The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-29
spoon, slyly gathered two or three big


the frog cried "Struck it!'' Pete let
drive At him with . rock 50 huge that it
could have been hurled by no lesser Ajax,
missing his mark but raising great com.
motion in the pond.
Thinking he had given his bad angel q
fright that would last him a fortnight,
Pete returned to his work. He had al.
most filled his pan with rich.looking dirt,
when up came the frogs head and out
came his tantalizing ''Struck it? Struck
it?'
Pete threw his pan of dirt as far as he
could send it and made for the frog dc.
termined on it's destruction. lie would
stand no more Of is Internal nonsense.
Shovel in hand he waded into the mid.
die Of the little reservoir and scooped
and tore about in it with the vigor and
venom of a mad bull. Once or twice he
saw, or imagined he saw, the frog dart
through the discolorcd water, and brought
the back Of his shovel with such ''spat'
that the blow might have been heard
half mile away. At length, not seeing
anything more, of the frog, Pete conclu-
ded that he had killed him. He gave
him parting curse, and, being now
wrought up to such pitch Of excitement
and nervousness that he could work no
more that afternoon, strobe away, put on
his coat, and went home.
The next morning he returned to his
claim aad his work. He had washed out
several pans of dirt and was getting good
pay out Of them, vi hen sudd enly there
fell upon his ear the shrill cry OF,
''Struck it?'
The first note sent thrill through
Pete's frame like the sharp shock Of an
electrical battery, then chill fell upon
his heart and his hair almost rose on
end. His evil genius, as he now firmly
believed the little green frog to be, was
still there, alive and at his old tricks.
Tie kicked ever the pan of dirt he had
dug and made a rush Tor the reservoir,
the frog 'plumping'' under the water at
his approach. Pete again went into the
reservoir with his long-handled shovel
and charged about at q furious rate. but
he could see nothing Of the frog or any,
thing toat looked like it. Being deter.
mined to do for his tormentor this time,
Pete went for his pan and began trying
to bail out the reservoir. Finding this
| too great task he got pick, dug down
the embankment Of dirt and rocks form.
ing the little dam, and eargcrly watched,
with uplifted shovel, for the frog as the
water ran off. The water all ran out.
but the frog was nowhere to be seen.
Pete then waded out in the oozy bed
pond, digging and blowing about with
his shovel, but he failed to start the
little goblin frog. He then arrived at
the very reasonable conclusion that the
little imp had rushed out of the reservoir
when it was opened. He cruised about
the spot for an hour or two, going down
the channel Of the ravine, turning over
rocks and beating tufts of grrss with his
shovel, but saw nothing Of the frog.
Thinking his evil genius had been washed
down through the canyon into the Carson
river. Pete concluded TO rebuild his dam
in order that he mig int have water ready
for use in the morning. This job done he
went home, feeling quite sure that he
had either killed or permanently oustcd
his little enemy.
The next day he returned to his work.
Before starting in, however, he walked
| around tho reservoir several times, peer.
ing keenly into the water and kicking
every bunch Of grass about It's margin.
! The frog was nowhere to be sean or start
ed.
Pete then went to his prospect hole
and began to dig, stopping occasionally to
cock an eye toward the pond and to lis
ten for the freq. All promised we'll for
Pete. He had dug pan of dirt without
the hated interruption, and was on his
way to wash it out when -''Struck it {?
Struck it 2 was squeaked from the pond
by the goblin frog.
This was too much for Pete. The pan
dropped from his hands, his under Jaw
1e'l, and he sank down upon the nearcs:
rock, where he sat and considered the
matter. AS he was wondering if it was
possible for him ever in any way to rid
himself of the evil thing that had des-
troyea his luck the frog again sang out
''S1ruck it Struck it?''
MAY the :divil burn ye!'' cried Pete,
l haven't sthruck 1t, and what's more |
never will wild ye there, We dirty little
blackguard! Must [ come afther We
again. We unclane basic of the divil?
'Struck it?'' said the frog.
Eye think so - said Pete, and catching
up his pick he rushed to the reservoir,
and began digging down the embank-
ment.
Presently he paused in his work and
said: ''lt's Of no use. Haven't [ tried to
get him in all ways? No; when I get
the wather off he'll be gone. He's no
human frog! I'll jist let him how'd DOS.
session and III hunt ME another place.
Dlvil the lick will ever sthrikc here
again; its the divii's own child he is -
Pete began to gather up his clothes and
tools with the intention of vacating the
place, when he stopped and gazed visit