The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-24

to stand the ladder almost straight up
to make il reach. Shorty and jeff
braced themselves to hold it in place,
while the others assembled. Sallow went
first. There was a disturbed, uneasy
movement among the fowls inside, as
if they felt the presence of enemies
but the dark line browning the roof
remained motionless.
When Sallow had disappeared on the
roof above, the Prince began to ascend.
He was awkward and the boys below
had all they could do to keep the lad
der from falling At the top he paused
to look before going further Sally was
propelling his long body up the steep
roof, approaching stealthily the sleep
ing turkeys. He was already within a
few feet of the big gobbler, which was
the game they sought.
AS the Prince was about to pull him
self off the ladder onto the roof. the
pocket of his coat caught somehow on
a protruding shingle and pulled it loose,
With noise Which, to the excited and
fearful listeners, sounded like the boom
of a gun. The chickens inside the house
set up terrible clatter: and the tur-
keys on the roof clucked in alarm. and
the one nearest the crouching Sallow.
discovering him, flew away into the
wings.
The cackling of the fowls aroused
the dog and he came dashing out from
the kitchen. barking furiously. Shorty
and JEFF. letting go the ladder. fed
precipitately inside the chicken house,
where they crouched tremblingly in a
corner The ladder tumbled to the
ground, adding to the fury of the dog.
The boys on the roof were thus left
with No 70 Cal
able to determine what terrible things
were happening below, clambered over
the ridge of the roof, scattering the
turkeys Mostly in every direction,
and hung himself down from the other
side. where he lay still and listened.
The unfortunate Prince was left in
the worst predicament of all. He had
climbed only a few feet from the edge
of the roof, and now in his excitement
he felt himself slipping slowly down
ward. The dog discovered him, and
began to bark with a definite purpose.
Slowly but surely he felt himself fall
ing toward what in the darkness
seemed a terrible abyss. He grasped
desperately at the shingles, trying to
check himself. but there was not even
the slightest projection to take hold of.
His feet dangled over the caves, he
clutched wildly at the roof. checked
himself a moment, then fell downward
| into the yawning jaws of the dog.
Fortunately the ground was soft, so he
was unhurt. The dog almost as much
| frightened as the boy. retreated toward
the house, and the discounted Prince,
| gathering himself up, fled for the gate,
through it and over the fence, and
| scampered down the road, abandoning
his comrades to their fate.
The dog. thinking that he had fright
ened off the marauder, returned growl-
| ing to the house But his barking had
| awakened more formidable enemy.
From his precarious position on the
roof Sallow saw a tall figure. half
dressed. come out of the back door
of the house. bearing a lighted lantern.
| II was Prof. Caruthers. He came to-
ward the chicken house, peering
| through the darkness to see what the
matter was, the dog following and
whining an explanation.
What is it, Colonel, old MANI" asked
Prof. Caruthers Of the dog. Somebody
after the chickens?"
He stopped and bent thoughtfully
over the PROSTATE ladder then looked
up at the roof where the turkeys were
accustomed to roost.
"Well, we'll! that's strange, very
strange" he said. Il wonder how that
ladder got there"
He passed several times around the
house, then opened the door and looked
| inside. Shorty and jeff, frightened al
most out of their wits, drew themselves
into as small a compass as possible
behind a box in the corner. Seeming
at length to be satisfied, Prof. Caruth-
ers closed the door and fastened it on
| the outside; then with a final look at
| the ladder and another up at the roof
he turned slowly to the house.
Sallow lay stretched out on the roof
holding on with both hands, less he
slip off. With his ear pressed close
| against the roof he listened to the boys
whispering inside. He felt round til
he found a loose single. which he
pulled away making small aperture
through which he called down to the
boys below:
Shorty! Shortly Can't you gel
out?"
mo. darn it all! He's fastened us
in" answered Oran. Cant you gel
down. Slim, and open the ooor
mo. / can't turn loose; I'll fall of
IL do" came the answer from above.
TRY to work the latch; maybe you
can undo it.
For half an hour they applied them
selves diligently to the door, trying in
every way to open it, but it resisted
all their efforts.
please, Slim, jump down an let US
out" pleaded Oran. you don't want
us TO stay shut UP here all night with
a lot O. hens an get caught sure soor
as it comes day."
But no kind of argument or adjura-
ton could induce Sallow to turn loose
his hold. He lay stretched out on the
slanting roof. holding now with one
hand, now with the other, till both his
arms ached.
After an interminable time a thir
gray light appeared in the east. Just
under the shivering Sallow a lusty
cock. with a noisy tapping of wings
sent up a piercing crow that aroused
the boys to a new sense of their dan
ger.
"Slim! o, Slim! Are you there YETI
called Shorty anxiously.
Yes, OF course I'm here" came the
answer thickly from the roof.
well, please do try TO get down an
let us out. TIN be broad daylight in
half an hour. an wen be caught like
mice I'm a trap"
Cant help Il. I'm too near frozs
now TO move"
His hands and arms were so stiff with
the long strain that he could hardly
hold on. Suddenly his numb fingers
lost their grip. and before he could re-
cover himself with a great clatter HI
sprawied downward across the shin
giles. dangled an instant In the air, Their
fell heavily 10 the earth.
slim Oh. Slim What you dom
| What's the matter" cried the boys IN
side. but they had no answer For Fev.
! eral minutes NalloW lay Ffll on the