Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-01-03
CHAPTER IN.

Just before commencing the house Mr..
Hardy heard that Il sale of stock was to
take place at an estancia about twenty
miles to the west. lie was likely to he
away five days. The boys were to do
what work they judged best in his alb
scnce. They determined to set about
brick-making. Fortunately, Hans was
accustomed to the work. a piece of
ground was cleared of grass, II was
levelcd for the reception of the bricks
when made: then some planks were
knocked together so as to form a rough
table. Two brick molds We're made. The
soil was dug up. and the poems drove the
bulloclSs round and round upon it, tram
ping it into a thick mud. some water be-
ing thrown i'll when necessary.
AS it was sufficiently traInpled Terence
carried it in Il trough and emptied it on
to the table close by, where Hans and
Seth fashioned it in the molds. turning
the bricks out on to Il plank a foot wide
and six feet long. When this Was full
the boys took each an end and carried it
off to the prepared ground. where they
carefully removed the bricks with two
little slabs of wood. and placed them on
the ground to dry. BY the afternoon of
the fifth day they had made Il quantity
which would be ample for the construc-
ton of the partition walls of their house.
The boys had just deposited the last
brick upon the drying ground. md We're
moving away, when Hubert cried, stop,
Charley, don't move Il step"
Startled by the suddcnncss and sharp
ness of the cry. Charley stood witllout
moving. AMI WIS surprised to see his
brother pick up one of the wet bricks in
both hands. and dash it upon the groun,l
Immediately in front of where they were
walking.
Eve killed him." Hubert cried tri-
umphantly; N 4 Charley. looking down.
saw Il snake of about three feet long
writhing in the grass. his head being COM
pletely driven into the ground under the
force of the lump Of wet clay. Two or
three stamps Of their heavy beo.s com
pietcd the work. An the men coming up
to see what was the matter, Hans said
that Charley. who would have trod lcn
upon the reptile in another Instant, had
not his brother called out. had mad a very
narrow escape. for that the snake was
| the vivora de in cruN, so called from IL
mark like Il cross upon his head, and
that his bite WAS almost always mortal.
1t was a pretty snake. with bands of
red, white and black upon his body.
Charley grew very pale ut the thought of
the narrow escape he had had. and wrun.
his brother very hard by the hand, while
Hubert was half-inclined to cry at the
thoughts of what might have happened.
Mr.. Hardy was very much pleased at
the sight of the long rows of bricks ly.
ing in front Of the house. and gave great
credit to all for the amount of work
which had been lone during his few days
absence. In a fortnight's time the walls
We're finished, and the bullock carts were
dispatched to Rosario to fet.h lime, as
MI. Hardy had determined 10 plaster the
inside walls. BY this time a considerab c
extent of land was plowcd up and this
was now planted with maize. yam or
sweet potato. AMI pumpkins: IL small por-
ton, as ,.l experiment, was also planted
with potato seels, but the climate is al.
most too warm for the potato to thrive.
Upon the return of the carts with the
limo the partition walls were butt with
the bricks. The walls finished. ali hands
went to worl; at the roof. 1t was exactly
two months from the date of their arrival
Mt the farm that the doors Were hung and
the finishing touch put to the house, and
very pleased were they all, so they gave
three cheers for their new abode.
The Same evening MIR. Hardy told the
boys that he should start the next day
to bring up their mamma ani the girls,
who were all getting very Impatient in
deed to be out upon the pampas. He eX-
planned to them hat he should bring up
iron bedsteads with bedding, hut that he
! relied upon them to increase their stock