The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-10

I've been huntin' these mountains for
nigh 80 years, and never yet see such
an odd-loolkin' bird as you be. 1 reck-
on you'll want to come and rest your
wings awhile, won't ye? I'll haul in
your kite and wind up your cord for
We. Whitaker How she do pull!
No wonder she carried we right through
the air. boy. Lucky enough to land
here. too, when ye might just as easy
have dropped plump by the den of
some hungry old bear"
Where am II" whimpered Stumpy.
The great cap, the hairy coat, the
heavy, high boots and, worst of all,
big knife in the mans belt were
enough to frighten any little fellow,
and it is no use to say Stumpy was
not afraid. Still the rough mans
eyes were kind, and even his voice had
something to it that made Stumpy
sure he was not going to be eaten up.
When the kite was hauled in they
went to-ether to the cabin. On the
floor in front of the fire there were
large skins of wild animals: another
covered the seat and back of a chair
that was set for Stumpy. The man
himself stood by the chimney, look
Ing as if he didn't know whether he
was more amused or more puzzled.
Then he happened to think the boy
must be hungry, so he brought him
a big piece of bread and meat o,
how good it tasted In, 10 minutes
after eating Stumpy was fast asleep
When he awoke it was nearly dark.
His eyes opened wide and looked IT,
wonder about the little cabin. Again
he asked, Where am II"
Its easy enough to tell where you
be, youngster but, what bothers me is
to know who you be and where you
came from. Just now you are in Dave
Barton's cabin, way up on the Rama
pc mountains. 1 have hunted here nigh
as long as anybody can remember.
Everyone round here knows Dave
Barton and his dog Mig. 1 guess eve
the bear and wildcats from Big Knob
down to Black Gully have heard tell OF
us. You just call me Uncle Dave. But
lawsy, boy, where did you come from
and how did you happen TO do it? !
reckon We hardly know. What's your
name2"
"Stumpy"
THAT fits We fine. Well, Stumpy
where di we fly from?''
Il flew my kite from the top of the
high hill. Mama doesn't know l went
up there, and l haven't fed my rabbits
either, l want to go home, Uncle
Dave"
The tears started from his eyes. Mig,
who seemed to know something was
wrong. came and laid his chin or
Stumpy's knee. So they became ac-
Quainted. and so Stumpy forgot his
rabbits and his tears.
Nov, Stumpy," said Uncle Dave
you stay with me and Mig tonight
Wen keep you safe and tell you all
the bear stories you want to hear. To-
morrow we'll start you off for home.''
Stumpy slid out of his big chair, and
was soon interested in the guns, pow
der horns, shot bag, cartridge belt,
hurting knife, deer horns, bear claws
and the like that he saw about the
room. After supper he began to ask
questions. Every skin in the room was
the subject for story. Mig and
Stumpy were on the floor. Uncle Dave
was in the big chair, smoking his pipe
and telling how he had caught Tie
different animals
Here was the skin of a panther that
came prowiing around a campfire ore
night away back in the woods. Mig
had gone after 1t in the darkness, hut
had come back badly whipped and ccv-
cred with blood. Uncle Dave watched
for a long time until at last he saw
in the darkness two fiery spots that
he knew must be the panther's eyes.
Aiming his rifle as best he could, he
fred. There wasn't another sound all
night. Next morning the panther was
found lying at full length 10 feet from
the camp. Uncle Dave let Stumpy nut
his fingers through the hole where .hs
bullet passed.
That skin you are lynn on" contin-
ued Uncle Dave, belonged to the big
gest bear l ever caught. and the keen
est one, too. / knew from his tracks
that he was around, but II was a good
while before ] got at him. Mig see MIN
before l did but knowed better than
- AaaNN l.
got a shot at him one day as he was
comm across the clearin'. The wind
was BLOWN my way, so he couldn't