Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-31


very dry, was hard and tough. Al
though it was a sunny day and his
eyes had adjusted their vision TO the
dimness, of his pit, he could hardly
see where to strike. He dared not
PRIV out large sliyers, for if the edge
or handle of his hatchet should break
he might never get out. His awkward
position and the one-hand work tired
him rapidly, and he suffered occasion
al cramps.
During one of his frequent rests he
heard Ban barking loudly outside.
"Good dogi I'm comingl' he
shouted.
When Tom did not appear for sup
per. Mrs. Cornwiler began to fret, but
not much, for he was often late. Aft
err supper, with no Tom to do the
chores, Mr.. Cornwiler grumbled, but
did them himself. saying:
"Come, now, wife, the boy probably
has a good excuse. hes pretty reg
ular, considering"
BY bedtime Mrs. Cornwiler was anx-
ious.
I'm sure he's lying hurt some
where in the woods, fallen from
tree; or maybe he's got lost"
"Pshaw, now, Edith! Tom couldn't
lose himself anywhere in this county
the darkest night that ever was; and
he doesn't know how TO fall from
tree. He'll be home all right pretty
soon. Likely he's hindered by some
thing he thinks important"
At ten o'clock Mrs. Cornwiler was
insistent and Cornwiler less confident.
He proposed to take the dog and
search.
Ban. being told TO go find Toni"
set off joyfully, wagging his tail. He
led Cornwiler straight to the eharred
stub and barked, leaping against Il.
Cornwiler looked the stub all over.
There were no signs Of Tom. lie
called, and fired his rife. There was
no reply. He supposed the stub solid,
but thumped it. Unfortunately the
blow struck where the shell was thick
and where Tom had packed the debris
hardest inside. II sounded solid. Mr..
Cornwiler thought that Ban had fool
ishly tracked a squirrel up it, or per-
haps coon nad been there and gone.
He dragged the dog away, ordering
him again to Find Toni" Ban in
stantly ran back to the stub and
whined and scratched, but Mr.. Corn
wiler pulled him away.
Mr.. Cornwiler searched long time,
but found no trace of Tom, and Ban
seemed puzzled and not much inter-
ested. After midnight Cornwiler be-
. gan a terribly anxious inquiry, rous-
ing neighbor after neighbor. No one
had any tidings. Mr.. Millwaite
dressed, took his rife and accompa-
MED Cornwiler Mrs. Millwaite, not
withstanding her depreciation OF
Tom, went to cheer and comfort his
mother all she could.
Millwaite suggested going first to
the charred stub. you know Toms
been there" he said, "and it's the
right point to start from" As soor
as they arrived Ban began whining
I and scratching about the stub. Corn.
:, wiler sternly ordered him off, and the
! poor dog, probably supposing it was
all right, reluctantly obeyed. Botf
men believed the stub solid. and that
Tom had merely come and gone. The
:. news of the lost boy spread, and BY
!, sunrise dozen men and boys were
!. securing the woods.
i After getting breakfast and doing
! the Homework, Clara Millwaite, whC
had been thinking, concluded thai
Tom must, after all, be at or near tn,
charred stub. "A dog never mistakes
In such matters; men do" the Sen
sible girl reasoned. She would go anC
: take look for herself.
) IF Tom is there he'll be hungr,
r and thirsty" she thought, so she pu
: a generous breakfast and a bottle o
: new milk in a bark basket.
y Thinking Ban of no service, Corn
n wiler left him at the house, and tn
n dog Immediately returned to the stu
II and resumed his barking. CLAIR
4 heard him and hurried TO reach tn
: spot and Judge for herself of tn
+, dogs behavior, She arrived just a
Is Tom drove long silver through, an
10 put out his fingers for Ban to lick.
4 In few moments more he had tn
n aperture sufficiently enlarged 70
Clara to pass in the bottle and slice
~ Of food. Tom drank frst-a Ions
= thirsty pull Then how he did eat
u with the appetite of starved wol
~ and the gratitude Of generous-minC
n, ed boy. Clara babe him give her til
~ Ratchet. and while he ate she hacke
rs with the skill and strength of piol
n eer girl. As the wall was now pierce
40 they could chop the edges of the she
y and make faster progress. In ha
be an hour Tom was able to squee.
TO through.
k What an object he vast Blood
he grimy and covered with rotten woo
"a from head to heelsl Even his ha
M was plastered with gore and dus