The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-14
DOWN ON The SUWANEE RIVER
By WILLIAM HAVEN ROSS

ter whar Sam wuz loaf1n' round an bmeby
seed 'em git inter er dugout an done go
long"
"Maybe-maybe,'' soliloquized the cap'n,
Il kin head 'em of at the bend. The rivers
mighty low, an thar amt much current.
| Sides, thet good fer nothin' clay eater am
too lazy ter hit the water hard with er pad
de-"
! The capn ran through the house and the
store, Selling his shotgun on the way, ana
| made over the country toward the woods
| which bordered the bend. When he poked
his head through the underbrush upon the
bank, he saw the dugout with Sam and Me-
| linda aboard and less than fifty yards away.
| The stream was very narrow there, and Sam
kept the boat near the shore to enjoy the
| GOODNESS of the shade.
| II wisht he'd gun. Did ye hear thet
| deer a-tearin' through the brush?' he heard
| Sam ask
| 'I got the gun!' shouted the capn, draw
| ing a bead the young man as he spoke.
"Ye jes' pint thet boat right in hyar or III
fill yer hide with buckshot!''
| Sam paused with uplifted paddle long
enough to conclude quickly that it was wise
to obey, and when 1t struck the water again
it sent the dugout flying toward the bank.
"Whar he ye goin', Mis- Biggs?" the capn
| inquired of Melinda In fine irony.
''I wuz goin' ter git merried. an I'll do Il
yit,'' she replied so dehantly that the capn
gasped.
80 We will, so ye will" he responded-"I
see ye gittin' too headstrong fer me-but not
merried ter him, gal. I'll pick out the man
| fer ter be my son-in-lor, an doan' ye nevah
fergit thet.''
The capn climbed into the boat and pointed
up stream. He sat down at that end of the
craft, with his gun across his knees. and
| grim1y suppressed his wrath. They had not
gone far before the dugout glided by a big
water oak whose branches extended far over
the bank and were entwined by a huge grape
vine. The fruit was ripe and hung dn lus-
| cious clusters.
| "Hol' mint said the captain. Lem
me git er bunch.'
Sam backed the boat under the tree. and
| the cap'n carefully placed his gun where he
| thought he could get it quickest and reached
aloft among the tendrils Sam let him get
good, firm hold and then drove the paddle
into the stream for one long, strong stroke
The dugout shot from under the cap'ns feet
| in an instant leaving him dangling above
stream thirty feet from shore.
''Bloody blazes! What airth am 70
about? Hey, cum back!'' shouted the cap n,
but Sam began to beat the water with his
paddle and to yelp like dog. A big alligator
showed his snout out OF the water Immediately
and. it seemed to the cap'n, blinked its fero-
cious eyes at him.
Hey, Sam, quit yer foolin' an back up
hyar," said he. He was stout, and even the
grip Of desperation was not going to hold up
200 pounds until hungry alligator went
home
II amt foolin'." said Sam solemnly. II
want ter merry Merlinda, an hyar's whar
= does it. Ye am justice wv the peace an kin
1 tie US ez tite ez eny parson in Jawgy. II ye
won't do it, why, then, ye kin drap. After
t thet CATER hez chawed We up thar won't be
0 nothin' ter spile the weddin'. I reckon III
y be keepin' yer store after the"
y "Merlinda," gasped the cap'n, will ye
squat thar an see yer only parent ct up by
d sich er varmint? Grab the gun, gal, an give
0 him both barrels in the eyes!'
. But Melinda chewed the ribbon OF her sun
+ bonnet and gazed far away
Cap'n Eph felt that his strength was fall
IL ing.
d Back I'D, Sam. an take me aboard. I'll
r merry ye." he said at last.
Mary a back" answered Sam. NO man
e wot hez ever teen in politics in this yere
q county would take yer word fer enythins
q Yer gwine ter merry US right whar ye be"
b The cap'n took another look at the alligator,
and it set him in tremble.
d ''Merlinda," said the cap'n, striving tor 9
fresh grip, dye take thet ornery, cuss ter be
q couldn't be no wuss.'
"Yes paw" said Melinda.
e "An' ye We dod blasted, yaller-faced chip.
munk, dye take my darter ter be yer Lawful
S welded wife? An 1 hope she'll be like hel
g maj
f You bet," said Sam, playfully splashing
I little water at the alligator
Then I pronounce ye man an wife. Now
= will ye back uD?'
Cap'n Eph sank exhausted into the boat
4 and Sam slowly padded up the river to the
landing Just before he turned the dugout In
, toward the shore he remarked:
v "Say, dad, yer eyesight must be failin'.
e Didn't ye obsarve thet thet sick ole gator
r didn't hev no teeth?'