The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-06-15
I~oE URING summer which 1

-houutdlHS 1 became az
4 ~ quainted with an old farm
To~ er-hunter. Eben Holt. VIII
knew more about the woods and ga
outdoors" in general than any one els
have met. He related to me this ad
venture that he had had nearly sixt
years before:
when Cousin Thad and l were boy
our families came up from Connect
cut and settled in Grafton County
New Hampshire. in rough region bu
sparsely Inhabited by backwoodsmen
mat spring we were put to cuttins
TIMBER on the lower slope of Granthan
Mountain, at the foot of which ths
farms lay. TO save tramping back ant
forth we carried our dinners, and as
fresh meat was scarce we took alone
an old musket called the Thunderer
which Thad's father had given him
and spent most of our noon hour in
bagging such small game as we could
find.
I'VE had hardly swallowed the noon
snack one day when Il gray squirrel
darted across the open space before us
and scrambled up nearby tree. Thad
grabbed the gun and fired. but missed.
and the squirrel, evidently thinking
himself in the wrong place, started off
at great rate, leaping from tree to
tree.
I'VE gave chase. On and on he led
US, straight up the mountain; some
times we thought that we had him,
and again he was far on ahead. We
scrambled over rocks and crawled un-
der fallen trees and fell into hollows,
but foolishly kept on, with our eyes
rolled up to the heavens.
But we had to give up the chase At
last, and threw ourselves on the ground
to rest and get our breath.
"I say, Thad, we've never been up
so high as this before" I cried, sitting
suddenly bolt upright, for I saw that
We were in the dense growth of the.
upper mountain, which we had been
strictly forbidden to penetrate. On the
right, dark scanned sandstone ridges
stretched upward to a huge pile OF
ugly looking rocks; gray MOSES hung
in masses from the lower dead
branches of the fir trees, which stood
so close together as to shut out every
CLINT of sunshine. The dampness and
gloom of the place were appalling even
to our healthy maginations.
"Let's get out of this was Thad's
as he sprang to his feet.
Well give old Grantham a hail, |
though. Judging from these gray
locks we must be pretty close to his
ear
He pointed to the hanging MOSES,
and tickled at his own wit gave a great
war whoop. Then we both turned to
plunge down the mountain. 4 wall,
long and plaintive, sounded out of the
gloom below US in fearful echo to the
shout. 1t arrested our steps and froze
rs to the spot in sheer horror. We
knew that wild cry we'll. It had shiv-
ered down from the desolate forest on
many cold night of the past winter,
sending prickles of fear over US even
n the safety of the home freight.
Its a painter" we gaspeG. Again
he cry sounded, nearer this time.
IF you ever hear that screech when
'ut alone, boys, run hard for home
ather had once said. And run we did
low, but unfortunately. as the danger
vas between us and that refuge we
we're obliged to scurry up the mount
lin. Thad dragged the gun we never
hought of loading. Our small shot
would but enrage the great beast
which was 50 rapidly overtaking US. :
I'VE gained the ridges and ran on
nd on up their slopes, which grew I
teeper, rougher and more broken the
higher we went. The cry sounded I
learer and nearer at each repetition. I
'reathless and exhausted at last we t
ank down for a moment behind the
lrst obstruction: then nearer scream
erved us to renewed efforts and we 7
crambled up again.
Great masses of ledgeS now sur
ounded US. Through monstrous cracks t
re rushed, over fallen blocks and I
ound huge boulders. I tripped and q
ell. but Thad jerked me up; the gun {