and NV clusters q
tall reeds which assumed surprising
shapes and seemed at intervals to stir
The river Was perfectly qaiet, but fell
agitatcd by the extraordinary stiffness
which surrounded me Al creatures
the frogs and tOuGs. these uocturna.
singers Of the marshcs-Wefes Ilrnt. sud.
denly at my right, cIose To me, frog
croakcd | shuddcred Il ceased, and
heard nothing more MId resolved tc
smoke todiSert my mind UT, although
| was a notorious and confirmed smoker,
| could not smoke With IA second puff.
| changed my mind and >taprad
began To rocitc verses The sound nj
my voice was painful Then | stretched
myself cut III the lotion Of the boal
and watched the sky Fer some time
renamed at ease. but soon heht move
mcnts of the boat disturbed me II
seemed as if it was making gigantic
lurchcs, touching alternately the twf
banks Of the river, then thought thai
some hping or invisible force drew il
gently to the bottom Of tie water. then.
raising il. let it fall once more WIS
tossed about Us though IN The midst Oh
IA tempest. heard sounds around me.
| rose with a bound The water WA,
cleaning. All was quiet
SAW that my nerves We're somewhat
shaken, and | determined 10 he off !
pulled at the ohain, the punt began tc
move; then felt a resistance pulle6
harder. hut the anchor GId not come Ii
had caught on something ut the hotton
of the river, and coua hot lift it ]
once more commenced t. null. but il
vain Then with my oms | turned the
boat up stream III order To change tn,
position of the anchor This was useless
it still held fast was seized with an.
ger and sheok the cham furiously
Nothing moved. | sat down discouraged
and began to reflect upon lav position.
could not think Of breaking the
chain or of separating it from the boat,
for it was very heavy and rvetcd in the
bow to piece Of wood thicker than my
arm But us the weather was still very
fair, | Thought that should not remain
long without encuuntoring some fisher.
man who would come To nv relief. Ny
mishap had claimed me | sat down.
and at last was able to smoke my pipe.
| had Il bottle Of rum drank two o.
three glasses and was compelled tC
laugh at my situation.
1t was very warm SO that | could, il
necessary, without great discomfort,
pass the night in the beautiful starlight.
Suddenly II soft rap sounded against the
side of the boat. | started, and colo
sweat froze me from head to foot. Thi-
sound doubtless came from some piece
of wood borne by the current but il
WAS enough anu 1 was again possessed
ny strange nervous aellatloh' / grasp
Ell lile elall ana strained Win despef
a'e eHoft. Inc ahchor held hrm' sal
aoNh cAihus'eu-
Me"ii"iille tilP river haa gradualiy
become covered ny very lhlck Whlte
mist when h'ilR very 10" over the Wa
Ter SO mat, standing could NO longer
see the river or my leet' or the boat
but only the tops OF the reeds and III
the Instance the loWIahd' Wllle III the
moonlight ana from IL great black
spots' loflaed ny 'Iulhps OF LolhDardy
popIars' arose III the SKY. was wrap
pea 10 my WAIST as II III muslin sheet
ol singular "llitehess' ana fantastic Vi
slohs came TO me
ldhclea llidl Soille one whom coula
not distinguish was trying to chmb IN
10 my BOAT ana mat the river hidden
IN inns Opaque hlSt' must be hIled with
these strange beings VINO swan around
me leit hoillble alsquletude, my
temples We're hRhtly bound the peat
ing OF my heaft almost choked me- ana,
losing control oi myself, thought OF
saving myself by swimming, but imme-
diately this idea made me shuddcr with
fear l could SEE myself lost, wandering
at random in that thick fog, in the