The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-14
D'ri and l
BY IRVING BAcHELLER
Author "Eben Holder panel If he Blessed insA" Etc.


! breath, and then trimmed his remark
with these words: Amt eggzac'ly
sure-footed, nuther." ~
Don't require much feed, though"
| | suggested.
NO: We hey t dew all the eatin'. but
ys can alwlIs eat 'nough fer both. !"
II was a fine day, and ride to re-
member. We had a warm sun, clear
! sky, and now and then we could feel
| the soft feet of the south wind romp-
| ing over us in the river way. Here
anG there a swallow came coasting TO
the ripphes. sprinkling the holy water
of delight upon us. or crows shadow
! plcwed silently across our bows. II
thrilled me to go cantering beside the
noisy Rapides du Plats or the Wild
footed Galloup. two troops OF water
hurrying to the mighty battles of the
sea. We mounted reeling knobs, and
coasted over whirling dips, and rushed
to boiling levels. and jumped foamy
ridges. and went galloping in the rush
| and tumble Of long slopes.
Let er rip" could hear Dri shout
ing. once in while. as he flashed up
ahead of me Let er rip! Consarn
err pietur!"
He gave great yell of triumph as
we slowed in long stretch of still,
broad water. Judas PRIEST" said he,
as came alongside, tibet air 8
rcugher n the bog trail
We came TO Paleyville with time only
for a bite OF luncheon before dark
We could sec no sign of life on the is
land or The "Canuek shore as We
turned our bows to the south channel
That evening the innkeeper sat with
us under a creaking sign our chairs
ilted TO the tavern-side.
Dri was making a moose-horn of
birch bark as he smoked thoughtfully
When he had finished, he raised il to
his lips and moved the tlaring end in
wide circle as he blew a blast that
rang miles away in the far forest
"Ef we heppen { git separated in any
way shape or manner 'cept one, said
he, as he Sung il over his shoulder
With string "ye n know purity nigh
where | be wien we hear tibet air
thing" ~
You said, in any way. shape er
manner eept one, f" quoted. What
do you mean by that"
My friend expectorated looking off
into the night soberiy moment
Guess did MT mean nuthin'. said
he. presently, When set out L say
5uthin'. don't never know where | M
goin t land Good deal LUX settin'
sail without compass. Tibet s one
reason don't never say much fore
women
Our good host hurried the tagging
hours with many tale of the river
and that island we were soon to visit,
once the refuge of Tadusac, the old
river pirate. so he told us, with a cave
now haunted by some ghost We start
cd for the shore near ten o'clock. the
innkeeper leading us with lantern its
light pickering in west wind The
Sky was cloudy, the night dark Our
host lent MS the lantern. kindly offer
ing to build bonfire on the beach at
II. TO light us home.
Adi DOg Sdih tnt luuhEfptl.
as we goi aboard Aim straight fer
tn head o III island Can't we see il
right ever yer heads there? Mem
Der, they $ awful rough water below"
We pushed off, Dr leading. could
see nothing of The island but D'ri had
better eyes, and kept calling me as he
went ahead. After few strokes of the
paddle could see on the dark sky the
darker mass of tree-tops
Better light MP" | suggested. We
were now close in.
"Hush!" he Kissed Then, as | came
up to him, he went on, whispering:
IT amt bes' L mex no noise here
Don know none few much bout this
lere business. Don callate we re
son' { hey any trouble. but If we dew
-HaTk.'
We had both heard a stir in the
bushes, and stuck our paddles in the
sand. listening. After a little silence
/ heard D'ri get up and step stealthily
into the water and buckle on his
sword. Then | could hear him sinking
the canoe and showing her anchor deep
into the sand. He did II with no noise
that. 80 feet away. could have been
distinguished from that Of the ever
murmuriEg waters. In moment ne
came and held my canoe while also
took up my trusty blade. stepping out
of the canoe into the shallow water
Then he showed her off a little. and
sank her beside the other knew not
bis purpose. and made no question Of
it, following him as he strobe the
shore with measured PAGES. he Lam
tern upon his arm Then presently he
stuck his paddle into the bushes. and
mine beside IT, We were near the
head of the island. walking on a reedy
strip OF soft earth at the river margin
After a few PAGES we halted to listen.
but heard only the voice of the water
and the murmur of pines. Then We
pushed through a thieket Of small fl
trees TO where We CROPPED along in
utter darkness among the big tree
trunks on a mufEle- footing. After a
moment or SO We got a spray of light.
We halted, peering at the glow that
now sprinkled out through many a
pinhole aperture in fairy lattice Of
pine needles.