Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-11-09

81 DON'T think that I should do that"
Charley said; Il can stick on pretty tight
". and he had not time to finish his
sentence, for his horse suddenly seemed
to go down on his head, and Charley was
sent flying $40 or three yards through
the air.
They sooH crossed little stream, run
ming east to fall into the main stream,
which formed the boundary of the prop
erty upon that side; and Mr.. Hardy told
the boys that they were now upon their
own land. There was another hurrah,
and then, regardless of the risks Of falls,
they dashed up to the little clump OF
trees which stood upon slightly Hslns
ground. Here they drew rein and look'
ed round upon the country which was TO
be their home. AS far as the eye could
reach a fat plain, with few slight ele-
vations and some half-dozen trees, ex-
tended. The grass was brilliant green.
Objects could be seen moving in the DIS
lance, and a short examination enabled
Mr.. Hardy to decide that they were os-
triches, to the delight of the boys, who
promised themselves an early hunt.
Where have you fixed for the house,
papa?' Hubert asked.
There where those three trees are
growing upon the highest swell you can
see, about a mile and half further. We
will go on at once: the others will see us. !"
Another ten minutes took them to the
place Mr.. Hardy had pointed out, and
the boys both agreed that nothing could
be better.
They now took off the saddles and bril-
dies from their horses, and allowed them
to range as they pleased, knowing that
the native horses were accustomed to be
let free, and that there was no fear OF
their straying away. Now, boys" Mr..
Hardy said ''let us begin by getting our
first dinner. You go straight down to
the water; / will keep to the right. You
take Dash, will take Flirt."
In another ten minutes the reports Of
the guns followed close upon each other,
and the boys had the satisfaction of
knocking down two geese and eight
ducks, which Dash brought ashore, be-
sides others which escaped. In five min
utes more they heard shout from their
father, who had bagged two more geese
and three ducks. 'That will do, boys;
we have plenty for the next day or two,
and we must not alarm them by too much
slaughter"
-Four geese and eleven ducks, papa, in
FIVE minutes the boys said, when they
joined Mr. Hardy; chat is not bad shoot
ing to begin with
"Not at all, boys. What with wild
fowl and armadillos, l think that at a
pinch we could live for some time upon
the Drodl1ce of the estate"
'You don't mean to say, papa, that
they eat the armadillos?" Hubert said
with look of suspicion.
'They do, indeed, Hubert, and | am
told that they are not at all bad eating.
Now let us go up to the rise again; our
carts must be nearly up"
BY the time they reached the trees they
found that the rest of the cavalcade was
within a quarter of a mile, and in few
minutes they came up.
The carts contained three small port
manteaus with the clothes of Mr.. Hardy
and the boys, and large case contain
ing the carbines, rifles and ammunition.
There was number of canisters with tea,
coffee, sugar, salt and pepper; sack of
flour; some cooking pots and frying pans,
tin plates, dishes and mugs; two sacks
of coal and a quantity of firewood; shov-
els, carpenters tools, sickle, the frame
work of hut with two doors and win
dows, three rolls of felt, couple Of doz-
en- wooden posts, and two large coils Of
iron wire. While the others were busy
unloading the German had cut some turf
and built a rough fireplace, and had soon
a bright fire blazing.
"Shall we pluck the ducks?' Charley
asked.
Il reckon we can manage quicker than
that" the Yankee said; and taking up
one of the ducks, he cut off its head and
pinions; in another minute he had rough
ly skinned it, and threw it to the German,
who cut it up and put the pieces into the
frying pan. A similar process was per-
formed with the other ducks, little pep
per and salt shaken over them, and in a
wonderfully short time the first batch
was ready. All drew round and sat down
on the grass; the tin plates were distrib-
uted, but were only used by Mr.. Hardy
and his sons, the others simply taking
the joints into their hands and cutting
off pieces with their knives The result
of this primitive cooking was pronounced
to be excellent, and after drinking a mug
of tea all felt ready for work.
Go be continued)
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