The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-03-11
mountains, leaving only a faint glow

preparations for the night. First the
camp fire was built. after which the
four horses were fed and otherwise
cared for, and the cow MIXED. Father
and Cyrus attended to these things.
Jonathan and | fed our two dogs, and
then helped mother and Keturah get
supper We were always hungry, no
matter what our fare was. OF course,
what cooking was done was over the
camp fire. Sometimes we were SO
fortunate as to shoot deer, and it
delicious thick steaks that we used to
broil over the embers of our camp fire.
When supper was ready, Keturah
waited, first, on grandfather, who was
feeble. after which she looked after
little Jacob. You might have thought
she wasn't hungry if you'd seen how
patient she was; but if one of us boys
ever said so, she only laughed and
said: When l get old like grandpa
I'll want to be waited on first, ami
I'm sure when l was little like Jacob
I didn't want to be left until the last.
That was Keturah's way, to be think
ing of others.
After supper was over Cyrus raked
up the camp fire and put on fresh logs,
and then We had prayers and went to
bed. Father never omitted prayers.
He wouldn't have done that any sooner
than he'd have gone without supper
not IS soon. But we didn't all go to
bed at once. Father, Cyrus, Jonathan
and took turns in being sentinels, for
no one could tell what moment a
prowling wolf might make us an I'M
expected visit.
Zone day the caravan had to stop in
the middle of the afternoon. One Of
our horses had strained a leg and was
limping painfully. 1t would be cruelty
to go on to-day father said, and so we
stopped on the edge of the wildwood.
After the swollen leg was bathed and
bandaged, father and Cyrus started
into the woods on an exploration tour,
expecting to return in an hour or so.
Grandfather was not feeling well, and
being weary of the continued journey
ing, fell asleep on his couch in the
back of one of our big wagons. Little
Isaac and Jacob followed in grand
fathers wake to Sunderland, and
mother, having a severe headache, re-
tired to big armchair in the deserted
back wagon. Jonathan and | built a
camp fire, around which Moses and
Abraham played contentedly. After
a while | happened to think of the
sedges we had passed little way pack
l suggested to Jonathan that he and
return and get some wild ducks for
supper
1--WE won't be gone long I said to
Keturah, besides, father and Cyrus
will be here soon.
"'All right assented Keturah, go
on, I'll keep watch We laughed.
There's nothing to keep watch Of
We said; who'd be afraid in broad day.
light?'
I'm not afraid was Keturah's an
swer, but don't stay long
I'VE took our loaded rifles and ran
off in high glee. We were soon at the
sedges, and it didn't take long to shoot
our ducks, but getting our trophies
was another thing. We had each shot
two fine ducks, and Jonathan started
for his through the sedges. Present
ly with a cry of dismay he began sink
ing in the marshy ground. In my en-
deavor to rescue him l sank, too.
With every movement to escape we
sank lower We laughed at first, but
our laughter soon died out as we real
lied our dilemma. We tried to cheer
each other as the afternoon wore on,
but when the sun began to set behind
the mountains we shivered with cold
and fear. Meanwhile father and Cyrus
had returned to camp and, finding us
gone, came to our rescue. Knowing
that the sedges was dangerous place..
they had brought rope. Father car
ried a lantern. | don't think Jona-
than and | were ever before or since
so glad to see any one as we were to
see our father and Cyrus. The shades
of night were falling before we were
rescued. The lasso was used, but it
was slow work to be drawn through
those horrible sedges to safe footing.
Father didn't say much on our way
home. We knew he was worried.
- don't wonder you're angry l
said at last.
Angry he exclaimed, in surprise,
I'm not angry, but l am disappointed.
l thought you boys were old enough
to know that you were left in charge
of mother and the children
1--WE had the grace to be ashamed
walk fast urged father, it isn't
safe for the folks to be alone
why, it's early yet said Jonathan.
What is there to be afraid Off
Before father could answer our two
dogs who had followed father and
Cyrus began to bark furiously. Pres
emily there came in sight, running to-
ward us, one, two, three wolves. They
were yelping wildly. Father turned
white, but he did not lose his head.
He said calmly: No time to lose. I'll
take the first one; Cyrus, you, the sec
ond. Boys, both of you aim for the
third. Ready! Aim! Fire!'
Il don't believe general in the army
could lead his soldiers any more sue
cessfully than father led us. We
obeyed him to the letter, and in a mo-
ment the battle was over. The three
eaunt wolves Law stretched ont diving