The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-08-13

de powder under III, ana den nght III wid
de slow-match.
Bat was rummaging in his very deep
and uncertain pocket whilst saying this,
and. at last, succeeded in extracting from
a tangle OF string, marbles, fnt-stones,
and rabbits paw, piece OF the match
used in the mines, and which looked
lik- small rope about four inches long,
4" picked dis up over mt de coal,
pit, whar somebody done dropped
it. You jess makes little pile
OF powder unner de ness, den You puts
one end of de slow match in it and lights
de- uader, den de fire ketches de powder,
an who-ee! up goes de ness in de ar;
all bus to pieces an de hornicks all
kilt" Bat delivered this description
with great vivacity, and added, "Make
haste and git de powder, so as we kin
git dar fore de hornicks all goes out to
git der dinner"
Lud was quickly off to the house, and
soon back with powder flask; so away
the boys trudgcd as fast as they could.
Bat took the lead, and they made their
way as directly as they could to the spot,
sometimes in the shade, but mostly
through the scorched fields where
myriads Of grasshoppers bounced up un-
der their noses, and the blistering sun
seemed to waken all manner of tittering
and buzzing insects.
At last the boys arrived hot and pant
ing at the further side of the broom
straw field, where it was skirted by
line of low scrub oaks and chinquepiu
bushes. Bat took little time to find
the spot, but at length, pointing toward
it, he called out, under his breath, "Dar
It's %
Where !" cried the others.
"Dar, dar don't talk loud skeer
'em, replied Bat i'll loud whisper, and
making violent gestures for them to keep
silence. The others joined Bat, and
soon discovered the object Of their
search. 1t was attached to tree some
what larger than the others, and which
stood in a little glade in the wood, and
the limb from which it hung jutted ont
close to the ground. 1t looked like
ball of dirty paper which diminished
gradually into a sort OF neck {; the whole
about foot long, and nearly as much
through i'll the widest part. Not hornet
was TO be seen.
Lud whispered, ooh Bat, they are
not there after all -
"Dunno bout dat" answered Bat !;
"ye all lay down and I'll try EN-" The
two lay down among the hot weeds.
Bat broke off the longest switch that he
could find, and tickled the nest from us
safe distance as the length of the
switch would allow standing behind
sapling which protected about three
inches in width of his person. He
paused, and with grin, made an en-
couraging sign to the boys, who were
now raised on their elbows watching the
operation. Then, crouching low, he
cautiously backed from his position.
"All right" he whispered, when he
had backed to where the others were,
"all right - dey sent ont one TO see
what was de matter let's go TO work.
Bat proceeded Immediately to explain
that the powder must be poured into
pile just under the nest-which was
about two feet from the ground
end the match laid with end
in the powder and that I'M
less Lud touched the nest there
was no danger whatever. Under these
instructions, Lud carefully approached
the nest on all fours. The others watched
with intense interest while Lud poured
ont the powder directly under the nest,
match. Bat aud Teddie held their
breaths. The former, by crabli like
movement; had gradually increased his
distance from the scene OF operations,
and was yard or two behind Teddie.
They saw Lud fumbling in Ills pockets,
and he began to work his way
backward. When ne had reached them
he painted out, "Got no matches !"
They all looked blank at this dilemma.
Teddie searched all four of his pockets,
and shook his head. Bat had none.
The prospect of failure was overwheim-
ing.
ooh, look !" said Teddie, who had
never ceased to explore every possible
place on his person where a match might
lodge; and he exhibited round object
which gave n sudden flash in the sun
light.
"The n-glass !" exclaimed Lud.
"Do you think that will do 2"
"Of course" replied Teddie, holding
it to him. But Lud did not extend his
hand. cts yours; you take it," he
said. Teddie turned to Bat.
Bat said: I can't do nothin wild dat
thing; 1 seed you make fire wild it,
Mah'sr Teddie."
"And / have done my part" added
Lud.
CT found de ness fust," Bat said, as
if his duty was entirely discharged.
Teddie saw that his turn had rightfully
come, and made no further appeals.
But suppose there isn't any sun
there ?" he said, after moments hesita-
ton.
eli !" cried Bat; 81 see de sun
shinin' on de very ness" There was no
excuse for delay, so Teddy crawled to
Lud's former position, and held tie
glass to the hot rays which poured down
between the thin leaves. His hand trem-
bled little, but he soon got the proper
focus, and the slow match taking fire
beganto splutter little sparks.
Teddie scurried back 10 the other
boys.
"Wait till de match mos burnt, u
whispered Bat, clutching Lud by the
arm. The words We're scarcely out OF
his mouth when there was muffled ex-
plosion. The nest was thrown up against