The suburban citizen., 1902-01-04


demons, leaping, swapping, enraged
that their prey, so near, should yet
be beyond their reach. Jack did not
take a second look. With returning
breath and steadier head he brought
his strong common sense to the con-
sidering Of the situation.
Howl away, you brutes. You think
you're going to get me sooner or later
don't you? Not IL I'm woods boy"
How many Of them were therei
Would they never quit crowding in
at that door? A few moments later
he heard a dull slam through the din
Of snarling voices and looked for the
cause. The door had at length been
pushed shut, and in one Of the frantic
leaps its heavy old wooden latch had
fallen into place.
"Ah, here 1 am-locked in Now
what next? / wonder which of us
would starve to death first" he NUT
| tered. "You, maybe" with another
glance at his foes, "for you're hungry
to begin with, and I'm not. Only I'm
not so used to being hungry as you
are"
Regaining his nerve and self-posses-
sion, he examined his surroundings
with anxious eyes. He saw that so
long as he looked we'll to his hold
among the rafters he was in no pres
ent danger. But how was he to get
out? The cabin was built of logs. He
might work for days without making
any impression on it's solid sides.
But above him, within easy reach
of his hands, was the roof, through
which came small twinkles Of blessed
moonlight. He soon found that it
was made of saplings laid close TO-
gether, then finished with thick COW
ering of brush. To his great joy he
found that decay had begun its work
and the smaller saplings were ready
to crumble under a vigorous touch.
But others were strong. They would
yield only to slow cutting with his
knife. His footing was precarious;
with one hand he must continuously
support himself.
He never could have told Of how
many hours of frightfully exhaustive
labor followed his conviction that
through that roof lay the only hope of
saving his young life. Once he stopped,
almost in despair.
Must be about that weddin' time
now," he groaned, his head dropped
upon his free hand. "And If they
knew-mother and all Of emp At
it again. AS at length he could put his
head out q new fear was growing,
What If more of his pursuers were on
the outside? Then there was no help
for him. Shelterless, he would surely
freeze to death before the cruel night
would be over. Better that than the
other. With bleeding hands, whirling
brain, every muscle on a strain with
the last effort, Jack pulled himself
upon the roof and peered over its
edge. No, there were no more. The
glaring eyes, the gnashing teeth, the
| howls, the pandemonium--all shut in.
With renewed strength, born of
| blessed certainty, Jack sped back to
the camp for help.
1t was a frolic such as woodsmen
love; such as rarely comes to their
monotonous lives-the shout, the exhil-
arating rush over the frozen snow,
the keen relish for the hunt.
Seems hardly fair, though, poor
brutes-like takin' advantage of em,
shut in So" said one.
But sentiment did not prevail, as
| ofL = LIa Itt,rr
was hushed.
Seventeen of 'em, as I'm a 1ivin'
man. Jack, my boy, you'll be rich on
your bounty"
| Bounty Jack had not had time to
| think of that-of the Eve good dollars
paid by the State for each one of the
| ugly scalps. And to think Of all the
good things he could do for Abby and
the others!
But" he began, at belongs to all
of you-you all helped"
"Not a bit of it, boy. Every cent Of
it goes to you. You most earned it
with your life"
"The weddins all over, of course"
said Jack, to himself, as late in the
night, he drew near home.
But no wedding had taken place.
Mother and Abby, with anxious faces,
were sitting over the fire, and he was
received with a rush Of open arms.
"Where's Hiram" was Jacks first
inquiry.
"Hiram's gone back-he can only
get away once week, you know"
Gone! And without you"
"And do you think there'd be any
weddn' here without you, Jacky? And
We not KNOWN what might "a become
o. you? The weddin's put off till next
| week"
There was little delay in securing
the bounty at the nearest county town.
And Abby rejolced in such a ''settin'
out" as few OF the hardy young home