Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-08-02

he gave In, nodded his head, and Bart
loosed him and picked up his hoe, just a.
the overseer, who had come softly up
behind, brought down the whip he car
ried with singing violence across the
shoulders Of first one and then the other.
The young men sprang round savage
~; but there was sentry close behind,
musket-armed and with bayonet liked,
and they knew that fifty soldiers were
within call, and that IL they struck their
taskmastcr down and made for the jungle
they would be hunted out with dogs. be-
shot down like wild beasts, or die Of
starvation, as other unfortunates had
died before them.
There was nothing for 1t but to resume
their labor and hoe to the clanking Of
their letters, while, after promise Of
what was to follow, in the shape Of tying
up to the trangles, and the cat, II they
quarreled again, the overseer went ON to
see to the others Of his flock.
Its worse than dogs lifew said
Abel, bitterly. "a dog does get pettcd
as well as kicked. Bart, lad, I'm sorry
l got you that LASH"
may, lad; never mind" said Bart
"l'm sorry for you; but don't speak hard
things Of Mary"
"I'll try not" said Abel, as he hoed
away cxcitedly; "but I hope this coffee
we grow may poison those who drink It,"
Bart was close up to dense patch Of
forcst--one wild tangle Of cane and creep.
or, which literally tied the tall trees to.
gether and made the forest impassable--
when the shrieking Of kind Of jay which
had been fitting about excitcdly stopped,
and was followed by the melodious whis-
tie Of white bird and the twittering Of
quite flock of little fellows Of a gor-
geous scvarlet crimson. Then the shrek
Ing Of several parrots answering each
other arose; while just above Bart's head,
where clusters Of trumpet blossoms hung
down from the edge Of the forest, scores
Of brilliantly scaled humming birds lit.
orally buxxed about on almost tranSpar-
ent wing, and then suspended themselves
In midair ~ they probed the hectares Of
the flowers with their long bills. Bart
glanced at his fcllow-convict and was
about to work back, when there came
sound from cut the dark forest which
made him stare wildly, and then the
sound arose again. Bart changed color
and did not stop to hoe, but walked rap.
idly across to Abel.
whats the matterT' said the latter.
"Dunno, lad" said the other, rubbing
his brow with his arm; but there's some.
thing wrong"
what II itr'
That's what dunno; but just now
something said quite plain. Bart, Bart: F"
Nonsense! You were dreaming"
"Nay. was wide awake az am now,
and as I turned and stared It said II
again."
poll parrot" said Abel, srufiy. go
on with your work. Here's the over.
seer"
The young men worked away, and their
supervisor passed them, and, apparently
satisfied, continued his journey round.
May have been poll parrot" said
Bart. '-rhey do talk plain, Abel, lad;
but this sounded like something else"
"What else could It ber'
Sounded like ghost"
Abel burst into q hearty laugh--so
hearty that Bart's face was slowly over.
spread by q broad smile.
"Why, lad, that's better" he said, grim.
". II ar'n't seen you do that for months.
Work away"
The hint was given because Of the over.
seer glancing In their direction; and they
now worked ON together slowly, going
down the row toward the jungle, at
which Bart kept ON darling uneasy
glances.
Enough to make man laugh to hear
you talk Of ghosts, Bart" said Abel, At
ter time.
"What could II be. thenf'
"Parrot some lady tanned" said Abel,
shortly, 40 they worked on side by side,
ESCAPED to the woods again. Some Of
these birds talk just like a Christian"
"Ay," said Bart, after q few moments
quiet thought; 1--WE heerd 'em, lad; but
there's no poll parrot out here % knows
me-"
KNOWS your"
"Well. didn't I tell you a. It called me
Bart. Bartv"
Sounded like IT," said Abel, lacon-
ically. "What does he wantr'
= For just then the overseer shouted. and
signed to the gangmen to come to him.
ITO begin another job-log.rolling, I
think" growled Bart, shouldenng his
hoe.
At that moment, a. Abel followed his
example, there came In low, eager tone
Of voice from out Of the jungle, twenty
yards away:
"Bart!-Abel!--Abelv'
Don't look" whispered Abel, who reel.
cd AZ II struck, and recovered himself to
catch his companion by the arm. IAN
right" he said aloud; "we'll be here to-
morrow. We must co." ),