Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-16

now that IL was tne Dcdt OIL oars IN
some far bay.
A long time after ceased to hear
II. something touched my shoulder and
put me in a panic. Turning over, l
got a big mouthful Of water. Then
saw It was q gang of logs passing me,
and quickly caught one. Now, to me
the top side Of log was as easy and
familiar as a rocking chair. In mo-
ment was sitting comfortably on my
captive. A bit Of rubbish. like that
tho wind had sown, trailed after the
gang OF logs. felt It over. finding a
straw hat and a piece OF board some
three feet long. with which latter I
padded vigorously.
| It must have been long past mid
night when came to an island loom
ing in the dark ahead. | sculled for
| 1t. stranding on rocky beach. and
alighted. hauling the log ashore. The
moon came out as / stood wringing
my trouser legs. ! saw the island rose
| high and narrow and was thickly
wooded. | remember saying something
to myself, when l heard a quick stir
in the bushes near me. Looking TN.
saw a tall figure. Then came a IA
miliar voice.
"Thet you. Ray Judas PRIEST"
was filled with Joy at the sight of
D'ri. and put my arms about him
and lifted him off his feet. and, faith!
I know my eyes We're as wet as my
trousers. Then as we sat down, I
told him how had taken to the river.
Lucky We done it," said he. "Jer-
ushy Jane! IT is terrible lucky! They'd
"a TUX We sartin. Somebody see tibet
lack on the back O my hand, there
n Cornwall. m put EN- after me- But
was bound N determined they'd never
TEX me alive. never! IF | ever dew
any Gghtin'. I amt a-gon' t. be fer
England. nut by a side o soe-leather.
I med up my mind I'd begin the war
right then an there"
THAT fellow never knew what hit
him." remarked. ''He did MT get up
for half minute"
"Must "a swatted i'm powerful"
said Dri, as he felt his knuckles
'Gol-dum Their picturs. Go n try t
yank a man right of boat like tibet
air when they hahn no right { tech
i'm. Ell ID "a he'd OF Beeswax, some
on 'em d "a got hurt"
How did You get here" inquired.
"Swum." said he. Gould mt go no
where's else Current fetched me here.
Splits ct the head O. the isand-boun'
ter land We right here. Got t be NOV
in. They'll be efter Us, mebbe-'s the
fust place they d look.
A few logs were stranded on the
stony point of the island. We withed
three others TO mine. setting sail
with two bits of driftwood for paddles.
We pulled for the south shore but the
} current carried us rapidly down-river.
In bay some two miles below we
found, to our joy. the two sections of
the big raft undergoing repairs. At
! daybreak D'ri pul off in the woods for
home.
! Don't like the idee o goin' int the
British navy said he. ID ruther
chop wood N ketch bears over n ST.
, Lawrence county. GOod-by, Ray! TEX
care o yerself."
Those were the last words he said to
! me, and soon / was on the raft again.
floating toward the great city of my
dreams. l had a mighty fear the
schooner would overhaul us. but saw
nothing more of her got new clothes
in Montreal, presenting myself in good
repair. They gave me hearty welcome,
those good friends OF my mother. and
l spent a full year in the college. al
though, to be franh ! was near being
} sent home more than once for fighting
and other devil,ry.
j., 1t was midsummer when came back
again. Travelled up the river road,
: past our island refuge of that dark
} night past the sweeping. lOw-voiced
: currents that bore ME up; past the
scene of our wreck in the whirlwind;
past the great gap in the woods, to
stand open, God knows how long.
was glad to turn my face to the south
shore for in Canada there was now
a Geld welcome for most Yankees, and
my fists were sore with resenting the
bitter taunt. ! crossed in a boat from
lroQuois. and D'r mad been waiting
for me half day at the landing.
was never so glad TO see a man-never
but once. Walking home ! saw corn
/ growing where the forest had been
acres OF il.
"Dri," said ], in amazement. "how
| did you ever do it? There's ten years
! work here"
God helped us said he, soberly
| "The trees went over n the windfall
| slammed EN- down lux tenpins fer a
, mild g. rnore-an' We jes burnt up the
: rubbish
CHAPTER ".
April was near its end Ire hills
were turning green, albeit We could
? see, here and there on the high ledge
above us. little patches of snow-the
fading footprints of winter. Day and
night We could hear the wings OF the
wild fowl roaring in the upper air as
they flew northward. Summer was
coming-the summer OF 1S12-and the
war with the British. The presiden,