Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-31
CHAPTER v.

at two wheelbarroWs, Tor which Mr. dar-
dy had brought out wheels and ironwork;
and Mr.. Hardy and the men went down
to the stream, and began to strip off the
turf, and to dig out strip Of land twen-
ty-five feet wide along the line where the
dam was to come. The earth was then
wetted and puddled. In ten days dam
was raised eight feet high, three feet
wide at the top and twenty-five feet wide
at the bottom. In the middle a space OF
two feet wide was left, through which the
little stream at present ran. Two posts,
with grooves in them, were driven in, one
upon either side of this; and thus the
work was left for few days, for the sun
to bake its surface, while the men were
cutting a trench for the water to run
down to the ground to be irrigated.
A small sluice was put at the entrance
to this and all was now in readiness to
complete the final operation Of closing up
the dam. A quantity of earth was first
collected and puddled and piled on the
top Of the dam and on the slopes by its
side. A number Of boards two feet long,
and cut to ft the grooves, were slipped
down into them, forming solid wall,
and then upon the upper side of these the
puddled earth was thrown into the water,
Terence standing below in the stream and
pounding down the earth with a rammer.
The success was complete; in a couple Of
hours time the gap in the dam was filed
up, and they had the satisfaction Of see-
ing the little stream overaowing its banks
and widening out above, while not drop
Of water made its escape by the old chan
mel.
While this work had been going on the
boys had been engaged up at the house.
The first thing was to make a churn, then
to put some large closets and some more
shelves. The girls tried their first expert
ment at butter and the result was most
satisfactory. The dinners, too, were pro-
nounced to be an immense improvement
upon the old state Of things.
Mr.. Hardy was rather surprised at
Seth Harper, the Yankee, having remain
ed 30 long in his service, as the man had
plainly stated, when first engaged, that
he thought it likely that he should not fix
himself, as he expressed it. for many
weeks. However, he stayed on, and had
evidently taken fancy to the boys. OF
an evening, when work was over, they
would go down to the bench he had erect
ed outside his hut. and would ask him
to tell them tales Of his Indian expert
ences. Upon one Of these occasions Char
ley said to him: But of all the near es-
capes that you have had, which was the
most hazardous you ever had? Which do
you consider was the narrowest touch you
ever had of being killedW
Seth considered for some time in ST.
lence, and then said: "That's not alto
gether an easy question to answer. I've
been so near wiped out such scores Of
times that it amt no easy Job to say
which was the downright nearest But
think that, at the time, l never so much
felt that Seth Harper's time for going
down had come as did in an affair near
San Louis"
"And how was that, Seth? Do tell us
about it." Maud said.
ITS rather long story, that is," the
Yankee said.
"All the better, Seth" Charley said
"at least all the better as far as we are
concerned. II you don't mind telling IT,"
mo, l don't mind, no how" Seth an
L
where to begin"
There was silence for few minutes,
and the young Hardys composed them
selves comfortably for good long sit
ting, and then Seth Harper began his
story.
Better than fve years back, in Al,
were fighting in Mexico. 1t wasn't much
regular up and down fighting we had,
though we had some toughish battles, too,
but 1t were skirmishing here. skirmishing
there, keeping one eye always open. Me
and Rube Pearson worked mostly togeth-
er. We had fit the Indians out on the
prairies for years side by side, and when
Uncle Sam wanted men to lick the Mex
leans we concluded to go in together.
We listed as scouts b. the Rangers that
Is, we agreed TO fight as much as we were
wanted to fight, and to go on In front as
scouts, in which way we had many lit.
tie scrimmage on our own account; but
we didn't wear any uniform, or do drill.
Rube came from Missouri-most of them
very big chaps do. shouldn't wonder
II Samson did, though never heard for
certain"
The young Hardys had great difficulty
TO prevent themselves from laughing
aloud at Seth's idea on the subject OF
Samson. Charley. however, with a great
effort. steadied himself to say, Samson
died great many years ago. Seth. His
history Is In the Bible"
us II, thought" Seth said. much inter
ested. well, now, what did he do2'
He carried away the gates OF GAIA on
his back, Seth"
Seth remained thoughtful for some
time. "It all depends on how big the
gates were," he said at last. THAT gate
down there is pretty heavyish one, but
Rube Pearson could have carried away
two slch as that, and me sitting on the
top of them. What else did he DOR