The Red Cloud chief., 1904-03-18

| by a miss OF twelve is the same AZ
that extended by Il lad of seventeen
so neither suffered in the others es
timation.
what were you trying to do witt
that pole: asked John as they
reached the bridge.
Il was trying to stir up these spi
derry things a)wn there in the water"
replied Jessie, again srasping the
pole, which had remained erect, fast
in the sticky bottom of the creek.
oh, how ! wish | could catch onc!'
That's easy" said John Burt. as
he climbed into the wagon. Wait
until ! hitch this horse and I'll show
you how. Want some anyhow; you
can watch me-"
John Burt speedily returned with
some scraps of meat and n mystcri'
Gus implement which consisted of n
pole with a stout dip net at the mt
of 1t. Jessie regarded the prepare.
tons with keen interest. The boy
took a piece Of string from his pocket
and securely fastened n piece of tough
raw beef TO It; then he lowered the
meat into the water. In his left hand
he held the pole, with the meshes of
the dip net but a few inches above the
surface. Jessie watched with bated
breath and wide opened eyes.
Slowly and carefully John raised
| the string. At last the meat showed
red in the murky water Of the creek
| AS IL came to the surface John thrust
the net below. Out of the swirl OF
water it emerged, laden with the meat
and a struggling. writhing crab.
Got him" said John. as he lifted
the drippi~g collection over the side
of the birds,
Isn't he ugiy' Look at his legs!
One. two. three. four, five, six, seven
eight, nine, ten, eleven-no, tcn-I
counted one of them twice. Does he
bite?" Jessie lowered owe the net
and stretched her fingers towards the
%houndering crab. The little beady
eyes glittered, the claws clashed help
lessly.
you bet he can bite! You get
near enough and he'll nip you good
and hard" said John as he un.
snarled the crab from the Irvine and
meat. Run over to the wagon and
get the basket. | forgot IT,"
Delighted to be Of assistance in so
famous an undertaking, Jessie ran
swiftly to the wagon and returned
with a large wicker basket. John had
already dropped the bait i'm the water
and the crab was crawling along the
bridge. Reaching down, he deftly
grabbed the crab and dropped him
into the basket.
For an instant Jessie was speech.
less with wonder and admiration at
such bravery.
Boy, let me catch and you poke"
she ventured in a plaintive note. Il
never caught a crab. Won't you
p~lease-John Burt"
why. certainly" said John. "Ill
show you how"
Jessie left the squirming mass OF
crabs and sprang to Johns side.
Reach down as far as you can"
John directed. That's right. When
YOU ltcl ooiictiihS pun VI JSih, pun
up-slowly. though, or you'll scare
him. Do you feel anything?"
THE line kind Of Witches" whis-
pered Jessie.
Raise it up slow. Be careful.
There's one on, sure! Now jam the
net under HIM"
Jessie made a swing with the net,
but dipped too low. A huge crab
dropped from the meat, struck the
edge of the net and f~loundered back
into the water.
II lost him! What a shame!
Wasn't he big?"
Go on; try again." said John good
naturally.
Jessie lowered the meat and waited
patiently for a minute. Then she
slowly raised the line. With much
care she dropped the net below the
meat and raised it from the water.
ITO be c%ontinued.)