The Ottawa free trader., 1883-06-23
TIM PRICES FROG HUNT.
By TOBE HODGE.

Tim Price devoted much time to in
vcntion for my benefit, because | never
doubted his word. | stood in his cstima-
ton as - fellow you could poke any
thing into and he'll blicyc it," He
boasted so much about "stuilin' " me
that found whenever any one had lie
to tell they came to me to tell it. |
therefore concluded that it was time to
check him into respect.
He was good rifle shot and very
proud of it. His pride vibratcd between
the ownership of rifle and watch.
A trade was to him worth Il days fast
ing, and he would go any distance for a
dicker.
Il tell you. Colonel, I've got it down
to p'ints. trades my watch for rifle
when the game gifts ready for shootin',
an my rifle for II watch when thar 5
nothin', an the days gifts too long fer
an honest days work if you stop by the
sun. Thars no man livin' kin beat me
shootin', an thar's no liyin' man kin
ledge the innards in watch better nor
kin. | had watch onst that the skin
'ud come right off the tatcrs when it
said half an hours b'ilin', an there
were no fire under the kittle; an dcrned
if the eggs didn't come boiled in cold
water, KNOWN they was bound ter be
done cooked in three minutes by it. The
people used to come fer morn five
miles ter git the time Nv day ter set thcr
clocks by-thcm at had 'cm-an' them
'et hadn't took the longness in ther
shaddcrs when says It's gruD-tlInu ut
noon. But shootin', Colonel, shootin's
whar gifts 'em. Them breaken guns
(breech loaders) NV yourn gifts me, but
hey n rifle in the cabin thar that beats
anything for shootin' | ever seed. 'Taint
no breaken gun. busted the butt over
b'ar's head t'other day. an he bit the
sight off when | rammcd it inter him,
but hits good IL. The squ'rls has
got ter KNOWN it an me. | alters sees
a squrl's eyes an nothen else, an alters
hits him thar. one day awhile back
my dorg Spider he gifts one in hollcr
trec' an | chops HIM out, an dcrn me.
cf he hadn't patches on his two eyes
bits NV bark Ike, stuck on with cherry
tree gum iist ter keep me from sccin'
him. never hunted none 'cept on wet
day artcr That, when the gum wouldn't
stick. They had no chance aforc they
.wuad taa, loi"", for kin shoot"
','p" over 10 my place, Tim, and
we will have frog hunt. They are
plenty on the river; I'll paddle you.
Bring your rifle, want to see you
shoot
Tins eyes danced. "I'll come in the
Mornin'. | don't eat no such varmints
no time, but I'll shoot more on 'cm nor
You kin string on aclo'cs line, if the hoI-
lcrin', duck footed, WALLER beasts doesn'
stay under water when they knows I'm
comm. I'll be over 'arly in the morn
in"
had supplied myself with half n
dozen cast iron frogs especially for that
hunt; did Il little extra painting on them
TO make them look more natural, and
placed them in well selected positions
on the river banks, under roots, in grass,
on drift-logs, and one with its head Just
above the water.
The next morning Tim arrived. and
after much boasting of what he could do
we got off in the skiff, Tim standing in
the bow and ! sitting in the stern pad
ding. | soon took him to where he
could see one of the frogs.
Hold on, Colonel! Thar's the all
iiredest yallcr belly | ever seed. See
him thar sittin' as big as a crow on
corn hill; right under that root. RI pur-
posely kept off u distance and absolute
ly refused TO see him. Dcrn it, my ole
one-eyed gander could see him without
cockin' up his hull eye. Derned ef he !
hain't propped his head up with them
fore-lcgs NV his'n, jest ter show off an
look aswise AS ole DIR. Mansy at a pulse
feelin'. Hold her steady till | pop a
pill in him that ill be harder on him
nor Ingin rootsn" Bang, went Tim
rifle, but the frog sat still Tim looked
~ him in astonishmcnt. He gave n
quick glance at me To- see if | was look
ing, and thinking | was not, said: "Well
III be derned if thar hain't another un
sttin' right long side NV him. They
goes in pairs this time NV year. I'll git
him too" And he carefully reloaded.
Bang! went the gun again, and the frog
did not move. "Well, that beats natur'.
He's 80 tarnel skeered at seein' me he
can't git over it 'nough to 60 dead"
Hold on. Tim," said "I'll hit him
with the oar. You can't shoot"
Shoot thunder!" said he. "Hain't
he two bullets through him now'"
Why no, Tim; you said this was an
other frog"
80 It's, so It's. Tother un's blowed
clar out NV sight" l maneuvered the
boat in shore while Tim was loading,
struck alongside the frog with the pad
die covering him with mud, and put him
into the boat under the seat.