Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 115: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

cross it and seek refuge in the wogds above Greenwich. The farms and country seats in Bloomingdale were widely scattered. If I could reach the woods I was confident of lying safe through the night, or longer if necessary. Next to a refuge came the need of food, although my training in the Ameri- can army had well fitted me for starvation rations. At last the shouts of my pursuers ceased and I became conscious of the lapse of time since Bucks left me to visit his mythical relative. The sun was through with the day’s work. Then came the smell of smoke. I was almost within running distance of the woods and it was vital that I reach cover without being observed. Yet the smoke engaged my fancy with thoughts of food to such a degree that I could not resist reconnoitering beyond a small grove of maples. It was a smoke house on the opposite — edge of the grove, presumably belonging to the farmer whose buildings showed brown in the distance. Autumn was the time for » smoking hams, but the British occupation —like that of our army the year before— had sadly broken up seasonal routine. I crouched among the trees until an aged man emerged from the little house and hobbled toward a pile of green wood. Estimating the time it would take for him to reach the pile and fill his arms with fuel I raced to the narrow door and through it. The strong reek of the smoke made my eyes water, and how the old man endured to stay in the smother, as he had while I waited, was beyond my understanding. I grabbed blindly at a row of hams and secured a lean one and thrust my head through the doorway. The old man was on one knee, his back to me, slowly filling his arms with the wood. With the ham tucked under my arm I ran for shelter and gained it just as the man rose and began turning about. I entered the woods and the dusk became darkness, yet I managed to hold a westerly direction until I believed I was in the*heart of the growth. With my clasp-knife I shaved off huge slices of the ham and satis- fied my hunger. Inasmuch as the King’s Bridge road was held against me, and cun- ning 1 must serve for speed, I found a hollow between the roots of a tree and settled “myself for the night. Despite the wet ground and my sodden clothing I slept. The -White Dawn 113 soundly. I awoke to the singing of birds and the warmth of the sun forcing its way — into the woods. At a pool of water close by my tree I slaked the thirst created by the ham and then ate a hearty breakfast. I was greatly worried about Bucks, but knew there was scant chance of our meeting even if he were ~ still at liberty. My plans for the day were to cross the Bloomingdale road to the east and work north between it and the post — road. This would permit me to avoid the Apthorpe, the Striker, the Hogeland and Jones estates, where laborers and servants would be abroad in considerable numbers. On the Nicholas Jones farm was a British camp. If I could traverse the island to Spuyten Duyvil creek, timing my arrival to take advantage of the night, I had no fears of failing to cross. Packing the slender remains of the ham I commenced my journey. Now ese one of those incidents, insignificant in itself to the vanishing point, but which was to prove most momentous to my fortunes. I had gained the eastern edge of the woods when a rustic came along, an ax on his shoulder. I had ample warning and easily avoided him. After he had passed, a dog just emerging from puppyhood, stumb bled upon me in his quest for adventure. He was a roly-poly mongrel and possessed the wide optimism of the true vagabond. He accepted me as a friend and refrained from barking and betraying. my hidi place. He was overjoyed to meet me stood with his front paws resting against my soiled knees and wagged his stubby tail tremendously. Then he smelled the ham fe: and crowded his head against my caressing hand very ingratiatingly. There was not much of the ham left, and I had no use for the bone, and it was re- freshing to find something amiably glad to see me. I trimmed off the meat and gave him the bone. With much pretense at growling he settled down to worry it while I resumed my flight. I was very fortunate in avoiding further meetings and finally halted to study a pre- tentious manor house. While thus engaged _ : I was startled to hear an authoritative voice calling out— “Hi, my man, how long ago did you say you found the dog?” It was a military voice that had See me, and I slipped behind a clump of trees, “ Ae 4 wey f Asie : ev 4 PTE A Pe re ; fA SN AAI: & ‘4 w 4 j ft ow it - A Tea! Sure ee 5) (Q) com JOOKSACO!