Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-04-11

er-the-turkeys - painted Joe. "An'
-got-in-the cart. No wonder-the
steers-was scairt |"
Steers and bear got to the top of the
hill long way ahead of us, and then
the cart went rumbling down on the
other side.
When we reached the top they were
streaking it," as Joe said, across the
sandy flat below us, and the bear was
still in the cart.
"They'll haul him home |" exclaimed
Ranse.
1t seemed curious that the animal did
not spring out but we could see him
lurching from side to side and turn
ing round, apparently afraid to jump
off the cart.
Our house and barn were in plain
sight from the hill. We had left the
great door of the barn open that morn
ing, propped back, SO that "Thenty"
could drive the sheep In toward night.
She could shut the barn door, but could
not open it.
She and little "Sile" were standing
near the well sweep when we reached
the top of the hill. They soon heard
the cart coming. We saw them turn
and look moment, then they both ran
into the house, and in a second mother
came to the door.
The steers turned into the yard at full
run. One wheel of the cart bumped
over big stone and struck against o
post that held the bars, breaking it with
crash that we heard away back where
we were coming down the hill.
But the bear still chung to the cart,
and when mother saw it and its occupant
tearing through the yard she ran into
the house and shut the door.
The steers, in their blind fright, dashed
on toward the barn, going over pile o.
stove wood, smashing the saw-horse, and
knocking off the well-curb.
The barnyard gate was open. Rush
ing into it, they broke with the nigh
wheel one Of the gate-posts short off ct
the ground.
We took the shortest cut across the
field, but as jumped the fence 1 saw
steers and cart go with the speed of q
locomotive into the barn at the great
door. They knocked down or Jared
down the prop against the door, and it
slammed to after them.
"Now we've got 'um |" exclaimed
Ranse; "they're all in there together |"
In a pen at the farther end of the
barn floor was all old hog with litter
OF ten little pigs, and IL another tempo
rary pen, in the cattle "tie-up," were
two other hogs, which we were going to
kill in day or two.
The rest of our turkeys, thirty or more,
were shut up in one of the empty bins
of the "hay-bay."
We rushed to the barn. I never, in
all my life, heard such noise as there
was inside Boards were being smashed.
The old hogs were barking like wild
bears, and one of the little pigs was 60
ing rock-ok- ok ok-ok; the turkeys were
ull flying and huttering and "quitting"
ind "yeaping."
Mother and Ihenty had ventured out,
pale as ghosts, wanting to know what,
"for mercy's sake" was the matter.
Matter enough, 1 should think |"
said Joe.
"Well, we must 60 in and get 'em
apart, somehow |" exclaimed Ranse, ex-
citedly.
He got an ak, and I pulled open the
small door of the "tie-up."
1 had no sooner got it half open when
out ran one Of the fatted hogs, followed
by one of the pigs. A turkey came fly
ing out over their backs. There was
such dust that we actually couldn't see
into the barn.
"Shut it upl" cried Joe, cor the
bearll be out in our faces p
Then he and Ranse got their guns
ready, and l threw open the great door.
All the turkeys came out at once.
As soon as we could see through the
dust, we found that one of the steers
was unyoked. He had broken through
the partition into the turkey-bay. The
other steer was threshing about over the
cart tongue, and had knocked down
both the pig pens. The little pigs were
rushing this way and that, under the
cart and all over the barn.
But we could not see the bear any.
where. We had supposed that he
would rush out. Ranse and Joe had
their guns cooked, and wGs ready fol
him with the OK.
Don't s'pose he's got out, do YEP
exclaimed Joe.
We ventured into the barn little
and, happening to look up to the roof,
saw his black hide away up on one O.
the "great BEAMS" where he haG
climbed to get out of the scrimmage.
There were the marks of his nails OF
one of the posts. When he saw W.
were looking at him, he sang out at III
Justify, and then growlei his very say
agest.
an fix him !" muttered Joe, taking
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