Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-05-13

terror. l renamed lmmovaole, With
wide open eyes and expectant ear. OF
what? | knew not In the least, but
of something terrible. l believe that
if fish had thought of springlng out
of water, as often happens, no more
would have been needed to make me
fall stiff and insenslble.
Nevertheless, by violent effort, l
succeeded in gradually recovering
nv lost reason. ] took again my bot.
tie of rum and drank deep draIghts.
Then the idea occurred to me, and /
began to shout with all my strength,
turning successively to the four points
of the horizon. When my throat was
Absolutely paralyzed, heard dog
barking in the distance.
l drank again and stretched myself
at full length on the bottom OF the
boat. l remained thus for perhaps
an hour, perhaps two, without sleep
ing, with eyes wide open and with
terror around me. | dared not rise,
yet l wished intensely to do SO. !
put 1t off from minute to minute. l
said to mysel, Come, stand up and
| was afraid to make movement. At
last l raised myself with infinite pre-
cautions, as if my life depended on
the slightest sound I might make,
and looked over the side of the boat.
l was dazzled by the most marvel
Gus, the most astonishing sight that
could possibly be seen. 1t was one
of those phantasmagoria of fairyland,
one of those visions related by voy-
ayers who return from afar, and
which we hear without believing.
The mist, which for two hours be-
fore was floating on the river, had
gradually receded and gathered on
the river banks. Leaving the stream
entirely clear, it had formed on each
shore an unbroken bank six or seven
yards in height, which cleaned be-
meath the moon with the superb bril-
liancy of snow. THUS, not thing
was visible save the river flashing
with fiery lights. Between those two
white hills of mist, and high overhead
hung full and large a majestic, lumi-
nous moon in the midst of q black
sky dotted with stars.
All the creatures of the water were
awake. The frogs were croaking
furiously, while at intervas, now at
the left, l heard the short, monoton-
ous, melancholy note which the ring
ing voices of the toads uttered to the
stars. Strangely l was no longer
afraid. / was surrounded by scene
so extraordinary that the most stri6-
singularlties had no power to astonish
me.
How long this lasted ] know not,
for 1 had ended by falling asleep.
When l opened my eyes, the moon
had set, the sky was covered with
clouds, the waiter riprled mournfully,
the wind was blowing, it was cold,
and the darkness was profound.
| drank what remained OF my rum,
then ! listened, shivering with cold,
to the rustling of the reeds and the
sinister sound of the river. | tried
to see, but l could not distinguish the
toat nor even my hands, which | held
before my eyes.
Gradually, however, the thick dark
ness dismissed. Suddenly l seemed
to feel shadow gliding very near
me. I uttered cry and a voice
answered. 1t was a fisherman. l
called to him. He drew near, and !
told him of nv mischance. He then
pulled his boat alongside NINE, and
we both strained at the chain. The
anchor did not move. Day dawned,
somber, gray, rainy, cold-one of
those days which brings one gloom
and misfortune.
! perceived another boat. We
hailed it. The man who rowed it
united his efforts with ours. Then, llt-
tie by little, the anchor yielded. 1t
came up but slowly and burdened
with considerable weight. AT length
we saw a dark mass, and we drew it
into my boat.
1t was the body of an old woman
with stone fastened to the neck.
Guy DE MAuPAssANT.