The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-09-17

lA e! quiring turn of mind.
Uvernearing some of the scholars dis
Fcussing 4 prospective coon hunt tha
was to come off the following SatC,
day night, the professor drew nea
and inquired if they would allow hin
to join them.
"Of course you kin jine u.s." sait
Nose Howard, who was the ringlcade
in all the devilment In the neishbor
hood. "Glad tn have you so long
Wen call for you"
THANK you," said the professor. g
never was coon hunting in my life
though I've always wanted to go-jus
to see how it is done, you know"
According to promise, Nose Howard
Dick Miller and Joe Smiley called TO
the professor, who was ready ant
waiting. and who Joined the hunters
anticipating jolly time.
After winding up the coon hunt
which resulted in the capture Of fiv'
'possums and three cocns, Nose How
ard proposed that they should so bacl
by the fsh-trap and catch q mess O.
| fish.
The proposition was unanimousl.
agreed to, and they struck off dow1
the creek. the professor bringing Il!
the rear, putting and blowing. though
highly eiated at the variation that thi:
additional act in the program prom
ised, as we'll as at the prospect Of
successful raid upon the tinny tribe.
The queer contraption that Nose dig
nifed with tho name of fish-trap. con
sisted merely OF large sack held opel
by a hoop, around which the mouth o1
the sack was fastened, end couple
| Of ropes, one end Of each Of which was
fastened to each side of the hoop, while
! the other ends We're fastened to tree:
on the opposite sides Of the stream. II
such way as to allow the hoop to re
main about half way submerged.
On the bank Of the creek was Ian
tern, in which was about half talloW
candle.
Producing some matches Nose lit the
candle and proceeded to explain to the
professor the modus operandi Of catch
ing fish with bis newfangled trap. -
"You just take the lamp and wade
into the trap and hold the lamp right
in front Of the mouth so that the fish
can see how to run in, and we boys'l]
60 away down the creek and drive the
fish up and into the trap"
The professor, sas ssunsuspicious of
any trick as a baby, shucked himself,
and then taking up the lantern, wadel
into the trap that the boys set for him
instead of for fish. and in the construe'
ton of which they had not only
hassted their financial resources infhe
purchase Of the material out Of which
1t was constructed, but also their IN
genuity in the getting up Of the same.
"Ughr' grunted the professor. as he
reached the trap and placed the lam
tern in the position indicated, "this
water is cold as ice. want you boys
to make haste"
sf. responded tie boys.
8 you'll hear US hollerin' as We come" !"
said Nose, and off they started down
the creek st 4 trot.
F.All right" said the professor.
AS soon as they got out Of sight their
gait slackened to walk, which they
kept till they reached point some 400
yards distant from the trap, when,
seating themselves on log they began
the most uproarious din of yelling and
bowling that had ever awakened the
'slumberfng echoes Of those old woods
since the aborigfnes had vacated the
premises. ~ s Z
After about an hour spent in this
way the boys got up and advanced
slowly up the bank Of the stream about
100 yards. when they seated them
selves on another log. where they con-
tfnued to whoop and yell like SO many
wild Indians .s.-. 49,. ~
After another hour thus spent they
made another advance, which brought
the professor and the fsh-trap within
their range Of vision, though, owing to
the darkness they were not visible to-
him:
Curry up, boysr' he shouted. I'm
nearly froze, and the candies nearly
out" ## = 3 -
That was what they were waiting
for-the candle to- burn out-so Sthat:
their failure to catch fish could be laid
to the absence Of the light. u,
Eyes. sirp' they shouted back; "we're
hurrying as fast as we can" And re-
newing' their yells they advanced SLOW
lyEery slowly-up the stream.
'sHurry up! hurry upp' again shouted
the professor. 'The candle will be out
in two minutes
"Ay,Say, sirw shouted Nose in reply.
"but you must stop hollerin' or you'll
skeer the fish" -.sss.s.s. Z Z
Sure enough, in about two minutes
the candle gave last convulsive flick
er, and in the twinkling Of On eye
thick darkness reigned as absolutely
over the professor and the fsh-trap as
elsewhere.
Boys" said Nose, In q tone loud
enough for the professor to hear him,
there amt no use wadin' in this water
any longer; les go back an git our
cloze."
Seating themselves on a log they sat
perfectly silent for q while - long
enough, as they thought, for it to have
taken them to 60 back to where they
commenced their drive, dress them
selves and reach that point on their re-
turn-when they got up and resumed
their progress up stream.
On reaching the trap they found the
professor Oh shore, and though he had
completed his toilet, his teeth were
chattering louder than pair Of casta-
rets rafting off quickstep march.
well have to try it over ag'in some
other time" said Nose, "and fetch
more candle with us. / thought we
had plenty this time. but we didn't. I
guess I'll bring enough next time"
"Why didn't you fellows hurry up"
said the professor. what made you
come so slow?" the chattering of his