The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-11-25
TWO HEROES.
BY RUPE BARMBY.

4 4NQ men sat DcluLc llC AANNIc4 - =
plaeidly smoking their pipes. one
typical Yankee" tall and lank. wit
|, flowing beard and sharp-eut features
the other in every respect his opposite
short, thiekset and wiry, with coal
black hair. bristling Roustache AM
cast OF countenance which betrayed
him at glance to be one OF tn
French-Canadian "help." so often to b
found on the farms of New England.
We'll. I'm bound If 1t amt goin' Il
snow again." finally remarked the for
mer, looking long and intently out Of
the window at the leaden sky. which
seemed TO grow more and more threat
ening every moment Hope it will
anyway. don't you, o. cause it's about
time to begin cuttin' down in the
swamp. anyway. and the more snow
the better the haulin'. ! say. Don't
know but we'd better go down there
and look things over, right away,
seem as how We haven't got anything
to do just now, what Go you say?"
While Farmer Hepburn was speak
ing the Frenchman's eyes had been
wistfully fastened upon an old gun that
hung over the chimney place, relic
of days gone by, and yet capable OF
good service. "The's rabbits, lots of
EN-, down Their, too" was his eager
response, with shining eyes still fas-
tened on the fowling piece.
"Oh, you're forever wantin to hunt,
you half Injun. you; it seems to come
to you sort of material like" replied the
tall farmer, good-naturedly, but the
| sparkle which came into his eye al
the Frenchman's suggestion, and the
alacrity with which he got up and took
down the gun, religiously keeping it. in
his own possession, indicated plainly
enough that the hunting blood runs in
other veins as we'll as those of the
sons of Canada
"a great hunter, you be-" exclaimed
Mrs. Hepburn, with an amused smile,
as she hustled about at her work, while
her husband cleaned and loaded the
gun. Huh! you never shot anything
bigger'n a cat, yet, and If you should
happ2n to meet bear or something
of that kind. some day, you'd run like
frightened deer, the both of you, ]
know you would"
by jink, we wouldn't thought" was
the spirited response called forth by
this remark, 81 never saw a critter that
was afraid of yet, no sir! You don't
know me, Marthy Nothin' could really
scar mel" and the tall form strobe |
proudly out of the door, while the lit |
tie Frenchman followed closely behind, |
like faithful dog at the heels of its |
master.
But in all their wanderings, not q
single sign of rabbit was anywhere |
seen.
Both were keenly disappointed at
this turn in their luck. Silas Hepburn |
was well aware of the fact that If they
returned empty-handed his wife would !
not fail to have her comments to make,
and 10, on his part, was not to be rec
onciled to the loss of a rabbit stew
Lets go over into the great swamp al
the base of the mountain" suggested
Silas, I'VE ought to find some over
there, anyway" and away went the two
In the direction indicated.
It was good FIVE miles through the
deep woods to the swamp. but the dis
lance was accomplished at last, and
the hunt renewed in this more favored
locality. Here in the dim depths of
an evergreen glade. the sharp eyes of
10 detected small hole in the snow at
! mound beside log. "A rabbit hole!
Sure 'nough!" he cried, pointing to 1t
IN triumph, and such it certainly
seemed to be.
secured stick and proceeded to stir
Bunny up with 1t, when Of a sudden
he entire mound rose bodily in the
Iir and the two astonished men found
themselves face to face with a huge
,ear! 1t had but recently lain down
or its long sleep beside the log and
'een covered by the late fall of snow,
kept where its breathing had melted
away, causing what had been mis-
aiken for the rabbits burrow.
Both the men were so astounded at
he sudden occurrence that they drew
ack quickly in alarm. This was all
he invitation that Bruin wanted to at
nee take up the pursuit, and he forth
nth started after the tall, gaunt form
efore him. at the top of his speed.
hen and there ensued such race as
ad seldom been seen In those partic.
lar woods. Dropping his gun, the
srrified farmer rushed headlong
trough the snow. shouting Justify to
o to come to his rescue, but the latter
the first show Of danger had made
God his escape Ito the swamp. and
as already far on the way toward
ONE !
Bruin, already weak from want of {,
,od, proved no match for the enor- =
ous strides with which Silas Hepburn
ade his way back through the swamp,
I'd soon gave up the pursuit. un-
nown, however, to his intended vic 70
m, who continued his flight without It
opping to look back, until we'll out ia
to the clearings. M