Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-03-14

mined not TO give up the advantage.
The uneasy feeling, however. which
came with the certainty that they were
close ut hand led me to edge farther of,
doing so with such stealthy care that ]
was sure Of not betrnying myself. My
progress Of necessity was slow, but still
IL was progress. and that was a consola.
tion.
Suddenly felt q cold sensation in
the foot which thrust forward, as with
bowed head Iparted the bushes in front
SO 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 be helped and the foot
seemed to rest on firm support did not
Withdraw 1t. Still leaning over ad.
vanced the other foot and was startled
10 find the water reach half way to my
knee.
"This went do" l reflected as
withdrew. "By and by I shall be swim
ming
That such was the fact became ap-
parent the next moment, when l per-
ceived with the aid Of the star CLEAN
that was standing on the edge OF n
stream of water whose depth, had al
ready found, rapidly increased from the
shore. IL was easy to distinguish the
other bank, which was hardly 20 feet
away. had come to the side Of creek
that wonnd 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 it was none
the less urgent for that My aversion
to swimming the stream, however, was
intense. The water was chilly, and
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 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 lucky" j
exclaimed within the following ten
minutes as / halted at the base Of q
thick cypress. as | judged 1t 20 be.
which, starting on the edge Of the creek
Just before me, grew straight toward
the other bank, as il nature had set ont
with the purpose Of forming foot.
bridge, but changed her mind just be-
fore reaching the farther shore. and.
curving 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 tho course Of the vegetable crank in
front Of me.
Being without any luggage, my limbs
were free, and, besitating only long
enough TO make sure Of my bearings, /
carefully climbed upon the trunk. which
was almost horizontal, with diameter
Of nearly two feet No limbs appeared
until at the point farthest from the
bank which / was leaving-that is.
where the trunk began curving upward
toward the perpendicular. There BIZ
furcation took place. the tree dividing
rs near as may be into halves, each OF
which again subdivided until the small
er limbs and branches were numberless.
regarded this conformation as for
innate, since it offered good support
from which 20 leap to the shore that
was not distant.
With so broad a base and the firm,
shaggy bark upon which to rest my
feet, ii ought to have been easy to trav-
erse the brief distance upright. I
should have done so had the sun been
shining; but, as il was, began creeping
forward ON my hands and knees, ready
for any treachery in my bridge.
I had not gone half the distance when
a shiver Of fright passed through me at
the reflection that was repeating in
small way the experience Of q few min
utes before. In other words, had ad-
vanced into the open, where l was in
view Of my pursuers il they should hap
pen 10 reach the stream anywhere near
where did. Had this thought occurred
to me before setting out / should have
delayed my action until there was more
assurance on that point, but 1t was too
late 10 turn hack, and with more nerv-
business than | had felt since starting
on my fight hurriedly crept along the
trunk, not pausing until I reached its
| first forkipg
The vast relief Of this situation will
be- understood when it IL stated that ii
gave me the benefit Of the shadow cast
by the branches above as well as by
| those on the shore. There was little
starlight, but it was mighty comfort
| able TO know that at that moment none
| of il reached me. Clasping one arm
| about the large limb for steadiness,
rose to the upright posture, soclose now
to the farther bank that it was an easy
leap to reach it. Standing thus, secure
| for the moment from detection, turned
my head and peered into the darkness
which had just been placed behind me.
"I've been mighty lucky so far"
muttered. ~ shouldn't be surprised II
those three fellows were near the base
of that tree
BY heavens, was right The thought
| had hardly time to frame itself when
the cracking of q twig told that my
pursuers had reached the very spot.
Had there ,een any doubt Of the fact 1t
was removed by voice which ! recog-
nized as that of the grim and terrible
Cy Walters:
"He was heading this way when we
| last heerd him."
His gruff tones were in 30 low key
that but for the profound stiffness ]
should not have caught the words. AL
| though aware of the exact point whence
| the sound issued, could not see him
nor either of his companions.
~ wonder If he crossed on that tree, "
remarked another, though I was not
sufficiently familiar with the voice to
identify the speaker.
at would be just like him. Hank
knows every turning Of the swamp"
"And that's just why he wouldn't
climb over here, I" added Cy.
why not?"