The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-15

sitting on the piazza OF his fathers farm
house, one of his boy friends, son OF
neighboring farmer. came along the road
and hailed him. Halo, Arthur, / hear
there's very good trout fishing In Silver
Greek; that is. If YOU go far enough up.
where IL has not been fshed out How
would YOU like 10 90 with me for a days
fishing? We can take my fathers little
fiat-bottomed boat and push away up the
creek. further than any fishermen are
likely 10 CO.
Arthur was ready for an expedition Of
this kind. and he hurried 20 ask his
father If he could be spared.
1t is all right. joe" he said. coming
out from the house after a talk with
his father. "He says I can 70 to- morrow
afternoon and stay the next day. At
first mother was little afraid about hay
ing me camp out. 10 is so wild out there:
but when she knew / was going with you
she said II was all right. She knows you
are used TO the woods and know how to
manage"
The boys talked over the details. and
before Joe Wells went home that night
everything was settled. They would start
about 3 O'Clock the next afternoon.
which would give them time to push their
way far up the creek; then they would
camp, and fish slowly down II the next
day. Joe decided TO take with him his
shotgun. Although there could be no hunt
ing at that time OF the year. still the
country In which they would camp was
so wild that they thought it well TO be
armed. Arthur suggested that they should
take with them his large setter dog Max:
ne would be very serviceable as a sentinel
during the night, and was so well trained
that he would be little trouble in the
boat
The next forenoon the boys were both
at work in the fields: but ii did not take
them long after their midday dinner 10
make the final arrangements ana 10 pack
their camp outfit into the little boat.
Promptly at 3 o'clock they started on
their way up the creek
There was not much current. and they
padded along easily. AT first their way
led through cleared fields and by farm
houses but further up. the stream ran
through stretches OF rougher land, at
first bush covered pastures. then pieces Of
woodland. and finally through an almost
unbroken forest; for these boys lived IN
one of the wilder counties of Pennsyl-
wanna, where even 10 this day some Of the
larger forest animals are found As they
pushed further, on, the solitude OF the
woods began 10 Cypress them. and they
talked less than they had at first. and IN
less lively strain. Max pricked up mis-
ears and shifted toward the forest. once
or twice they got glimpses OF an old hen
grouse that was leading her brood along
the creeks shore. and several hare scam
pered through the bushes, frightened at
the unusual apparition of boat.
At several places the forest gave way
10 broad stretches OF wild grass. and on
~ az rr.I
had built his house and was cultivating
the rich level soil. They saw one Of the
igrmer's boys walking along the bank.
carrying large iron trap on his should
er.
There is Jim Bentonr' exclaimed Joe.
He came to our school last winter.
Halo, jim! don't you remember me?'
The boy on the bank recognized Joe and
greeted him.
Nv hat are you going TO do with that
trap Joe inquired.
Some wild animal has been frighten-
ing our cattle" the other replied. land
father thinks we had better set this trap
and see II we can't catch IT,"
Were going trout fishing" said Joe;
'and we're going TO camp not far above
here In the woods. II you catch that ami
NAL tonight, let me know. and | will
come down and shoot IL for you; I've got
a shotgun here. / wouldn't like anything
better than shooting panther OF
bear"
well, perhaps | will. said Jim Ben
ton; but you know IL is no play med
ding with a bear or a panther that is in
a trap. SO you had better have your gun
loaded with big shot,
"Oh. I'm not afraidl' Joe returned II
have always wanted a chance TO shoot
some wild animal like that"
"Well, good-by," called Jim. You