The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-11-06


through this regon. One unvacinated
man is a constant menace. The only
safe way is for me to obey orders and
see that everyone is vsccinated."
A few weeks later Doctor Dean was
ordered to take his station at n point
where a much-traveled road through the
woods crossed the boundry between
Maine and Canada. The Canadian
Pacific Railroad had gangs at work in
Maine, and many men were going back
and forth across the border. A log
cabin was build for the doctors habita-
ton, a turnpike gate was put up, and
no man was allowed to pass without first
having barred his arm.
The cabin was furnished with a stove,
hunks and a few necessary pieces of fur
niture, and was well stocked with pro-
visions. A young man known as Dan
was engaged TO stay with the doctor as
his cook and companion, and he also had
the company of large mastiff and two
less sociable friends, pair of rifles.
The cabin stood in the midst of dense
forest, in which were many wild animals;
the nearest human neighbors were the
men in railroad camp, twenty miles
away. The trout which abounded in a
stream that flowed past the cabin often
contributed to the bill of fare of the
doctor and his assistant. Once Dan shot
a deer, which supplied them with venison
for several weeks. Their table was at no
time scantily furnished, they had col
lection of books, the air of the woods
ord 4ho,- @I,,;,,
wild life.
Almost every day men with packs on
their backs came along the road from
Canada, and were stopped and vacci-
mated. Sometimes they grumbled, but
for long time no one resisted the doctor
outright. At night the two young men
took turns at watching the gate, and the
traveller over the turnpike to Maine, at
whatever time he arrived, had to stop
and be examined.
Week after week passed, and still the
young men had no serious trouble in the
performance of their duties.
One forenoon the doctors assistant
took down one Of the rifles, and saying
that he would'try to get some partridges
for dinner, started into the woods. The
doctor was sitting on the door-stool of
the cabin, reading book
II wouldn't go very far away, Dan"
he said.
son, pooh! You won't have any
trouble!n
"No, but our instructions, you know,
are to stick right here" said Doctor
| Dean.
~ shan't run off, j." laughed Dan.
'Better not go so far that you can't
hear me if should call"
"Well, if you want me, you halloo,
and I'll come"
Dan had been absent for more than
half an hour, when the doctor heard
voices, and soon saw three men coming
up the road. He took his case, and went
out to the turnpike to meet them.
"Gentlemen, said he, politely, "I'm
a Government'surg and have orders
to vaccinate you"
''Huh!' grunted the foremost of the
three men, stout Canadian in red shirt
and knit cap. "Quest ce que c'est2"
The doctor explained the situation to
them in French.
The three men chartered with each
other in their peculiar Canadian French
dialect for a few moments. The doctor
pretended pay no attention to them,
but listened intently, and caught nearly
all they said.
Lets keep right on the -shirted
man finally said.
Break the mans head !" exclaimed n
scrubby little man, with large brass
buckle on the belt of his frock
''But the dogr said the third man.
The mastiff was a quiet but attentive
| listener to the colloquy.
''Who cares for the dogs He can't
stop u.s." said the little fellow with the
big buckle.
Doctor Dean wished that he had
brought one of his rifles out of the hut
with him, and that Dan was at hand
He shouted "Dan" loudly, thinking
that Dan might hear him, or that the
call might at least serve to intimidate the
men.
The three travellers listened for mo-
ment, and looked sharply about them.
They heard no answer to the doctors
call, and saw that nobody came.
''Laissez nous passes" (Let us pass }
the first speaker said in French, with a
threatening look at the doctor, who stood
unhinchingly at the gate.
SITS very simple thing, said Dean,
without raising his voice. "The Govern
ment requires me to vaccinnate you. 1t
won't take me five minutes.
He spoke pleasantly, as if he had not
heard their threatening talk-as if he did
not see a warning in their eyes.
He saw that he was about to have Sc
rious trouble, but he made two resolves I;
one was to make every effort to keep
those men from passing the gate in def
ance of his orders, and the other was to
manage, if he could, to get his rifle Fl ON
the cabin. With that in hand he felt
that he should be master of the situa-
| ton.
1t was possible for the men to escape
him by turning from the road into the
woods, but they were too surly TO take
so much trouble in maintaing their DISC
bedience. They had determined to defy
the doctor, and to pass along the turn
pike in spite of his opposition.
Suddenly the man in the red shirt
moved towards the gate. At the same
moment the doctor heard footsteps of
] L I -