Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-08-26

CHAPTER VII.
THE ARK Is STOLEN.


How really like house their rude,
little old house-boat appeared to the
boy who had been lost in the woods
and spent the night in a tramp's camp,
and to the old man who had passed the
long hours in wandering up and down
the lonely road searching for his lost
one. What comforts 1t contained, and
with what delightfully."- easy motion it
glided down the sunlit river. Even
Rusty seemed to feel that he was at
home, and to recognize the place; for
the moment he was taken into the cabin
he sprang up on Arthur's bunk and
nestled down at its foot, where the boy
had prepared bed for him two days
before.
While Uncle Phin was getting ready
the breakfast for which they were all
30 hungry, Arthur and Rusty, who had
fully recovered his spirits, had a fine
game OF romps, during which the dog
displayed so much intelligence, and
performed so many funny tricks, as to
completely win his young masters
heart
When breakfast was finished Uncle
Phtn and Arthur sat on the cabin roof,
under bit of an awning that the form
er had oontrived, and talked of their re-
cent experience, while watching, with
the delight of simple natures, the ex-
quisitely beautiful scenery through
which they were drifting. Between
them, apparently sppreciating it all as
much as they, sat Rusty contentedly
wagging his tail, the little white tip Of
which seemed the emblem of perpetual
motion. He had evidently transferred
all his affection to Arthur, and tho ex-
preston of his honest eyes as he turned
them upon his young master was of love
and perfect confidence.
This day was but the first of many
such. during which the ark, with fire.
quent stops, drifted down the quiet riv-
er, ever southwark. and, as its occupants
fondly hoped, ever getting nearer to the
far away home that they sought. They
always tied up to the bank at night, and
every now and then they spent several
days in place, while Uncle Phin sought
odd jobs Of work by which he might
earn little money for the replenishing
At length during one of these stops
their dream of continuing to their jour
ney's end in the ark was rudely dispelled
by man for whom Uncle Phin did
Job OF work.
Get to Richmond or anywhere near
there in that craft and by following this
river" he exclaimed with loud laugh,
when the old negro had explained their
plans. why, If you keep on, this
river'll take you into the Ohio and the
Ohio'u carry you into the Mississippi
and It'll drop you into the Gulf of Mex
leo. and then if you keep on. you'll bring
up, may be, at the South Pole, but you
won't ever make Richmond. Oh no,
what you've got to do, is to sell your
boat when you reach Pittsburgh, for
money enough TO carry you In the cars
to Richmond, and don't reckon you'll
have any trouble in finding customer
II you don't set too high price on the
old craft"
Further inquiry assured them that
the mans words we're only too true, and
80, when, few days later, they reached
the smoky city, they realized that their
pleasant voyaging was over, and that
new trials were awaiting them,
1t was late in dull November after
noon when they moved the ark in the
mouth of a small creek in the outskirts
OF the city and began to prepare for sup
per the very last food remaining in their
slender larder. After eating their
scanty meal and after Uncle Phin had
lighted his pipe they sat down In the
little cabin for q serious discussion of
their future plans.
AS their backs were turned to the
window that was nearest the shore,