The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1900-09-06
Aa,trslisn Aavsntars'

MIRA Rowan, 10 her book. "A fios,
Huni 10 Qasenslsud aud Neu Xslso q
describes sn adventure which beiell hs
on the Bloomfield River 10 nortbsr
q Qaecnlspd. She had been pui 90 shor
nesr The nouth Of the river, 81 q poor sn
lonely hut
\ Iws setiins 90 hunsry that l deie
mined / would sl spy rate make sn taoi
TO cross the river and get . message sen
TO Mr.. He station, Some trees isllinl
across the river had made q parts
bridge and on these | tried ny luck.
climbed on the big root. and siih th
aid Of 81 overhapsipg tree balanced u!
self on the log, and found the arst tv,
yards easy walking, bat 10 midstresn
there vas . fork in the tree TO g.. round
Here lost my hold Of The branches ovel
head; and had 10 so very sinserly OF
my hands and knees.
The log was horribly slippery. and The
water looked very black, l turned my
self around and slid so quickly down the
other side that l saved taking q header
into the river only by catching VI o smsIl
twig. which however. broke swsy Ia my
hand. bat managed TO balance myself
su N ciently to get on the next log.
After having gone . short distance. ]
discovered that the tide was fast coming
10. not going out, ss / hsd thought BE
tween mo and the bank the wst,r 10
stead OF being wsdesble, WAS high enough
to be over my head, and the slopine bank
we're Of soft mud. 1t was not q pleasant
outlook, and l began to wonder how long
. time should take 10 drowning in this
position.
II was impossible TO turn. 90 began
. backward motion. but my skirt got ip
the way, The branch behind me sloped
upward. and there was that fork OF tree
to pass again. There WAS no creeping
wsrd up that,
The water had now reached the top Of
The log, II dropped my feet l knew
that the current would suck me under,
.nd in desperation | drew myself mp and
threw my body backward against the log
aud twisted found on my face. could
never have performed this feat ct any
,ther time, but life .. that moment seem
ID very sweet.
When once had my arms around the
ork. pulled myself up on the main
)rsnch.
Between the root OF the tree and the
,snk there was nov . great gap. which
be tide was rushing through with tremen
lous force. aud close along side Of me
here rose something that, for the moment
thought was another b lf-sunken tree,
hen it fell, sgrsy, loathsome cresture
bat almost psrslyzed me with fear, ss l
,srked the long line Of its greedy look
ns Jaws.
knew that the river teemed With
roco lilies, bu. somehow or other. had
ever given it thought, The creatures
sok was not more than foot below me,
nd l hardly dared to breathe. much less
, move, II slid along under the log. and
felt the vibration Of its body rubbing
, it came up on the other side. Then it
irned with it's bead upstream again, it's
,out Just above the water. as If il smelt
sme.
U Uncertsin IN it's movements II sluggish
played round and round. Ny eyes
ere riveted on IT, l forgot the river.
de and every thing else. %. with the ris
& water. it came 90 close again that my
ct almost touched it % it stirred the
imy oozs and mud from the bank With
J tail,
For q few seconds the voracious mon
or 10y spspently insenaible to everything |,
1t with it's ears open 10 the slightest
und. l hardly dared 10 draw breath, =
ow, as II waiting for the supreme mo =
ent it's opportunity to spring, IL rose "
Q full length OF its body and menscing
clsshed its jaws: then with snout down :. :
feam, it went under, leaving nothing in :
wake but long ripple on the surfsce. .
The tide had reached my feet when .
usht sight OF . native girl in the dis "
ace, and loud oooee brought her to !,
I help, :,