The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-08-26


I may have been encouraged by hi
silence, when his simple belief ma,
have been that, after going short dis
stance and seeing how small speck
was in that broad and deep river who's
banks were hung in dense cypress ant
long moss, my heart would fail me ant
l would come back. But with tn,
kind Offices of the Colonel I was pres
emily seated in canoe of tho ordinary
build, armed with paddle, and carry
Ing cloak, an umbrella, and single
lunch for dinner. just across the rive
from where set out there was plainly
to be seen schooner of the coastine
trade, taking on its cargo of cypress
shingles for some northern port, but
the contrast, even at a distance of some
six hundred yards, made my little
canoe seem more like a feather than a
solid craft. The swell of the river,
when I had fairly gotten to about the
middle, awakened such disparaging
thoughts that was soon in a serious
mood, and put myself as completely at
the bottom of the little craft as possible,
which both reason and instinct taught
me was the safest place. The begin
ming of my experience threw me at
once Into a semi-dublous state of mind,
and my thoughts ran on at high rate
OF speed. For one thing I was not
provided. There was fork in the
river which had not seen from the
place of starting, and as it came into
view I called back to Colonel McLees,
(Which way?" "Take the LETT" This
did, and it was just in time, for the
Colonel would soon have been gone
home.
Just here another thought haunt
ed me, for some one had told me
the river in some places was seventy
feet deep! A slight tremor crept over
me again and again as thought OF
myselfand my frail canoe dancing above
such dark and mysterious depths, and
my breathing, even, was quiet and
cautious. But what relief it was to
find that the volume of the river was
constantly growing less and with this
decrease in the size of the river did my
anxiety also decrease, and the hope
gain strength of reaching my destina-
ton in safety. have already said that
part of my outfit was an umbrella,
but the reader can hardly imagine to
what use this article could be put
But did find use for it, and use
which I could not have anticipated.
I should say, by way of explanation,
that the waters of Great Alligator are
so sluggish that there is really no ap-
preciable current, and in ascending the
stream in a canoe the tide seems no
obstruction. But after propelling the
canoe for several miles discovered that
a moderate breeze had sprung up be-
hind me, aud it occurred to me that by
a sKillfuI, cautious handling of the
umbrella might bring 1t to do me
valuable service while I rested. My
calculation was correct. With the
umbrella partially opened and kept
we'll in hand so as to avoid any sudden
blow, soon found it charming ad-
iunct, and the little craft would spin
along like Muscovy duck. Then was
the time to sing:
o, boatman, on the river deep,
With paddle for propeller,
Lay down awhile the tiresome thing,
And hoist your good umbrella.
Still I can see, and will remark here,
that an umbrella in the hands of an
incautious and inexperienced water
man at such time might easily land
him among the eels and catfish.
But with the aid of paddle and
breeze I presently found myself at the
noted place, "Kilkenny," nine miles
from the point of starting. "Kilken-
n.y." at that time, consisted of small
farm, situated on an elevated piece of
ground, on the left bank of the river,
and on landing and walking up to the
modest looking farm house saw no
person and heard no human voices. /
could only guess from appearances
that the entire family had come in
from the field at noon, had eaten the
midday meal and gone back to their
tasks:
"Kilkenny" was the only human
habltation at that time for a distance
of twenty miles, as one goes up from
Gum Neck toward the head of Great
Alligator. On the right bank of the
river pine tree of no small interest
was pointed out to travellers. 1t was
known as the "Baptist Pine" The
story of this tree seemed to be we'll
authenticated. The reader should
know that for distance of over twenty
miles along the course of Alligator