The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-04

ened with honey. Shortly afterwards the
hunters were ready to ride to the field. 1t
was still dark, but dawn was beginning to
show itself, and by the time the final start
was made-the children's grandfather hav-
ing to give some directions to Aaron-dawn
was fairly upon them, and the chickens
were huttering from their rooSts to the
ground and walking obviously about In
the half-light.
Now, old Scar-Face, confident of his
powers, had done a very foolish thing.
During the night, and while the rain was
Still falling, he had ventured to reconnoitre
the Abercronlbie place. He came out of
the sedge-field through the bars, crossed
the road, and went sneakng as far as the
gin house. Here he stopped and listened
The night was still, but his quick ears
heard noises that would have been Imper-
ceptlbe to human ears-the playful squeak
of a rat somewhere in the gin house, a field
mouse skipping through the weeds, the
6utterlng OF wings of some night bird. He
heard the barking of dogs, too, but not
strange voice among them. He heard the
Spivey catch dog, with his grun and
threatening bark. Far away he heard a
hound bowling mournfully The hound was
evidently tied. Close at hand barked the
cur that had challenged Hodo; he had not
yet recovered his good humor
But not @ strange voice came to his ears.
This was easily accounted for. The hounds
that were to pursue him had been comfor-
taby fed, and were now fast asleep, while
Hodo was curled up in shavings, dreaming
that he had his mouth right on a fleeing
fox but couldn't seize him. He uhined and
moved his limbs as he dreamed, and a
prowling cat that had paused to fnVesti-
gate the noise in the shavings, fitted away.
AL the sounds that came to old Scar
Faces ears were familiar SO, from the gin
house he sneaked to the barn, as noiseless-
w. OH inc he yxray RI licta
Hearing nothing, he went further until he
was under the caves of the barn, IN one end
of which the horses of the huntsmen were
stabbed. Here he stopped and listened for
some time What could the silence mean?
Popping from the sedge-field during the
afternoon, he had seen more than one horse
and rider pass along the road and several
whiffs of strange dogs came to his sensl-
tive nose. He concluded that these men
and dogs meant another chase after him;
but he was not certain, and SO came forth
In the dark to investigate.
Usually when hounds are taken away
from home and fastened up out of sight
of their masters, some of the younger ones
Will get lonely and begin to bark and howl.
Old Scar-Face knew this well, but he did
not know that seasoned dogs rearely ever
make such a demonstration unless they
are hungry. Consequently, when he heard
no barking and bowling, he was almost
convinced that, after nights foray, he
could return to the sedge-field and sleep
indisturbed the next day. Still there was
a doubt and to ease his fears ne decided
to test the matter more fully.
On a fence near him hen and half
dozen pullets were peacefully roosting. He
crept up directly under the hen, gathered
his strong legs under him. leaped upwards.
and the next moment was cantering
through the dry weeds dragging the squall-
ing hen by the wing. Surely the racket
was sufficient to alarm the plantation. AT
the barn he dropped the hen, placed fore
foot firmly upon her, and held his head