The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-19
THE BATTLE IN THE MIST.
BY Charles G. D. Roberts,


BY Charles G. D. Roberts
Copyright, 1908, by Robert Howard Russen)
the slver-gay between the river
ned with mist from bank to bank It coed and Wrthed
and rolled here thinning thickenng being
breathed irreguary by innumeraie mouths
But there wind astir gisening
current beneath the white was CLASSY
gurgle the running muscally
thrust shoulder of rock snag
the birch slipping quietly along just
outside the fringe of alder branches the opposite
absolutely HIDDEN. There nothing
shore existed save that and again the dark top
OF soaring pine elm would show dmly moment,
seeming to float over the ghostly CULTS of mist
The canoe kept close along guidance
feels ones way along wall channel
over, deep n shore; mis-
the soft noises of rpes proclaimed the of the
canoess the presence snag
they should dangers ahead
We're travelling slowly the resting with his
paddle the gunWaes him. while
his paddle noiseessy waving the fin of trout did
more than keep his craft to her and let her with
the current
Down along keeping just the canoe
close to the waters followed small dark
creature its piercing black with CLINT
hind them, fixed in curiosity the
was about two feet in length with extremely short legs and
sharp triangular head. AS it it's movements
soundless ehoress as those of a snake-it
humped its long, 1.-the body in that
coils 1t seemed to be following the sheer
osity-a curiosity, however which probably
with malevolence seeing that it the curiosity of
mink These strange moving on water
We're Of too large and formidable for the mink
to dream of attacking them but could
and hate them-and who could that chance
them hurt might not arise? otealthy, wary
kept his distance about eight from canoe,
and because he behind imagined himself
matter of fact however, the seersman the
in woodcraft and cunninger than
and watching him with interest the
eye So large mink, and daring in curiosity
phenomenon to be watched and studied with
canoeis did take his in the
dence for minutes, lest the
should daunt the animal But presently, in monotonous
rhythmic which carried
but only heightened its interest called situation
companions notice. and the latter without
kept watch +
A little down the shore, close to edge,
something round white the eye. Against
the soft browns and dark of the wet SOIL the object
fairly shone in its whiteness and seemed absurdy
place It hens either dropped there
hen from the pioneers cabin by left by
disturbed in his poachtng However it
mnks undivided attention Gently sheered
out few feet further the bank,
checked the canoes Roadway
would manipulate the when he got to it.
The egg lay at the foot of little path which
the bushy bank to the watera path evidently
the pioneers cattle. this stepping dantiy
turning his long nquisitive and big bright miscevous
from side to side He a
raccoon, little shorter than the mink looking
by of his stocky build busher
His to fish hunt frogs in
of the PATH but when he tie cleaning thru the
misty air his sparled with satisfaction. long
passed in proximity to the pioneers cabin enabled
him to find out that good his
and with sliding scramble which attracted the attention