Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-06-24
CHAPTER III.

Early the next morning Clarence,
Moses and Solomon, in one bateau, and
Uncle Bob, a famous boatman, with
Luke, in another, started from the land
ing. As they rounded the point near the
scene of the recent fatality, the first
object that met their gaze was the old
bateau, splintered and bottom up, drift
ing slowly down the stream, and the
next object was that identical alligator
lying in exactly the same place on the
bank.
Clarence raised his rifle, threw it's
muzzle within ten feet of the gators
head and fired The bullet passed
through the saurian's eye and entered
his BRAIN He gave spasmodic strug
gle, his tail swept half circle and he
was dead.
They hastily scrambled ashore, and
Bob and Moses turned him over, and
Strengthened him out; he was nearly
IL feet long.
''For' Cod said Moses, suddenly;
"dar Brer' Jobe now"
Where! Where!'' said Clarence.
''Why, dar, master, dar-see how him
lie! JUS like a man. and Moses pointed
to ridge that seemed to extend down
the gators stomach.
Yes, dar Brer' Jobe, suah huff, said
Bob, pore Brer' Jobe."
Solomon and Luke with knife and ak
cut into that capacious NAV to I'M
tomb him; presently something black
and woolly protruded-
Oar him. said Moses, "pore Brer'
Jobe.''
..Da's q, fack," said Bob, 'sdar's his
hair
They cut wider and pulled, and
pulled again, and finally from out that
gloomy sepulchre appeared the re-
mains of a big. black SOW.
fore de Lord, - exclaimed Bob, ''ff
dat amt Sis Dinah's sow-dat gator
gwine fer de whole famibly suah nuff.''
''He is dat said Solomon, "Brer'
Jobe want huff fer he.''
Just then a voice was heard from the
other side of the creek:
Say, is you got dat gator fer suah 2"
Allglanced across the creek and there,
sticking from behind a cyprus, was the
white and wooily head of Uncle Jobe.
Clarence fired off both barrels of his
shotgun in rejoicing, and sent a boat
across for him.
He said, and he always stuck to it,
that when the boat capsized he struck
scrambled ashore.
but didn't you hear me call, Uncle
Jobe?'' said Clarence.
Yes, chile, I hear you, but I skeared 20
| speak. fear dat gator get. me, so jus
| crawled off and laid down, and, bress
de Lord. you gun woke me, an you got
dat gator
DE gators all right, tBrer' Jobe, :"
said Moses, ''but whar isis Dinah's
Sukey, what she gwine do now?"
''She glib me de dibble, s'peck,' said
lobe.
The boats returned, the negroes sing
| ing their plantation melodies as they
| glided down the stream, and Uncle
Jobe joining in the chorus like any
! thing but dead darl<y.
Arrived at the landing, with Clarence
| in the lead, they marched up the lane,
nor halted till they reached the cabin
of Dinah; she was at the Manor house.
washing.
AS they rounded the corner of the
] house, there she stood on the back
| piazza, half bent over a wash tub, her
red bandana tied around her head, her
| sleeves we'll above the elbows, scrub
bling away on the washboard, and big
tears chasing leach other down her
| black face.
Mrs. Hill stepped out on the piazza,
and said: .'Dinah, told you you need
not work to-day, poor soul; I am sorry
for you.''
| 81 know you is, mistis; know you is,
but I bleeged TO work-it help me for
/ git bout Brer' lobe. can't stay home,
and he amt dar."
NO, but here he! honey, here hei"
"Jobe. Brer' Jobei"
1t was frantic cry; her sudden leap
| overturned wash tub; three steps
! at a time she flew down the piazza. and
her bare black arms were around the
| neck of her elder brother.
Honey, da amt cotch you. tank God,
de gators amt cotch you, is da %
no, Sis Dinah, not 'zacl<ly, but da
cotch YOU Sukey.'
"Pick out the finest pig ON Orton,
Dinan, in place of Sukey. whenever
you're ready"
! Tears had gathered in the eyes of
both Mrs. Hill and Clara, while Dinafl
was welcoming back the brother who.
though lost, had been found
.sMistis," said Dinail, 81 Jus rinse desc
eloes out, and clean up dis yere piazza,
an if you please. marin, won't work