The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-25
"Ho. Burrell Burrel, l saw"

"Ho, Burrell Burrel, sayp
There was a movement inside. a
light shone through a crack, and an
ugly voice-the old mans again-re-
piled: "Wall, what We yawpin' about
now2"
Jake briefly related the story of the
boys capture, only being interrupted
every few seconds by CALCULATIONS of
wrath and chagrin from his auditors,
or at least from two of them. Jared
was listening also, and Jake heard him
give a shout and hearty laugh of
triumph at the conclusion.
For moment there was confusion
inside the cabin, and a gable of ex-
cited discussion, then the door opened
cautiously, and Jake heard somebody
evidently a woman-crying pite-
ously.
"Oh, they'll kill 'iml they'll kill my
babbyl'' she moaned.
"Shet upl" said one of the men
roughly.
Say, misterl" he called, poking his
head out of crack in the doorway.
Nov look hyer" called Jake,
sharply, none O. that! Keep inside
eff We want to keep whole skin"
The head was hastily withdrawn.
Nov, lookee hyerl' repeated Jake,
I'm a-goin' ter hold this hyer cabin in
q state O. siege till We come ter my
terms. My terms is these;
Eyer turn my brother loose; give
i'm ev'ry gun we've got an let i'm
bring 'em out hyer ter me. Then yer
pick up yer buds, n bring 'em out n
pack 'em in this wagon, n take yer
selves off n this claim, n when we've
done that I'll turn yer boy loose,
n when we've gone n took
a claim ct we've got a right
to squat on, n git settled onto
it, yer en- send one O yer neighbors
after them guns. Now yer en- jes' do
that er I'll hol' We in thar till the
crack O doom, n yer boy It's tied up
out thar in the woods en- stay thar till
the bars eat i'm up, err the wolves, n
they's plenty o both round hyer. I've
got plenty ter eat in my pockets n
good shelter commandin' the winders
n door"
At the close of this speech there was
another wall inside the cabin. The
woman, rough as she was, loved her
boy and was terribly frightened, and
the men seemed subdued and impress
ed with the gravity of the situation
After long parley the men, moved
by the entreaties of the woman and
greatly to Jake's surprise, did accept
them and sent Jared out with the guns
They brought out their household
goods and the men sullenly packed
them in the wagon while Jake and
Jared with the guns stood guard at a
safe distance. They got up their oxen
and hitched them to the wagon, and
then the woman, who had silently
helped bring out their bedding, cloth
ing and cooking utensils, broke down
again. and begged that the boy might
be turned loose n fetched"
This was more than Jake could
stand, and though he knew the Lad
was safe and fairly comfortable, he
had tied him so that he felt certain he
could not get loose. He. therefore,
left Jared with the two guns to guard
the claim jumpers and went and got
the boy. The whole party then drove
OH without word.
1t was nearly two weeks before a
neighbor with whom they had become
acquainted, and who sided with them
upon learning all the facts in the case,
came over and got the guns, and
brought the information that the Bur-
rels had settled about twelve miles
down the river. He had previously
told them that he and some other
neighbors who had elected the elder
Burrel constable had not been ac-
quainted with the family long, having
only fallen in with them while NOV
ing"
After getting acquainted with all
the new corners of their neighborhood
the two boys found good friends and
goods neighbors among them. Frank
Welles Calkins in Youths Companion.