The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-07-28

mighty plump
And SO would you II you'd been fed |
on venison an bars meat all winter"
declared CARING. but there amt no !
danger OF the crittur gettin' loose. The |
cage is a. strong as nails an stout tim
Der can make il. The door is padlocked,
an there's trap-door in the top just
big enough TO shove meat and drink
through"
Observing the still doubtful express
sion on Mr.. Drewitt's face. the trapper
turned to Mel and me. III you lads II
take care of the beast" he said, "Tll
give you five dollars apiece when you
come back"
This was a tempting offer. and Mel
At once began to coax his father for
permission. Mr.. Drewitt at first shook
his head, but after examining the cage
with critical eye he changed his mind.
THE beast seems safe enough" he
said. II can't well refuse, CARING, be-
caase you've sent me more than one
hauneh Of venison. The boys can take
charge of the panther as far as Column
bia, IL they wish. don't want them
TO have the key in their possession,
though"
The trapper was profusc in his graft
tude.
''As fur the key he added, I'll
send that to New York in letter, and
the cage can't be opened till it gifts
there"
Well, this settled the question. great
ly to our delight. Eight men carried
Spitfre's cage aboard the raft and
stood it up against the end OF the cabin.
The trapper handed me four silver
dollars.
Buy fresh meat with two of 'em
when you tie up at nights" he said
You kin use the rest fur the freight
II the express company III ship the
beast better. let 'em do it,
During the first two days Spitfire was
sullSy and little cowed lie seemed
to realize the oddity of his position.
His appetite was good, however, and
Mel and took keen delight in watch
ing him devour the chunks of raw
meat Grub was constantly in good
humor, but IIackett and Fosdyke
seemed to resent the presence of the
beast, and were inclined to vent their
| ill-fcclings on us. ] suspect that our
promised reward had something to do
with it. But by the time we reached Lock
Haven their surlincss had worn off, and
they began TO treat us in spirit of
good-comradcship Mel and / found
life on board the raft almost as pleas
ant as we had pictured 1t. by day
there was always something to be seen.
and occasionally we were allowed to
take turn at the sweeps. In theeven-
ing, we sat around the cabin stove.
listening to tales of adventure mar
rated by our companions. We were
always hungry for Grubb's palatable
und well-cooked meals.
Owing to the windings of the river.
the current was none too swift. and
forty miles was fair days run. Early
ON the morning OF the third day we
passed Williamsport, and that evening
we tied up few miles below Lewis
burg. Spitfire had been snarling and
yowling all day. and he screeched with
fury when we dropped his supper
through the trap-door; and his eyes
shone like huge yellow diamonds. In
the morning he was even worse tenn
pered. and we were almost afraid to 60
near the cage.
About nine o'clock the raft passed the
mouth of the North Branch at North.
cumberland, and we were on the main
river. A little later we ran the shuts
Of the big dam below Sunbury. The
river had fallen somewhat, and to navi
gate safely required constant care and
watchfulncss
We made better speed than usual that
day. BY eight o'clock in the evening
we were at Clark's Ferry, forty miles
below Sunbury. The raft was noored
not far above the big dam Mel and
hurried into the village. We found q
butcher shop open and purchased hal
dozen pounds of raw meat.
Spitfire welcomed our return With Z
blood-curling screech. and yowled like
an angry cat all the time he was eating
The cutlery brought crowd of village
boys to the raft. and they became *
annoying that Hackett was compelled
to drive them of. They shouted insult
, / ing names 1t us from shore. and threw
, q few stones. When Hackett started
after them with club they fed int
the darkness
Occurrences of this kind were com
mon. and we thought no more of !,
About ten o'clock we hauled in tn
plank. and went TO bed. Nothing les
than q gunshot had power 70 rouse tn
men when once they were SCUM
asleep. During the night | was wax
ened by wailing cry from Spitfirs
!, but the sound ceased, and dozcd 81
again.
> had forgotten the incident by morr
,. ing, but it was recalled to me when W
: came TO feed Spitfirc. The balance {
= the meat was missing. 1t had bee
!. placed under wooden bucket. near til
rear end Of the raft
!. II was impossible to buy more unit
. evening, for the raft was alread
!, through the shute of the dam and Rli'
ing rapidly down mid-channel.
!. Them young rascals must a wade
!, on board last night" exclaimed Hacl
Il EFT. II reckon they fed meat to u
: varmint wish I'd got awake 'stes
!, o. You, lad. 1t cant be helped nov
4 though. The crittur must bide witho'
!, eatin' till evening"
y a. .~fx <lr;ft<I m. throuOh III