Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-05-07

world from the Limberlost. He was
afraid for his life every minute. He
cut a stout hickory cudgel. with q
knot on the end as big as his fist, and
1t never left his hand. What he
thought in those first days he himself
could not clearly recall afterward
His heart stood still every time he
saw the .eautiful marsh grass begin
sinuors waving against the play Of the
wind. as Mclean had told him it
would. He bo!ted half mile with his
first boom of the bittern. and his hat
lifted with every yelp Of the sheitpoke.
Once lie saw lean. shadowy form
following him and blazed away with
his revolver Then be was frightened
worse than ever for fear 1t might have
been Duncan's collie.
The first afternoon that he found
bis wires down. and he was compelled
to plunge knee deep into the black
swump muck to restring them- he
could scarcely control his shaking hand
to do the work. With every step he
felt that he would miss secure footing
and be swallowed up in that clinging
sea of blackness. In dumb agony he
plunged along. clinging to the posts
and trees he had consumed much
time. Night closed in. The Iimber-
lost stirred gently, then shook herself.
growled and awoke about him.
There seemed to be great owl boot
ing from every hollow tree and little
one screeching from every knothole.
Nighthnwks swept past him with their
shiverine cry. and bats struck his face.
A prowling wildcat missed its catch
and screamed with rage. A lost fox
layrd incr>Santly for its mate. The
hair on the back Of Freclila as neck rose
Ike bristles. and his knees wavered
under him He could not see II the
dreaded snakes were on the trail nor
in the pandemonium hear the rnttle
fur which Mclean had cautioned him
10 listen.
Something big. black and heavy
rame crashing through the swamp. and
with yell Freckles broke and ran
how far he did not know. But at last
he gained some sort Of mastery over
himself and retraced his steps. When
he again came toward the corduroy
the cudgel fell to test the wire at ev.
cry step.
Sounds that curded his blood SEEM
| cd to close in about him and shapes
| of terror to draw nearer and nearer.
Just when he felt that he should fall
dead before he ever reached the clear
Ing came Duncan's rolling call. Free
kles. Frecklesr' A great shuddering
sob burst in the boys dry throat. But
he only told Duncan that finding the
wire down had made him late.
The next morning he started out on
time. Day after day with bis heart
pounding Jike triphammer he ducked.
lodged. ran when he could and fought
| like q wildcat when he was brought to
bay. II he ever had an idea Of giving
up no one knew 1t. AL these things
| In so far as he guessed them Duncan.
who had been set to watch the first
| weeks of Freckles' work. carried to the
boss at the south camp, but the inner
most, exquisite torture of the thing the
big Scotchman never guessed. and Nc
Lean with his finer perceptions came
only little nearer.
| After q few weeks. when Freckles
found that he was still living. that he
had q home and the very first money
he had ever possessed was safe In his
pockets. he began to grow proud. He
was gradually developing the fearless
ness that men ever acquire OF dangers
to which they are hourly accustomed.
His heart seemed to be In his mouth
when his first rattler disputed the
trail with him. but be mustered cour'
age and let drive at 1t with his club.
After its head had been crushed he
cut of its rattles to show Duncan.
With the mastery Of his first snake
his greatest fear of them was gone.
Then he began to realize that with
the abundance of food In the swamp
flesh hunters would not come out ON
the trail and attack him, and he had
his revolver for defense If they did.
He soon learned to laugh at the hoppy
birds that made horrible noises. One
day watching from behind tree he
saw a crane solemnly performing a
few measures Of a beated nuptial
song and dance with his mate. Re
alizing that 1t was intended In tender
ness, no matter how 1t appeared. the
lonely, starved heart of the boy went
i out to them in sympathy.
| fTo RE CONTINUED