Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-08-14
naru won pumpkin still along.


pottered about. afraid to call out. for
I knew something Of Beers shrewd-
ness and tenacity. and felt more than
uncertain that the farmer was dodglng
about, waiting chance at me, and the
fact that his voice had been absent
from those Of the party returning
made me suspicious and nervous.
l had accidents. fell into pool,
and bruised my knee badly. 1t grew
bitterly cold for that land. and the dew
fell heavily. and. above all, I began to
grow weak and sick from hunger after
that 20 mile tramp. began to shake
and shiver. but held on to the pump
kin.
Then came the elimination Of nll my
woes. II began to grow darker. with a
very hcaviness Of black. an almost tan.
gible darkness. Ny feet had hitherto
engaged all my attention. but now
looked up The moon was high In the
sky. but there was but little OF II visi-
BILE. A black shadow was stealing
Il. IL was In process OF eclipse. Then
| gave up hope OF finding the trooper.
Of ilndng the trek even. In the well Of
blackness which was near at hand. for
was now seeking the trooper OF the
road. And sought. II being now near
midnight. place 10 rest In and unroll
my blanket.
stumbled along toward solitary
tree. which | thought might keep OF
some OF the dew, and by the last
flicker Of moonlight saw man seat
ed beneath IL. He had his back to me
and was sitting on q stone. and !
would have sworn saw the sides Of
shovel shaped beard sticking out above
his shoulders. Something resaed be-
tween his knees. My conjectures jump
ed to certainty that It was the farm.
er's gun.
was almost upon him. was too
hungry and tired and weak TO run. !
stepped to him stealthily with almost
hysterical despair and raised the great
pumpkin at arms height and dashed
ii on his head with all the strength my
muscles and my desperation could
muster between them. He seemed to
groan and fall forward, and l turned
and staggered away. wondering dixzily
II the blow Of q pumpkin could be
fatal.
Utter, horrible blackness set In. and
the eclipse was complete when drop
ped ut last. unable to move step far
ther. All that night shiyered from
cold and dozed from WEAKNESS, but be-
fore break Of day the cold grew 80
great that had TO move on or shiver
TO death. Somehow staggered to the
trek, though I did not know which di.
rection was going. and stumbled
along It. afraid to remain still for q
moment. l felt pretty sure, however.
was on q road, and followed II In
dumb consciousness that Il would lead
me somewhere. II only back whence
started In Bechuansland.
At last came through the blackness
W u Dduh uuu ooouihCo - ooNoAhs 1sS
or not die. ! could not ford It then and
utterly collapsed on the brink. ! soon
fell into q stupor. from which reused
at the first cold dawn. The water lay at
my feet. still and currentless. 1t SEEM
ed broad as lifted my eyes-it seemed
familiar. partly choked a yell. for II
was the farmers duck pond! At the
cry a figure on the other bank-a shiv-
ering. miserable, prone wretcli-sat up
and groaned. II was the trooper. and
In his right hand he held the duck BY
the neck. But at the sight Of me he
dropped the duck and came running
aud threw his arms around me.
by Jove. old man." he spluttered. II
am awfully glad to see you. l saw you
running and heard that blessed beast
shooting. II Is rare for these fellows to
miss. and made sure you were dead.
80 | was going to eat the duck myself!
How did you get hereT
81 don't know" I murmured In be-
wilderment I've been walking all
night, dodging Beers, looking for you
and the duck. and at last thought or
at least hoped. l was on the road for
ward"
my case" he said weakly. II near
" ran into the farmer looking for you
and q pumpkin-did you come away
without a. pumpkin ?-then l sat down
under n tree with a club / picked up
to bash the Boer with II he came both
ering me. and Just as the moon was
finally ecllpsed the tree or something
fell on me, and didn't know anything
more until woke up here. believe l
thought was somewhere near Johan-
nesburg. l am horribly stiff and cold,
and my neck's broken, think. by that
tree that fell. Did you get that pump
kinY
l looked at him, conscience stricken.
II lost the bally thing" chartered,
for shivered cruelty.
"Th-then." said the trooper. chatter
Ing as badly. "we-we'll broil the duck.
Wait till get 1t. and well clear out Of
tuIS ueiSuDOIuOo ~ WV "oA" ava
us here"
In one sense It was. but in another
felt would never be warm again.
Before the trooper could move l
clutched him and dragged him back.
and we sank down In some long grass.
From the house came the tOwheaded
boy, and the conscienceless rascal was
as bright and cheerful as II he had not
been the source of all our woes. He
had some corn In his hands for. appar.
emily, the ducks, but that boys eyes
missed nothing. He saw the dead bird
on the bank; he picked 1t up and ran
with It. yelling. back to the house. The
trooper and caught at each others
hands like lost children and fed togeth-
er, hungry and heartbroken.
The sun was well up when we less.
ened our pace and listened for the
sound Of the big Beers pursuing voice.
but 1t did not come, and we sank, ex-
hausted.
This Is a beast Of country said
the trooper.
A Twice Fallen Idol.
There are to be seen In Munich and
Vienna and probably In many other