Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-10-16

HOW long rne roam might nave neio
the deck had not his thirst been great.
er than his hate cannot be told. Water
was what he needed most, for his
throat seemed burning, and just over
side was an immensity Of water. So
he leaped. Probably the crew OF the
Ellen b. believe to this day that they
escaped by q miracle from devil pos
sessed horse who, finding them beyond
his reach, committed suicide.
But Blue Blazes had not thought OF
self destruction. After swallowing as
much lake water as was good for him
he struck out boldly for the shore,
which was not more than half a mile
distant, swimming easily In the slight
swell. Gaining the log strewn beach,
lie found himself at the edge Of one of
those ghostly, fire blasted tamarack
forests which cover great sections II
the upper end Of Michisan's southern
peninsula. At last he had escaped
from the hateful bondage Of man.
Contentedly he fell to cropping the
coarse beach grass which grew at the
forests edge.
For many long days Blue Blazes rev.
eled In his freedom, sometimes wan
dering for miles into the woods. some.
times ranging the beach in search OF
better pasturage. Water there was
aplenty, but food was difficult to find.
He even browsed bushes and tree
twigs. AT first he expected momenta-
rily to see appear one of his enemies
q man. He heard imaginary voices IN
the beat of the waves. the creaking OF
wind tossed treetops, the cav OF crows
or in the faint whistlings of distant
steamers. He began to look suspi-
ciously behind knolls and stumps. But
for many miles up and down the coast
was no port, and the only evidences ne
had of man were the sails Of passing
schooners or the trailing smoke plumes
Of steamboats,.
Not since he could remember had
Blue Blazes been 80 long without feel
Ing a whip laid over bis back. Still he
was not wholly content He felt a
strange uneasiness, was conscious OF
longing other than desire for good
feed Of oats. Although he knew 1t not,
Blue Blazes, who hated men as few
horses have ever hated them, was lone
some. He yearned for human society.
When at last man did appear on the
beach the horse whirled and dashed
into the woods. But he ran only
short distance. Soon he picked bis way
back to the lake shore and gazed curl
ously at the intruder. The man was
making fire Of driftwood. Blue Blazes
approached him cautiously. The man
was bending over the fire, tanning 1t
with his hat In a moment he looked up.
A half minute, perhaps more. horse
and man gaZed at each other. Probably
it was a moment Of great surprise for
them both. Certainly 1t was for the
man. Suddenly Blue Blazes pricked
his ears forward and whinnied. 1t was
an unmistakable whinny of friendli-
ness If not Of glad recognition. The
man ON the beach had red hair-hair
Of the homeliest red you could imagine.
Also be had eyes Of the color OF ripe
gooseberries.
.
"You see," said Lafe, In explaining
the matter afterward, Il was hunting
for burls. I had seen 'em hrst when
I was about sixteen. It was once when
lot of us went up on the steamer
from Saginaw after black bass. We
landed somewhere and went up river
Into Mullet lake. Well, one day ] got
after a deer, and he led me on 20 far
couldn't find my way back to camp.
walked through the woods for more'n
a week before I came out on the lake
shore, It was while was tramping
around that got into q hardwood
swamp where ! saw them burls. not