Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-05-08
IN A PUNT.

One evening, when had returned all
alone and very weary, painfully pull
ing my heavy boat, which used every
night, I paused few seconds to take
breath near the edge of some reeds. The
weather was glorious, the moon was
radiant, the river sparkled, the air was
cool and sweet. This tranquility tempt
ed me, and l thought it would be very
pleasant to smoke my pipe in this place.
The action followed the thought. I
seized my anchor and cast it into the
river. The punt, which loated with the
current, drifted as far as the end Of its
chain, and then stood still. I seated my
self i'll the stern on my sheepskin as COM
fortably as possible.
l heard nothing, not sound, only at
intervals I imagined I heard slight,
almost inaudible, plash of the water
against the shore, and l saw clusters Of
tall reeds which assumed surprising
shapes and seemed at intervals to stir.
The river was perfectly quiet but felt
agitated by the extraordinary stiffness
which surrounded me. All creatures
the frogs and toads, those nocturnal
singers of the marshes-were silent. Sud
denly at my right, close to me, frog
croaked. | shuddered. 1t ceased, and |
heard nothing more and resolved to
smoke to divert my mind. Yet, although
I was notorious and confirmed smoker,
could not smoke. With second puff,
changed my mind and stopped.
began to recite verses. The sound Of
my voice was painful. Then / stretched
myself out i'll the bottom of the boat
and watched the sky. For some time
1 remained at ease, but soon light move
ments of the boat disturbed me. 1t
seemed as if it was making gigantic
lurches, touching alternately the two
banks of the river, then thought that
some being or invisible force drew it
gently to the bottom of the water, then,
raising it, let it fall once more. I was
tossed about as though in the midst of
tempest. heard sounds around me.
I rose with bound. The water was
cleaning. All was quiet.
saw that my nerves We're somewhat
shaken, and I determined to be off. I
pulled at the chain, the punt began to
move; then felt resistance. I pulled
harder, but the anchor did not come. 1t
had caught on something at the bottom
of the river, and could not lift it. I
once more commenced to pull, but in
vain. Then with my oars turned the
boat up stream in order to change the
position of the anchor. This was useless;
it still held fast. was seized with an.
ger and shook the chain furiously.
Nothing moved. l sat down discouraged
and began to reflect upon my position.
l could not think of breaking the
chain or of separating it from the boat,
for it was very heavy and riveted in the
bow to a piece of wood thicker than my
arm. But as the weather was still very
fair, thought that I should not remain
long without encountering some fisher
man who would come to my relief My
mishap had calmed me. I sat down,
and at last was able to smoke my pipe.
| had bottle of rum. | drank two or
three glasses and was compelled to
laugh at my situation.
1t was very warm, so that / could, if
necessary, without great discomfort,
pass the night in the beautiful starlight.
Suddenly soft rap sounded against the
side of the boat. started, and a cold
sweat froze me from head to foot. This
sound doubtless came from some piece
of wood borne by the current, but it
was enough, and was again possessed
by strange nervous agitation. grasp
ed the chain and strained with desper-
ate effort. The anchor held firm. sat
down exhausted.
Meanwhile the river had gradually
become covered by very thick white
mist which hung very low over the wa
ter, so that, standing, could no longer
see the river, or my feet, or the boat,
but only the tops of the reeds, and i'll
the distance the lowland, white in the
moonlight, and from it great black
spots, formed by clumps of Lombardy
poplars, arose in the sky. was wrap
ped to my waist as if in a muslin sheet
of singular whiteness, and fantastic vi
sions came to me.
fancied that some one whom could
not distinguish. was trying to climb In