MEMORIES OF THE 



steam in the back part of the sugar-house was impenetrable. 

 I forgot all about tending fire. I could not understand wh}^ 

 father did not come. He had not been gone twenty-five minutes, 

 and his work required an hour. 



Suddenly I heard a most doleful, startling noise — a h-o-o! 

 h-o-o! h-o-o! It came from the Pitkin hill and was soon re- 

 peated, seemingly nearer the shanty and from the vicinity of the 

 middle route. I anxiously looked towards hemlock hill, but 

 dared not call out again. The noise was repeated louder and 

 louder, and nearer and nearer, and more dismally. I could 

 stand it no longer, but started, looking over my shoulder as I 

 passed the corner of the shanty, and took the left-hand fork, 

 which led out of the woods towards home. 



First I went on a sharp walk, but soon broke into a run, 

 which I kept up until well out of the woods, at every step ex- 

 pecting a panther or some terrible beast to light on me with all 

 fours. I was well out of breath when clear of the woods, but 

 kept up a good pace. In the clearing it was not so very dark, 

 but I hastened along. In crossing the bridge over Deer Creek, 

 which was then at full banks, my cap blew off and into the 

 creek. This was a little matter to one who had just escaped 

 destruction from wild beasts, but it added to my worry, for it 

 was my only cap except my church cap, which I knew could not 

 be used in secular business under any circumstances. I began 

 to follow it down stream without knowing just what I hoped 

 for, when Raleigh Fox came along and helped me out of the 

 difficulty by going out on a log which crossed the creek just 

 below the <' ducking-hole " and rescuing it. 



I hastened home, which I reached some time before my 

 father. I was unable to satisfactorily explain the affair to 

 mother, who was quite a little worried over my coming first and 



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