Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-22
CHAPTER VII.
The Blacksmith,

L udu NOulS up 6d5plu6 lOl bISdJHi
well out in the stream, either shore a
mere darker shadow showing above
the water. How far I had been swept
below the barge could not be guessed,
as | could distinguish no outlines
clearly, excepting the bare spars OF a
vessel, tied up to the west shore. AS
this ship had not been in sight previ-
ously l concluded the drift had been
greater than anticipated, and | struck
out quickly toward the opposite bank.
fearful lest | be borne down as far as
Gloucester before I could finally make
land. 1t was a hard swim across the
swift current, and ] was nearly ex-
hausted when l finally crept up the
low bank, and lay dripping and pant
ing in the shelter Of some low bushes.
Except for the bark of a distant dog
there was no sound more disturbing
than the rustic of leaves, and the lap
ping OF water. As my breath came
back | Sat up, wrung out my clothes
as best I could, and, with difficulty,
drew on the boots had borne across,
slung to my shoulder.
l possessed but a dim conception of
where | was, yet knew must make a
wide detour to the east so as to escape
British foraging parties.
! must have plodded doggedly along
through the darkness for fully five
miles, without ~perce1ving the first sign
OF habitation, or even a wood into
which / could crawl for concealment,
when l suddenly came upon a long,
the left of the road, a grim, silent, ap-
parently deserted structure, n end
OF the roof caved in, and several of
the windows smashed. l tried the
doors, but they appeared firmly fas-
tened. Far In the east there was a
faint tightening Of the sky promising
the approach Of dawn, and thus
aroused to a knowledge that | must
Immediately attain shelter. clam
bered through n Of the broken win
dows, and dropped to the earthen
floor within. | could see nothing, not
even a hand held before my ayes, yet
carefully felt my way forward through
- hph6AS VI iuUDlsup Wuccls, sSidps VI
iron, some casks, a number Of plough
handles, and a riffraff OF stuff I could
not make out. The place had evident
ly been used as a repair shop, but
must have been closed for months, as
! could feel the grit of dust every
where, and cobwebs brushed against
my face as moved about. Finally ]
felt the outlines of a large box halt
filled with paper, and, for want OF
something better, crept In and snug
gled down, intending to rest there un'
til daylight should reveal my sur
~roundings.
was warm enough now, my cloth
Ing practically dry, but thoroughly
tired from the long tramp over the
dark road, and exhausted by the ex
element through which l had passed
Even my mind seemed dulled, and II
appeared useless to think or plan.
had not intended to sleep, yet drowst
ness came. and l lost consciousness.
I know not what aroused me, but II
was already daylight, a CLEAN of SUI
through the windows turning the fes
tooned cobwebs into golden tapestry
One side Of the box in which l LAY
had been broken out. and could SCI
the full length Of the shop, which ap
p<ared Uttered from end to END with
all manner Of implements Of bus
bandry, and Woodworking and black
smiths tools. All this l perceived
with my first glance, but II WAS thu
distant sound OF = voice which q IN
stantly held my attention. At nrst
could not locate the speaker, nor csv