Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-01-07

4 about him like frightened deer, and
thin took to his heels agin.
after while he came to a clearin',
The moon was risin' and everything
looked dim and hanted like. Thin |
began dodgin' about the clearin' utter.
in means and groans. with an occa-
snail wailin' cry like the first one.
There's an echo way back in the val
I ley, and it took up the sounds of me
voice and made such a horrible din
that bedad | was almost frightened
meself AS for the poor chap in the
middle of the clearin he seemed par
alyzed with fear. At length he threw
himself down on his knees and covered
his face with his hands / took pity
on him, and comm out of the woods
began to hello to him. He looked up
and seen me- and thin he jumped to
| his feet and was away as If he'd seen
the divil.
"'Stop!' / cried, or III shoot.
you see | wanted to get him home,
for was afraid if he spint the night In
the woods he might expire from sheer
fright. But he didn't heed me, but
dashed on and disappeared in the
woods. | followed him for a while,
but he was too nimble for me-and to
be sure the fear in his heart put
wings on his feet--so | gave up the
chase and made for home.
'In troth | felt sorry for the poor
tinderfoot, though he'd nearly done for
me and prayed that the Lord might
spare him through the night. rachel
home very sad and anxious was
thin boordin' at the Widow Casey's-
and didn't spake a word to sowl, but
wint straight to bed. couldn't sleep
wink from thinkin' OF the poor wan
derer in the woods, and blamed me-
self continually for playin such a
trick on him. Howsomever, ! was up
long before dawn, and stufiin' a lew
provisions and flask Of whiskey in
me pocket, made off on a search ex.
petition.
at was just breakin' day as | rachel
the clearin'. ] looked about, and the
ground bein' soft after rain, had no
trouble in findin' the thrail. | pur.
sued it for a considerable distance
thin lost it en- ledge Of rocks. | look
/ ed around the ledge, but couldn't find
the sign Of footstep. ] was puzzled.
Some trees grew close to the ledge
and thought he might have sprung
into one of thin to hide, so / looked
through thin, but to no purpose.
Whatever could have become of him.
says ] sorely puzzled. While ! was
debatin the question | heard a groan,
II seemed to come out Of the ground.
looked around more attintively than
had before and seen a cliff in the
ledge 'Ah. ha! says ], and up I whit
and there found the poor little dude
sport lyin' on his face between the
rocks Evidently in his wild flight he'd
stumbled and fell in, got down be
side him and shook him.
"'Me poor lad says J. this Is too
bad. How do You feel? Are you hurt ?
He gave another groan, but didn't
answer. took him in me arms and
carried him over to a grassy spot and
sat him down with his back to a tree.
He hung his head on his chest and
seemed to be in sort Of trance.
forced some whiskey down his throat
and rubbed his hands and timples.
Presently he lifted his head and looked
at me.
1--WE shot a man says he, then
\ hung his head agin.
Come-come says |, you mustn't
give way like that Brace up and be
man
Il put the bottle in his mouth agin
and made him take good swig It
put more life into him, and in little
while he got up. Thin lookin' at me,
/ he repeated
i've shot man
Are You sure?' says l.
'Yis,' says he. i seen him dead
stone dead. And heard him
Heard him?' says /.