The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-09
DICKS ESCAPE.

Dick Smiths home was in the West,
and as the incident ! am about to relate
hannened good many years ago, he
must have been then only thirteen or
fourteen years old He was a brave,
hearty lad, full OF enthusiasm and love
of adventure, but especially Astounding
with ingenuity, and always doing some
thing new and curious. Thus he has
been known all his life as an Inventor,
and still shows the same quality.
lie lived on the bank of q river, and
being fond Of the water, became an ex-
pert swimmer and oarsman. Although
he had no gun, yet with cunning traps
and many original devices he caught
considerable game, some for its fur and
some for its meat. 1t is about one of
his boyish inventions that am going to
tell you.
At certain seasons of the year great
hocks of ducks came into the river, and
staid many days eating the Indian rice
(/t.GRj0 aYHatjca) that grew in the
shallow water. But rs Diek's father
had no shotgun or any convenient way
of capturing them, the ducks came and
went unmolested.
A' lcH?Ih ingenious D'Ih ScV 10 Worh
10 contTlVe some method OF catching
mem, nc tie OBTAINED u section OF Ihln
tbot Il ,n,,II ~ ~, H. 100 ~
raSt on sb6Mljor5 ia tho 80, ,'ll -
q large old-fashioned hat, the top of if
reaching several inches above his scalp.
In this he cut holes for his eyes and
hrootbo Ia aJ.o fast.n,,J 'I 49,, $40 ,','I I
vines on the fo, and aro,,rd Il - nortiy,
ooncaoi i ~ W l'''''F
VIZ III. ,,.ay dana h.. ,,,,, = -, nd
stortnJ far tbo III. r. pn'' - ~ ,''',,
tb;nilot on .,.;,.a,.,s h,.-,I. ,,dn,. ="
%alo he ioid os;do Lie oia+h Ln na +a ,l'p
70 thn wat"r Ha bnd ND ot ts',J ,,,'; '4 IN
,iro,. ,hora +Ln ,.on 800 ",o i =, '',o
;n,t what d;,;onI+iae ,,I ''i'I h n.y.
0Horoon,o =, I -, ,,',I3 ~
Ont bo want .nJ ' -. L o on" "".'' ~
dnnl[l bo ,nn,nI ,.o,,- w so" ''1o n n,jl omo
tiou.I,. 60 ,,+ ~ oi,,,,, H., ''''N' ~''''
D. 49, 80. - 'l', -
ic'ly Soon ic wa III Vlle must u Ah
immense HocN' ana al'hou@h they were
extremely wary ana quite Su'llc Gus
OF the ylne-coyered bark. yet within
snort time ne succeeded n grasplng
quite number by The legs and Jerk
ing them under the water When he
had secured all he could fairly man
ace, he quietly made his way home.
His catch proved most delicious eating,
and was very acceptable to the family,
as it came al time in the year when no
other meat was generally available
Frequently while the wild rice lasted
did ne repeat the operation, bringing
home the latest specimens that came
to the river.
But one day rs he sat beneath the
bushes on the edge of the water about a
quarter of u mile from home. examin-
inc some ducks lust CAUGHT. his little
dog bv his side. suddenly a huge pan
Their bounced down from the biGh bank
above, and rushed for the doc. AWAY
went the doc for dear life. and the nan
Their after him, BIT Dick knew well
enough that the doc. which was verv
fleet, would escape, and that the GREAT
cat would soon give up the race and
come back for himself. But The lad had
no notion of atlording the panther a boy
for dinner; and so. perfectly cool and
brave. set 10 thinking how to escap ne.
If he should run away, the animal
would follow his track and soon over