Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-17

beard flowed almost to his waist. Terence
was walking by the side Of the second
cart in corduroy breeches and CATERS
and blue coat, with high black hat,
battered and bruised out of all shape, on
his head. In his hand he held favorite
shillalah, which he had brought with him
from his native land. and with the end
of which he occasionally poked the ribs
Of the oxen. The Yankee rode sometimes
near one, sometimes by another, seldom
exchanging a word with any one. He
wore fur cap made Of foxs skin; fad
ed blanket, with hole cut in the mid
die for the head to go through, fell from
his shoulders to his knees. The mastiffs
trotted along by the horses, and the two
fine retrievers. Dash and Firt, galloped
about over the plains. Lopez acted as
guide, and after three hours riding point
ed to clump Of trees in the distance,
and said: THAT is the camp"
"Hurrah," shouted the boys. "May we
ride on, papa"
"Yes, boys, I will ride on with you
Mind how you gallop, the ground is
honeycombed with armadillo holes, and if
your horse treads in one you will go over
his head"
II don't think that should do that"
Charley said; II can stick ON pretty tight
ly, and" he had not time to finish his
sentence, for his horse suddenly seemed
to so down on his head, and Charley was
sent flying two or three yards through
the air.
They soon crossed little stream, rum
ming east to fall into the main stream,
which formed the boundary OF the prop
erty upon that side; and Mr. Hardy told
the boys that they We're now upon their
own land. There was another hurrah,
and then. regardless of the risks of falls,
they dashed up to the little clump of
trees which stood upon slightly rising
ground. Here they drew rein and look
ed round upon the country which was to
be their home. AS far as the eye could
reach fiat plain, with few slight ele-
vations and some half-dozen trees, ex-
tended. The grass was q brilliant green.
Objects could be seen moving in the dis
tance, and short examination enabled
Mr. Hardy to decide that they Were os-
triches, to the delight of the boys, who
promised themselves an early hunt.
Where have you fixed for the house,
papa?" Hubert asked.
There where those three trees are
growing upon the highest swell you can
see, about mile and half further. We
will go ON at once; the others will see u.s."
Another ten minutes took them to the
place Mr.. Hardy had pointed out, and
the boys both agreed that nothing could
be better.
They now took off the saddles and bri-
dies from their horses, and allowed them
to range as they pleased, knowing that
the native horses We're accustomed to be
let free, and that there was no fear of
their straying away. Now, boys" Mr..
Hardy said, "let US begin by getting our
first dinner. You go straight down to
the water; l will keep to the right. You
take Dash, will take Flirt."
In another ten minutes the reports of
the guns followed close upon each other.
and the boys had the satisfaction of
Knocking down two geese and eight
ducks, which Dash brought ashore, be.
sides others which escaped In five min
utes more they heard shout from their
father, who had bagged two more geese
and three ducks. THAT will do. bows.
we have plenty for the next day or two,
and we must not alarm them by too much
slaughter"
-Four geese and eleven ducks, papa. in
five minutes" the boys said, when they
Joined Mr.. Hardy; that is not bad shoot
ing to begin with"
Not at all. boys. What with wild
fowl and armadllos. think that at a
pinch we could live for some time upon
the produce Of the estate"
You don't mean to say, papa. that
they eat the armadillos?" Hubert said
with look Of suspicion.
They do, indeed, Hubert, and I am
told that they are not at all bad eating.
Now let US go up to the rise again: our
carts must be nearly up"
by the time they reached the trees thew
found that the rest OF the cavaIcade wa,
within quarter OF n mile, and in few
minutes they came up.
The carts contained three small port
manteaus with the clothes Of Mr.. Hardy
and the boys, and a large case contain
Ing the carbines, rifles and ammunition.
There was number OF canisters with ten
coffee, sugar, salt and pepper; a sack of
Hour; some cooking pots and frying mans
tin plates, dishes and mugs: two socks
OF coal and quantity of tirewood; shov
eis' carpenters tools, sickle, the frame
work of a hut with two doors and win
dows, three rolls OF felt, a couple OF doz.
en- wooden posts, and two large coils of
iron wire. While the others were busv
unloading the Germnn had ou. o,,., -.
and built rough fireplace, and had soon
a bright fire blazing.
shall we pluck the ducksg" Charley
asked.
L reckon we can manage quicker than
that'' the Yankee said; and taking up
one OF the ducks, he cut off its head and