Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-02-03

- '"0'' the new pasture was In q branch
oI The main valley. IIither they had
come up from their bee sheds next be-
low, two m les distant. with load Of
hiFes, and built ''rest' for them near
TWO large oaks great trees with wide
spreading branches that nearly touched
inc ground-on the north side Of the
lnteryae at the foot Of the mountain.
1t was favorable location, for on the
south side the bees had the entire val
ley well stocked with flowers and
hoFering shrubs, out prgad before
then; and so sec uded did the place
seen that tho young apiarists judged it
entirely safe to leave the bees to gather
hoiey here, unguarded, for a few days
ut east.
Having seen to it therefore, that the
hives were well placed they returned
down the valley to their shanty- house,
wh're 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 colonize a
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 flight 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 aftcrward, osee how their
swarthy "Itailns" were prospering,
Frank found one hive upset, and
another of the ten missing altogether.
From the latter circumstance, as ais
from certain marks and traces in the
grass, resembling footprints, he 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 thir eyes on that
row Of hives" was Franks thought.
Whether ths rogues would rest con-
tent with the honey Of one hive, or come
back after more, was what no one could
guess. The brothers, however, deemeL
it tdaeut to expect them again. and
would have gone up and drawn the re-
naming hives down to camp, if the
two Indian girls had not beer sent down
to the postoffice--a little settlement
twelve miles awoy-with the mules, to
get the mail aad a stock Of groceries.
Roswell therefore proposed that, af.
ter supper, they should tako little
shelter tent which they had, and 60 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 be left en-
tirely alone she proposed TO accompany
them. They accordingly set off, tax
ing along the ten. three blankets and
a Winchester carbine.
Arriving at the rest Just at dusk, they
pitched their little shelter tent near the
trunk of one of the oaks already re
ferred to, and ias uch a manner that the
eads Of the droopiag branches nearly
or quite concealed the te from
view
The night was warm and the place
was quite dry. Accordingly they did
not kindlo fire, but made Themselves
comfortable with their blankets under
cover Of the tent and the sheItering foil
age Of the tree.
They had really no serious expocta-
tion that the thief would come back
aad after time all three of them fell
asleep, for Ellen Holden had become
quite accustomed toethis free, out of
door life. They slept thus for three or
four hours
During the early part of the night
there was moon, but the mooa set to-
warl midnight; the stars, however,
gave some light, though every thing
was rather misty and dip. The now
somnolcnt and quiet hives reposed on
their rest, few yard, from the tree and
the tent.
At length the sleepers were suddenly
reused by heavy thump, followed by a
grating noise and a deep humming
sound from the hives.
They all started up and listened in
tcntly.
Something's afoul Of the bees, Ros, -
whispered Frank.
Roswell, sUartiug up, took the Win
chester and pecped out amongst the oak
branches. What looked like 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 astonishment the
sturdy pilferer did actually clasp his
arms about the hive and raising it of
the rest, started to walk slowly of
with it.
Its some Indian, l 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, snatched up two stakes which
they had cut for the tent, and handing
one of these to his brother, who laid
down the riff, both young men ran
quickly, but stealthily, after the
hcavily-loaded thief, who was shamb-