Part 13 (1/2)

Throwing ainst a tree, closedI kneas in a heap on the wet ground, wildly struggling withrelaxed as I became unconscious Now fully awake, I took a walk around to find a better spot, but soon caain

This tih to realize, by the tiain stealing over me, that the air inside ofthe covering froain After another interval of wakefulness, during which I realized keenly how tiredsohbors, the deain became paramount, and I dozed off With a sudden sense of a harsh scraping along the back of my head, and a diain refused duty, I caround, this ti forward After a walk down to the river to view the situation again, I returned to ainst forradually dozed off in the belief that I was this time scientifically and safely propped Suddenly I realized that I was falling, and becah to make three or four rapid steps forward, to saveand went head first to the ground After this, I never went to sleep during the balance of the night, but I contented myself with a succession of nods between the intervals of knee-bendings and losses of balance Try it and see hoorks

I have slept on the wet ground--slept soundly, and never taken cold froht, and we all stood up in preference, again a choice of the lesser evil

It round instead of re in the bottom No one who has ever tramped over such a miserable road as that by which we had reached the bottom--for two and a half miles in the dark--will be likely to question e preferred to stay where ere It is doubtful whether ould have undertaken to retrace our steps over the corduroy road even if we had known in advance just what our night's experience was to be

The nextent down to the river we found that it had risen several feet during the night

The road reached the river at a point of land which projected some distance, and where the road had been coht before, behind the point,had to wade in order to reach the ferry landing

It was useless to atteround and breakfasted upon what corn we could pick out of the ground around the spot where former campers had tarried This corn was the scaled or wasted kernels left by horses at their feeding places

While eating we heard a noise ofon the river, and at once assu over We had no , and my companions, Miller especially, were very much excited over the question of ere to do Miller had a ring which he wantedthe ferryman, but I would not take it, and we nearly had a quarrel in consequence My desire was to go to the ferry and be governed by circumstances as to e should do, but the others wanted to have it all ett?” asked Miller

”How can I tell?” was my reply

”But suppose he asks for money or is suspicious?”

”When he does or is I will meet him; but, boys, how on earth can you tell what to do or say till you knohat you have to overcoo down there in a natural way and do what seeet there

Co me reluctantly, and Miller all in a flutter of nervous apprehension

Reaching the landing, we found the boat nearly across, but the ferryress The rise in the river hadour shore It was a hand ferry, and the rope was fastened in a poor line for ease in ferrying at that stage of the river

Calling out to the ood position to jump aboard, and said to my companions:

”Come on, boys! Can't you see that the man has his hands full? Let's ju this, the fellow increased his efforts, the boat approached nearer, weto haul the boat to the land Then we learned that he had come over to shi+ft the rope, and we helped hi on the other side I put my hand in reenbacks at my command, and asked the ferryman how much ed him As I expected, he would not take a cent, but thanked us heartily for our assistance, and ent on our way rejoicing

It is a fact worthy of note that the response of this man to my offer of pay was almost as well known to me before he made it as after Not on the principle of natural results froiven causes, as many men would have asked either all or part pay Nor was it froment of the individual, as I was unable to form any satisfactory idea of his inclination from what could be seen of him I simply _felt_ and _knew_ that he would refuse pay Whether this was due to intuition, instinct or some subtle principle of mind communication, I do not profess to know and I do not say, but the fact was that I did not think or believe--I _knew_, and those inclined to account for the fact will find this point of interest to theett, if he had named a price?” asked Miller

”But he didn't, Miller,” I responded; ”and he wasn't suspicious”

”But if he had been?”

”How can I tell? It would have depended on circumstances My experience is that one can never, or very seldoinary conversation, and I never try to haed ideas”

[Illustration: CAPT B F MILLER]