The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-13
BY MAUD WALKER.

Charley, ALI and Stella. brothers and
sister, decided to spend q part of one
Saturday in the big Woods as the heavy
timber on and about the river was called.
High hills stretched themselves from
the very banks OF the wide and ever
restless stream running far into the
prairie land beyond A great section or
this wooded hillland was unoccupied.
thus remaining wild ana solemn. The
big Woods was seldom visited save
by Its owner, who came to chop wood In
the fail, or by an occasional hunter who
had obtained permission from the owner
TO do some shooting there
It was very late in March when All,
Charley and Stella made their first visit
to the "Big Woods" The day was fine,
at their toes and fingers. ears and noses
Their parents had gone to townson busi-
ness which would keep them till noon OF
the next day, for the Journey consumed
half a day even when the roads were in
the most excellent condition As soon as
the father and mother had disappeared
round the nearest hill en- route to town
the children began their preparations to
start their exploring expedition. They
filed IL basket with plenty Of food and
quart bottle of milk. All carried The bas-
ket and his air gun, thinking that * was
just as well to be armed. Charley took
upon bis back a bundle OF extra wraps,
thinking IL wise 20 be prepared against
possible March norther. Stella carried
huge umbrella, declaring they might have
warm spring downpour- Then, locking
the doors securely, putting feed and wa
ter out for the chickens, and seeing that
the COW and horse troughs were filed
with water and the managers with hay,
they set on toward the place of myS-
terry, five miles dlstant-the big Woods"
As they went along they begun to con-
lecture about what their surprises might
be. Stella half whispered her fear of
wild beasts strange creatures of the
forest" ALI said he'd not be surprised
TO meet a bear-perhaps a few tigers,
too II so, he'd try his air gun on them
Charley thought they might run upon a
strange people living in the most print
tive manner IN the dugouts in the hill
sides and subsisting on herbs and nuts
So. on they went. covering the i've
miles in much less time than it usually
takes a pedestrian to walk that distance.
All OF a sudden they found themselves
within the confines OF the Big Woods,
the ground damp and shadowy and the
sky hidden from sight by the thousands
OF interviewer branches overhead. 1t was
truly most noble forest. Here and there
appeared a clearing where the owner had
cut out hundr. .ds OF trees to be shipped
away In the shape of hrewood- The ex-
plOrers were deeply interested as they
down over a cliff to the very waters
edge. The river, ever swollen. seemed to
menace them as they stood above it and
peered into its murky depths
"Ughi 1t looks hendish," declared
Stella Let's go up the hill yOnder.
This water seems to say. I'll grasp you
and hold you and carry you away to the
sea- 1 don't like it
81 declare, it has clouded overhead"
cried Alfy trying 10 get a glimpse of the
sky through the interlaced tree tops.
No; it's just the darkness OF the
wood" said Stella, hopefully.
And l think It's the last snow of the
season coming TO tell us goodbye"
laughed Charley, buttoning his top coat
closely about his neck.
well. suppose we return to the edge
of the wood" suggested Stella, growing
apprehensiye as the darkness settled
down and the wind began to sing plain
lively through the heavy tree tops. Some
how. 1T seems lonely and-and-scarey
in here"
They turned about, as they all sup
posed, retracing their steps, but IN reality
going still deeper into the wood. Soon
they felt Iew stray drops Of rain, huge
and cold. coming through the forest top.
Their ROCKVILLE 1t shut out light-was