Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-06-01

surely believing that By Thes - - 49,
over Yet wlthal Tie ID no wise abated ms
vigilance, though he considered THE han 0f
death was near him, and when, tnally,
there opened up a bare chance for oar Is
cape from the island, be said it was
though he had come back from tie grave
Ay, and SO did !. 1t was as though SUI
locating hand placed over my mouth had
been suddenly withdrawn.
On the start Re tald me little Of himself
Though had though1 to find him commune
cativel, ard l had to Irag from him that he
had LETT a brother at turtle bay, whom ne
was now journeying 70 rejoin. The youth
was but year or two younger than himself,
and fairly helpless, having been stricken by
the Almighty with dumbness from birth,
though not with its usual accompanying
ourse-deafness. From helping the great
cause in some way both brothers were under
a ban, and my companions life was forfeit
if he was taken.
Now as black as seemed my chances, lett
the weight Of the Old adage Of life and hope
being akin, and / was by no means over
joyed 10 knowing that we might lie handi-
capped by helpless youth should some
chanee open a way ont from the surround
ing danger. And this ] frankly told my
COMPANION, though to me he made 10 reply.
ahead 81 me, and thus we went along, go
ing easily enough while crossing open fields,
but faring sorely when we struck woodland
or plowed ground. PeriloGsly near, too, we
went to dwellings, even stopping at well
hard by one to drink, though first making
sure there were no dogs about. / never
would have dared this had / been Alone but
NY companion laughed at the risk, and
followed his lead, though 1t then struck me
as strange that | should let this stripping
take the upper hand III our expedition. The
truth is, was tagged and not myself, and
though ii driven to a corner would have
fought like a shrew, / had no head for fine
points on that night, and was growing timid.
Anon we took to the high road for space
to flank a swamp, and once dog went wild
at the smell IT us, but we were unmolested
Not house showed light Though that was
small wonder, it being past midnight), and
now we felt the breath of the damp that
rose in the cooling AIR, and could even mark
the pondlke appearance Of the mist as it lay
III some black hollow Of the land Through
brooks, small swamps and pools we went,
with heavy boots going dry-shod, though
Ames, with but pumps and stockings, was
wet to the knees, and ! could hear the
scrunching OF water in his shoes as he
walked. But there was little 10 choose
about him after | had pulled him out OF
ditch into which he stumbled, though he
made a joke of it even while his teeth were
chattering from the chill Of his sousing.
1t was fearful going in the dark The Dove
Law FIVE miles from Turtle bay by road, but,
with our eircling and retraeing, we must
have gone three or four more. For the most
Part we spoke little, and, though much re-
n I - 70,
ask questons-or answer them either, Tor
that matter With me there was now no
thought of what lay behind or before, all
that remained of my wits being stupid,
stubborn determination to get on and reach
our destination, be it what it might.
take 1t twas past one o'clock and had
been following my leader in an aimless fash
ion for half an hour without a word be-
tween us when he halted and laid his hand
upon me, pointing toward house with the
bulk of barn looming through the gloom
behind it. | seemed to wake then, and no
tice the glmmer Of water stretching beyond,
and knew We were on the bank Of the Sound
river
is this the place, them | asked, as ]
tried to make head or tail of The bleak build
ing that stood against the faint sky Ike
black block
He crunted an assent and climbed a fence,
I following tamely behind but instead OF
proceeding to the house, We cut around 1t,
and finally entered what might have been
disuscd COW she'd built against the rear Of
the barn Going 70 the end. he laid his ear
against the rough boards OF the barn and be-
gan scratching gently. Nothing coming Of
this. he fumhed about and presently, to my
great astonishmeut, broad board came
away in his hand. leaving in the barns side
long black hole that looked to lead into
the bowels 81 darkness.
Ames pushed me toward the opening and
| squeezed through feeling solid boards I'M
der my feet. and being greeted by such
strong smell Of Old hay that ! might have
been in the heart 81 an ancient rick. And
this proved to be the case for | soon heard
the story of this hole Of refuge, 1t had been
made inside the barn and beneath the NOV,
and was now scantily covered with the lit
tie hay the British had a habit of leaving
farmers to take the curse from their whole
sale robbery There was no entrance to this
concealed den save the loosened board, and
all cracks and openings being stuffed with
wisps, from the outside this part of the
building seemed bursting from fullness.
Twas the finest masking OF a retreat that
could be imagined. and here one might lie
and escape hanging Of be veutured not
abroad. though there would be starvation
10 grappe with. and no small danger of
smothering. for the heat was vile, the air
heavy, and there was no means of ventila-
ton.
Ny companion followed me into this in
closure, quickly rcadiusting the board, and,
as though familiar with the place struck has
steel and got a light in pierced tin lantern
which he set on the end of an upturned log
Il.