Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-11-26

"tf'Eh"s u 70 tEFNF Wv nllt btbtT kNaA7
uaily coated With mud. He was pcrspir
Ing profussiy, aud after an hour or two
OF this kind OF travelling he began to
grow somewhat weary aud down hearted.
Night was coming on, and a DARK and
dismal night Il promised to be. The
hsrdes, part Of the journey was still be-
tore him. He must yet travel many miles
before reaching human habitstion.
| Presently he paused, as he reached sha
summit OF a little bill, and sat down upon
friendly boulder to rest TOR a moment.
He had already begun TO feel that per-
haps after ali he had been unwise In
starting DOT as be had. He knew from
q glance at his watch that II must be
nearly sunset, and darkness would soon
yelled In clouds, and sbe wind was rising
pernepsibly. Its dismal sweep through
the forest had . lonely and homesick
sound. The dry branches OF the hard
wood trees, not yet clothed in their
spring time verdure, crcakcd and scraped
gently against one another. Tho nrs and
cedars that lined the banks OF the river
\ "s'1 fftIeS01 HataotA INV
added volume to the other sounds.
| ooce more on his way he quickened
his pace somewhat. Every moment
was now precious. He must, ~ possible,
get out OF the swampy district before
dark. II Yves hard enough to get along
anyway through such travelling, but It
would be well nigh impossible To make
4 baf h.,
see the difficult places before he reached
them.
Halt an hour passed. aud Wilder stili
plodded stardily onward. The travelling
a. yet showed no signs OF improving; the
mud sloughs were as numerous and ax-
tsnsive rs ever, aud as he hurried forward
80 the deepening shadows OF ths early
| nixhtfail, he frequently found himself
knee deep Ia the mirc of treacherous
places in this lonely forest road.
But Wilder was not man to be easily
daunsed. he sat himself resoluteiy to
the task before him, and smiled grimiy To
himself as he thought of the prsdiesment
be was In. Toe approaching darkness
was all that worried htm. He rsmem bered
I Nh@A y INV stss7 uN pa1rfa gNtA
this same road when the travelling was
almost as difficult, bat on that occasion
had made the entire Journey by daylight.
He had been trsveIiir g through heayiIv-
wooded swamps OF cedar and DIR for the
last half hour, bat nov the path took
sudden tura as IL followed the bend q
the river, aud he emerged tom the dense
4 -. e q fttt
sort OF Low, marshy pain slightly above
the level OF tito river. These heat M are OF
qalte frequent occurrence along tue banAs
of tue rivers and streams Ia this psrticu-
lar locality, aud IL is common expression
among the inmbermsn that the only time
when heath ls passable Is In the winter
whsn IL Is frozen. The peculiar nature OF
the soil Is such that the average surface
of these plains resembles not a little a
water soaked sponge; the slightest pres
surs will bring out the liquid within.
As may be imagined, on this occasion
tue problem presented by the heath la hs
overlooked condition was a pnzzling one
even to Wilder, old, experienced woods
man a. be was. The road was under
water completely, and bits of bark tom
he logs aud all sorts OF dirt aud rubbis b
of a spring drive had fioated In from the
river, aud backed up into the still waters
of this cauai-iike road.
Because OF this accumulation and the
resulting dlscoloratiou OF the water, the
depGA OF the overflow could not be readily
determined Ia all places. Wilder aid not
Z - u
croas- looking passage, and his heart al
most failed him for a moment as he sur
ysyed the water waste before him. Should
he turn back now, after all he had gone
through, when q highland route thst
would take him safely home lay but
hsli mile ahsadg Darkness was lower
Ing rapidly. There vas no time for ir-
resolution lie must act quickly. There
arose in bis mind q momentary vision of
tbs little home hat hs was struggling 80
hard to reach. lie tancied his wife la the
DOORWAY, aud his children rushing out
to meet him, oyerioyed at his unexpected
return. The pleasure OF anticipation was
s.rong within him.
YES" his ianer self responded, 81 Will
reacp tnefe Ao-utshis ecEe Is no tufhi"S
back; tuese Is no resting here, nothing
bat water ana mud tor miles behind me;
dry road ahead. II ] can but reach III
1 will make the tfisl."
So saying he strapped the little bundle
OF his belongings higher upon his
shoulders, and swung his gun into more
comfortable position. 1t was OF no use to
attempt the road, but the half submerged
heath bushes on either side offered
firmer footing, As they would bend
beneath the feet, aud by their spring and
nuoyabey keep one from he mud beneath
IL vas la this way he attempted TO cross
the heath. With a wooden stsff TO aid
him, he plunged knee deep into the chill
ing waters and carefully picked his way
over the heath bushes from clump TO
cIump. Il was grave task, and one that
only a skiiifal driver might with safety