Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-04-30

were shivering, and their legs were
numb below the knees, from kneeling
on the frosty ground.
"We nights we'll go hone," chat
tered Lon at last, ''they prob 'bly
know we're here"
The words went out in gasp. They
both heard twig crack sharply, and
then the cautious rhythm of footsteps
on the soft ground. They peered out
across the open space to the hulkly
shadows where the sledge track was
lost.
81 hear 'em," whispered Lon,
shaking with excitement not unmixed
with fright.
keep quietl" ordered Dirk, rising
and bringing the stubby stock of the
rifle to his shoulder.
1t had begun to snow. They felt
the flakes settling ON their hands like
icy pin-pricks. AS yet they could
see nothing, but the breeze brought
them the slight sound of one of their
sap-boats sliding from its support Of
chips. An instant later there was the
sharp crack of sumac spout.
Lon now stood besids his brother,
clutching the shotgun. Both ham.
mers were cooked.
A dark form grew from the blur OF
shadows, and paused before one Of
the trees. 1t was followed at q dis.
tance of few PAGES by second. To
Dirk's straining eyes appeared what
he thought the outlines of one of the
Babbitt steers.
Surely q Babbitt was a step behind,
driving. He would now be stopping
over to lift the sap-boat-Dirk heard
it slip from its shelving support.
The angry blood rushed hot to his
face.
Lon" he whispered, ''you take
the steer; I'll take the man."
He stepped out boldly from behind
the bushes. He wanted clear view,
so that he would not miss his aim.
Lon was only pace behind. Both
saw tho "stcer" start back in alarm.
"Firep' shouted Dirk.
There was a binding fash of light,
followed by report that shook the
forest. As Dirk lowered his rife he
caught glimpse of Lon sprawling
and struggling in the hazel brush,
where the vicious old gun had kicked
him. Then he heard terrific grunt-
ing and snorting. Evidently the steec
had been hit.
An instant later, some great object
came laundering up the track.
Through the clearing smoke Dirk saw
pair of great moose plunging straight
toward him. 1t was their shortest
road of escape, and they, of course
confused and terrified, had ran to-
ward the fash, as deer often do when
fired upon by iack-light hunters.
For moment Dirk paused in ter
ror. Recovering himself, he threw
the rife with all his force at the head
of the nearest moose, made single
desperate leap, seized sapling maple
with one hand and spun around it as
boy would do, playing tag.
The great animals, coming at head
long speed seemed to be charging furi-
ously. In his excitement Dirk's foot
caught in dead limb, and he sprawled
at full length ON the ground.
by the crash of two rifles almost over
his head. He glanced back, shudde--
ing. One of the moose staggered and
fell with a below of distress. Then
he felt himself halfburied in smoth-
ering avalanche OF hair. The second
moose had rolled almost over him. He
felt the blood dripping in his face.
1,,I Ia 1,,I' hn a1 ci
feebly under the weight of the moose,
and uncertain whether it had been
killed or not.
The huge body was pried up little,
Dirk rose up, and there stood the Bab-
bitt boys. When they saw that Dirk
was not injured they doubled up on
the ground and laughed until the
woods rang 1t was this uncanny
sound that met the ears OF the terrified
Driscoll family as they came hurrying
down from the shanty, axes i'll hand,
prepared to fight any number of in
furiated moose over Dirk's dead body.
"What were you tryin' TO do with
them moose?" gasped George Babbitt,
as soon as he could get his breath;
uliu IL, lIAC ulO man WUSJ biui U
ed out the whole story.
"I'm ashamed of my part, too," he
said, frankly, grasping the hands of
the Babbitt boys.
"That's all right, responded George
Babbitt, heartily; ''we've got tho
thieves" and he tapped the mighty
body of the nearest moose. "We
found 'em stealing sap-there's moth
ing moose likes better and we've
been watching your bush to catch
'em."
Next day Mother Driscoll roasted
huge piece of venison, and ali the
Rabbits came to dinner. Youths
Companion.
Fairly Good Time.
Seated around a T'opeka railroad