The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-05

things To be sure, Arthur was obliged
TO eat bis portion oug Of hastily impro-
vlsed bowl Of birch bark, made for him BY
ms big friend with rude wooden spoon
provided BY the same ingenious indiyid-
ual. but how good il wasl How often that
lark bowl was refilsed. and how proud the
cooks were TO have the hero Of the feast
thus compliment them 20 highly.
As for little Rusty. who seemed to recog-
nize Arthur 8 his friend and protector and
kept close beside him. there never was
dog treated with greater consideration.
Everybody wanted to feed him, and kept
tossing choice morsels of food to him. He
ate everything thus offered. With perfect
impartiaiity, until at length he had no
room for another morseI, and even the
daintiest bits Of chicken failed to tempt
him.
After supper al the tramps were anxious
to learn 30 mething of Arthur's history
and who had taught him to fight 80 skill
fully, and how he happened to visit their
camp. So he told them about his own
dear father who had given him boxing les
sons, and about living with Uncle John
and Aunt Nancy, and how he and Uncle
Phin had decided to go 70 his grandfather's
IN Virginia and we're travelling in boat,
and how it had run aground 80 that they
couldn't get il of, and Uncle Phin had
gone in search of help, and how he hap
pered 70 get lost IN the woods, and finally,
how he discovered their camp; Ill of which
vas listened to with absorbed interest.
When he finished. the big tramp spoke
up and said: well, fellers. from this little
chaps account Of hisself. don't see but
what him and bis old Uncle Phin is travel
Ling through the country pretty much the
same - We does. like gentlemen of leisure
and independent means, as it were. In
fact ! should call 'em couple Of honest
tramps, rs Is making their way through
the world without asking no odds Of mo-
body"
That's So" assented several voices.
Such being the case. !" continued the big
man, Iii is clearly our dooty TO help 'em
out Of the FIX they got into, and move
that We all 60 down to the river first thing
In the morning and set their old scow afloat
for them"
AS this motion seemed to meet with gen.
erai approval, Arthur was cordially invited
to spend the night in the tramps' camp.
and was assured that they would guide
him to the ark. and that it should be
started on its voyage the very first thing in
the morning As there really seemed
nothing else for him 70 do. the little fellow
accepted the invitation, though he wished
he could get back to the boat that night.
and thus relieve the m xiety that he knew
Uncle Phin must be suffering on account
of his unexplained disappearance.
N ~ mt h. H. \
book from the big tramp. who had held it
during the hight. and 1T now lay on the
grass beside him. Ie had mentioned that
ne sometimes read stories from this book
to Uncle Phin. and now the big tramp
said to him: "Look-a-here, sonny, Why
won't you read . story TO us out of your
book. just to pass away the time. If you
will. will give you some information that
may prove useful to you in your travels,
but which you cant find in any book in
the world"
Arthur said he would gladly read to them
1t they cared TO hear him. and at the same
time he wondered what valuable informa-
ton the man could possibly give him.
Then all the tramps gathered Is near to
him as they could, and Arthur, sitting
where the freight shone brightest. With
one hand laid protectingly on little Rusty.
opened his precious book and read the first
story he came to, which happened 70 be
that of the ugly Duckling."
1t was striking picture. that of the fair
haired, delicate-featured child sitting In
the red glow OF the freight and reading .
fairy tale to the rough men crowded about
him, their uncouth figures half disclosed
and half hidden in the dusky shadows.
Close behind the big tramp, who was his
father, sat the boy with whom Arthur had
fought. still looking sullen and crestfa,len
over bis recent defeat, and occasionally
casting Chances of mingled envy end hate
Mt his rival.
As the tale proceeded his hard, young
face took on softer expression, and
when it was finished he heaved q great
sigh.
well, Kid !" said the big tramp, turning
to him at the conclusion of the story:
what DO you think OF that for q yarnf
You are pretty ugly sort of duck, your
self, and who knows but what you NAV
turn out to be swan after all, some of
these fine days.
"It'il ne goose, more like" muttered
one OF the men, and Arthur looking pitv-
ingly at the Lad. wondered which it would
be.
Now it was the big tramp's turn to
fulfill his part of the bargain. This he
began to do by taking a bit of chalk from
his pocket and drawing with it several
rude figures like these: XX(D " on
piece of birch bark showing these
TO Arthur he told him that
these were signs understood by all
the tramps of the country, and that when
ever they saw these chalked on gate-posts
or fences or other conspicuous places near
houses they knew at once what thew
meant. This, for instance" he said,
pointing to one of the signs, means stingv
nanIlla in this d