Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-30

5 I: !. I; /. + + F4s4s
that morning, with Elizabeth Brewer
and Hope waving their handkerchiefs
! on the porch and David near them
whiting. They had told US what to
do and what not to do over and over
again. l sat with Gerald OH blankets
that We're spread over y thick mat Of
hay. The morning air was sweet with
the odor of new hay and the music Of
the bobolink. Uncle Eb and Tip Tay-
Tor sang merrily as we rode over the
hills.
When we entered the shade of the
big forest Uncle Eb got out his rifle
and loaded 1t. He sat long time
whispering and looking eagerly for
game to right and left He was still a
boy. One could see evidences of age
only in his white hair and beard and
wrinkled brow. He retained the little
tufts in front Of his ears, and lately had
grown silver crescent of thin and
silky hair that circled his throat under
a bare chin. Young as was, had no
keener relish for holiday than he.
at noon we halted beside brook and
unhitched our horses. Then we caught
some fish, built fire and cooked them
and brewed our tea. At sunset we
halted at Tuley pond, looking along its
reedy margin, under purple tamaracks
for deer. There was a great silence
here in the deep Of the woods, and Tip
Taylors ak, while he peeled the bark
for our camp, seemed to fill the wilder
ness with echoes. 1t was after dark
when the shanty was covered and we
lay on its fragrant NOW Of balsam and
hemlock. The great logs that we had
rolled in front of our shanty were set
afre and shortly supper was cooking.
Gerald had stood the Journey we'll
Uncle Eb and he stayed In, while Tip
and got our jack ready and went of
In quest OF dugout. He said Bill Ellis
worth had one hid in a thtcket on the
south side Of Tuley. We found 1t after
an hours tramp near by. Il needed a
little repairing, but we soon made 1t
water worthy and then took our seats,
he In the stern, with the paddle, and l
IN the bow with the gun. Slowly and
silently we Glove way through the
star sown shadows. 1t was like the
hushed and mystic movement Of q
dream. We seemed to be above the
deep of heaven, the stars below us. The
shadow Of the forest in che still water
looked like the wall of some mighty
castle with towers and battlements and
nf wi, liyh tod fnr fnfo
Once the groan of night hawk fell
out of the upper air with a sound like
that of q stone striking in water. I
thought little of the deer Tip was after.
/ His only aim in life was the one he got
with gun barrel. had forgotten all
but the beauty of the scene Suddenly
Tip reused me by laying his hand to the
gulwale and gently shaking the dug
out. In the dark distance ahead Of us
/ could hear tho faint tinkla of dripping
water. Then knew deer was feed
Ing not far away and that the water
was falling from his muzzle. When l
opened my jack we were close upon
him. His eyes cleaned. l shot high
above the deer, that went splashing
ashore before had pulled my trigger.
After the roar Of the gun had got away
in the distant timber Tip mentioned a
place abhorred of all men, turned and
padded for the landing
Gould "a killed i'm with club" said
he, snickering. Guess he must a look
ed purity TALL didn't he?'
"Why?" l asked.
"Cos We aimed into the sky" said he
"Mebbe We thought he was bird"
MY hand trembled little" said l.
"'AIinds me of Bill Barber" he said
in half whisper as he worked his pad
die. chuckling with amusement.
Flows that?' asked.
"Nothin' safe but the thing he shoots
at" said he. Terrible bad shot. Kills
a cow every time he goes huntin'."
! Uncle Eb was stirring the fire when
we came whispering into camp, and
Gerald lay asleep under the blankets.
willie couldn't hit the broadside Of
a barn." said Tip. Gle don't take to it
nat'ral.'
"Killin' an book learnin' don't often
go together" said Uncle Eb.
turned in by the side Of Gerald, and
! Uncle Eb went off with Tip for another
trip in the dugout. The night was
chilly, but the fire flooded our shanty
with its warm glow. What with the
light and the boughs under us and the
strangeness of the black forest, we got
little sleep. l heard the gun roar late
in the night, and when I woke again
Uncle Eb and Tip Taylor were stand
Ing over the fire in the chilly gray of
the morning. A dead deer hung on the
limb Of tree near by. They began
dressing it, while Gerald and went to
the spring for water, peeled potatoes
and got the pots boiling. After a
hearty breakfast we packed up and
were soon on the road again, reaching
Burberry lake before noon. There we
hired a boat of the lonely keeper of the
reservoir, found an abandoned camp
with an excellent bark shanty and
made ourselves at home.
That evening in camp was one to be
remembered. Alb Thomas, the guide
who tended the reservoirs, came over
and sat beside our fire until bedtime.
| He had spent years in the wilderness,
going out for nothing less important
than an annual spree at circus time.
he eyed us over each in turn, as If he
thought us all very rare and interest.
ing.
MANY bears hereT Uncle Eb inquir.
ed.
"More plenty n human bein's," he
answered, putting lazily at bis pipe
with dead calm in his voice and man,
ner that have never seen equaled
except In tropic sea.
"See 'em often?" I asked.