The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-09

NNEkllAN TFEo JHJ)WIANIUNl
close at hand led me to edge farther of,
, doing 80 with such stealthy care that
was sure Of not betraying myself. Ny
progress Of necessity was slow, but still
, it was progress, and that was consola-
, ton.
Suddenly felt a cold sensation in
J the foot which I thrust forward, as with
bowed head Iparted the bushes in front
30 as to admit Of my noiseless advance.
The cause Of the chill was apparent.
had placed my foot in water that came
over the shoe top. Since, however, the
thing could not DO helped and the foot
seemed to rest on firm support did not
withdraw 1t. Still leaning over l nd.
vanoed the other foot and was startled
to find the water reach half way to my
knee.
"This won't d." reflected as I
withdrew. "By and by I shall be swim
ming"
That such was the fact became ap.
parent the next moment, when I per.
ceived with the aid of the star CLEAN
that I was standing on the edge Of
stream Of water whose depth, I had al
ready found, rapidly increased from tho
shore. 1t was easy to distinguish the
other bank, which was hardly 20 feet
away. I had come to the side Of creek
that wound through Black Mans
swamp and could reach the farther
shore only by swimming
All will understand my feeling that
safety could not be attained except by
placing myself on the other bank. The
belief was chimerical, but 1t was none
the less urgent for that. Ny aversion
to swimming the stream, however, was
intense. The water was chilly, and I
should be excessively uncomfortable in
my saturated and draggled clothing.
Some other means Of ferrying the creek
must be found.
Meanwhile ! did not forget my pur-
suers, who were undoubtedly picking
their way through the wood much
nearer me than was pleasant. Because
Of this fear I began stealing along the
bank of the dark stream in the weak
hope Of finding favorable place for,
crossing. though sensible at the same
time Of the absurdity Of the expectation.
"By gracious but that's luckyr" I
exclaimed within the following ten
minutes as I halted at the base of a
thick cypress, as judged it to be,
which, starting on the edge of the creek
just before me, grew straight toward
the other bank. as il nature had set out
with the purpose Of forming a foot.
bridge, but changed her mind just be.
fore reaching the farther shore, and,
ourving upward gradually, attained the
perpendicular. Thus the first twenty
odd feet of the trunk took the form Of
bow, after which the course was as
vertical as that Of mountain pine.
II couldn't ask for better bridge"
was my conclusion after brief study
Of the course Of the vegetable crank In
front Of me.
Being without any luggage, my limbs
were free, and, hesitating only long
enough to make sure of my bearings, I
carefully climbed upon the trunk, which
was almost horizontal, with a diameter
Of nearly two feet. No limbs appeared
until at the point farthest from the
bank which I was leaving-that H. !
where the trunk began curving upward !
toward the perpendicular. There bi.
furcation took place, the tree dividing
as near as may be into halves, each Of
which again subdivided until the small
or limbs and branches were mum berless.
Regarded this conformation as for
tunate, since 1t offered a good support |
from which to leap to the shore that
was not distant.
With so broad base and the firm,
shaggy bark upon which to rest my
feet, it ought to have been easy to trav.
erse the brief distance upright. I
should have done so had the sun been
shining; but, as it was, l began creeping
forward on my hands and knees, ready
for any treaohery in my bridge.
I had not gone half the distance when
a SILVER Of fright passed through me at
the reflection that was repeating in
small way the experience Of few min
utes before. In other words, / had ad-
vanced into the open, where I was in
view Of my pursuers if they should hap
pen to reach the stream anywhere near
where I did. Had this thought occurred
to me before setting out should have
delayed my action until there was more
assurance on that point, but it was too
late to turn back, and with more nerv-
BUSINESS than I had felt since starting
on my flight I hurriedly crept along the
trunk, not pausing until I reached its
first forking.
The vast relief Of this situation will
be understood when 1t is stated that 1t
gave me the benefit of the shadow cast
by the branches above as we'll as by
those on the shore. There was little
starlight, but it was mighty comfort.
able to know that at that moment mono
If it reached me. Olasping one arm
about the large limb for steadiness, I
rose to the upright posture, so close now
10 the farther bank that it was an easy
cap to reach it. Standing thus, secure
or the moment from detection, turned
ny head and peered into the darkness
which had just been placed behind MT.
GIVE been mighty lucky SO far,"I
nuttered. II shouldn't be surprised if
hose three fellows were near the base
# that tree
By heavens, was right The thought
lad hardly time to frame itself whom
he cracking Of twig told that my
ursuers had reached the very spot.
lad there been any doubt Of the fact IL
vas removed by a voice which I recog.
lied as that Of the grim and terrible
" Walters:
"He was heading this way when we
ast heerd him."
His grutf tones were in so low key
hat but for the profound stiffness I
hould not have caught the words. AL
hough aware of the exact point whence
he sound issued, could not see him
or either Of his companions.
II wonder If he crossed on that tree"
,marked another, though I was not
efficiently familiar with the voice to