The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-01-26
Is the distance Of mile or two Is ef.


they had previously occupied. In point
Of fact, the new pasture was in branch
of tho main valley. Hither they had
como up from their bee. sheds next be-
low, two miles distant, with a load OF
hives, and built ''rest" for them near
two large oaks-great trees with wide
spreading branches that nearly touched
the ground-on the north side of the
intervale, at the foot of the mountain.
1t was favorable location, for on the
south side tho bees had the entire val
ley, we'll stocked with flowers and
Towering shrubs, outspread before
them; and so secluded did tho place
seem that the young apiarists judged it
entirely safe to leave the bees to gather
honey here, unguarded, for few days
at least.
Having seen to it therefore, that the
hives were we'll placed, they returned
down the valley to their shanty- house,
where their sister and the Indian girls
looked after the few simple domestic
affairs of the household. In fact, it was
quite their custom thus to colonizc a
new pasture, and thus they had met with
few losses. Honey in small quantity,
had been stolen from them on one or two
occasions and once a number of deer, in
their fight across the valley, had upset
three or four hives.
But on this occasion they met with a
mishap; for on going to the place two
or three days afterward, tosce how their
swarthy "Italians" were prospering,
Frank found one hive upset, and
another of the ten missing altogether.
From tho latter circumstance, as also
from certain marks and traces in the
grass, resembling footprints, ho at once
concluded that some thief had
"jumped" the hive.
A few days before they had heard the
report of gun several times, faint and
at distance, and had conjectured that
there was a hunting party, either Of
whites or Indians on the other side of
the mountain.
''Some of them have probably been
spying about and got their eyes on that
row of hives" was Franks thought.
Whether the rogucs would rest con-
tent with the honey of ono hive, or come
back after more, was what no one could
guess. The brothers, however, deemed
it prudent to expect them again, and
would have gone up and drawn the re-
naming hives down to camp, if tho
two Indian girls had not been sent down
to tho postoflice-a littlo settlement
twelve miles away-with the mules, to
get the mail and stock Of groceries.
Roswell therefore proposed that, af.
ter supper, they should takc little
shelter tent which they had, and go up
to the new rest, in order to pass the
night where they could guard the hives.
For by this time the older brother had
so far recovered his health as to be the
stronger of the two.
AS Ellen did not like to DO left en-
tirely alone she proposed 10 accompany
them. They accordingly set of, tax
ing along the tent, three blankets and
q Winchester carbinc.
Arriving at the rest just at dusk, they
pitched their little shelter tent near the
trunk of one of tho oaks already re-
ferrcd to, and in S uch manner that the
ends of the dropping branches nearly
or quite concealed the te from
view.
The night was warm and the place
was quite dry. Accordingly they did
not kindlc fire, but made themselves
comfortable with their blankets under
cover of the tent and the shcltering foli-
age of the tree.
They had really no serious cxpccta-
tion that the thief would come back; !;
and after time all three of them fell
asleep, for Ellen Holden had become
quite accustomed to this free, out of
door life. They slept thus for three OF
four hours.
During tho early part Of the night
there was moon, but the moon set to-
ward midnight; tho stars, however,
gave some light, though everything
was rather misty and dim. The now
somnolent and quiet hives rcposed on
their rest, few yards from tho tree and
the teat.
At length the slecpcrs were suddenly
reused by heavy thump, followed by q
grating noise and deep humming
sound from the hives.
They all started up and listened in.
tently.
Something's afoul of the bees, Ros,"
whispered Frank.
Roswell, STARTING up, took the Win
chester and peeped out amongst the oak
branches. What looked like q tall,
'slouching' man was in the very act Of
taking one of the hives in his arms,
despite the loudly buzzing bees. As
Roswell stared in : astonishmcnt, the
sturdy pilfercr did actually clasp his
arms about the hive and raising it of
the rest started to walk slowly of
with it.
'Tt's some Indian, I guess, by the
looks of him, muttered Roswell. 81
don't just like to fire at him; he don't
seem to have any gun. But let's go
for him and give him good thrashing.'
Frank, agreeing at once to his propo-
sition, snatchcd up two stakes which
they had cut for the tent, and handing