The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-13
CHAPTER XIX.

Jeiusny Jane! SAID ne, presently,
as he pulled rein. Amt a-goin' t hev
thet hoppin' there so-meks me feel
lux bird. Don't seem nohow nat'ral.
VIVA d We s'pose he gin me tibet air
thing fer?"
He was putting it away carefully in
his wallet,
AS token of respect for your
bravery said /.
His laughter roared in the still
woods, making my horse lift and snort
little. 1t was never an easy job to
break any horse to D'ri's laughter.
It's reedic'lous," said he, thought
. fully, in a moment.
Why"
Cause fer the reason why they
don't no man deserve nuthin' fer dom
what he d orter" he answered, with
a serious and determined look.
You did we'll" said |, and deserve
anything you can get"
Done my damdest!" said he. But
did mt do nlthin' but git licked. Got
shot an tore an slammed all over
thet air deck, an could MT do no harm
Z nobody. Jes LUX boss tied n the
stall, an a lot O men whalin' i'm, an
a lot more tryin' t scare i'm { death. :"
''Wha' d We s'pose tibet air thing s;
made uv?' he inquired, after a little
silence.
Silver" said |.
Pure siVer?"
Undoubtedly" was my answer.
Judas PRIEST" said he. taking out
his wallet again, to look at the trophy.
Tibet air mus be wuth suthin,."
More than years salary" said |.
He looked up at me with a sharp
whistle of surprise.
Ain no great hand fer sech funny
diddies,' said he, as he pat the medal
away.
Its a badge of honor" said l.
1T shows you re brave man"
Got 'nough ON EN-" said D'ri.
This ere rip n the foreheads bout
all the badge need !"
IT'S from the emperor-the great
Napoleon, said. 1T s mark of his
pleasure"
Wall. by Judas PRIEST" said D'ri
Il would MT jump over stump or
stun wall t please no emp'Dr an
| would nj cut off my leetle finger fer
a hull bushel basket o. them air.
haint a-fghtin' fer no honor"
What then?" said /.
His face turned very sober. He
pursed his lips. and spat across the
ditch; then gave his mouth wipe.
and glanced thoughtfully at the sky.
Fer liberty" said he. with decision.
Same thing my father died fer"
Not to this day have | forgotten IL.
the answer of old D'ri, or the look of
him as he spoke ! was only a reckless
youth fighting for the love of peril and
adventure, and with too little thought
OF the high purposes of my country.
The causes of the war were familiar to
me; that proclamation of Mr.. Madi-
son had been discussed freely in our
home, and | had felt some share in
the Indignation of D'ri and my father |
This feeling had not been alayed by |
the bloody scenes in which | had had !
part. Now | began to feel the great !
passion of the people, and was put to !
shame for moment. !
"Liberty-that is a grand thing to |
fight for" said l. after brief pause.
Swap my blood any time fer thet
air" said D'ri. Il can fight sassy, but
not fer no king but God Almighty. |
Don't pay Z git all tore up less it Is
fer suthin' purity middlin' vallyble. |
My life amt with much, but, We see,
I hain't nuthin' else" \
We rode awhile in sober thought,
hearing only sough of the wind above
and the rustling hoof-beat of our
horses in the rich harvest of the au- l
tumn woods. We were walking slow
iy over a stretch Of bare moss when. at
a sharp turn, we came suddenly In
sight of a huge bear that sat facing
MS. drew my pistol as We pulled rein.
firing quickly The bear ran away /
into the brush az fired another shot
HE S hit" said D'ri. leaping off and !
bidding me hold the bit. Then. with a
long stride. he ran after the fleeing |
bear had been waiting near half an
uOuA - ~ NAAlt DdCh ciOWAgs WIN L
a downhearted look.
ct ain no use" said he. Cant |
never git tibet bear. He 8 got flesh
wound high up in his him quarters, an
he S travellin' fast"
He took a fresh chew of tobacco and
mounted his horse.
Terrible PITY" he exclaimed shak-
ing his head with some trace of linger-
Ing sorrow. Ray" said he. soberly. I
after little silence, when We see a
bear lookin' your way. eff We want i'm
always shute at the end thet's toward
ye."
There was no better bear-hunter 10
the north woods than D'ri. and to lose
a bear was. for him. no light affection.
Cant never break a bears neck by
shutin' i'm in the hin quarters" he
remarked.
made no answer
Might jest es well spit n is face"
be added presently; '.iest eggzac'ly."
This apt and forceful advice calmed
a lingering sense of duty. and he rode
en- awhile in silence. The woods were
blooming in the early dusk when he
spoke again. Something revived his
contempt Of my education. He had /
been trailing after ne. and suddenly I
-