Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-01-13

six other men, bound for the big city
of which | had heard so much. was
TO visit the relatives of my mother
and spend year in the College de 81.
Pierre. We had a little frame house
on big platform, * of the middle
section of the raft with buns in it,
where we ate and slert and told
stories. Lying on the platform there
was large fiat stone that held our
fires for both cooking and comfort.
D'ri called me in the dusk of the early
morning, the first night out, and said
we were near the Sault [ got I'D.
rubbed my eyes, and felt mighty
thrill as | heard the roar of the great
rapids and the creaking withes. and
felt the lift of the speeding waters.
Dri said they had broken the raft
into three parts, ours being hindmost.
The roaring grew louder. until nv
shout was as a whisper in a hurricane.
The logs began to heave and fall. and
waves came rushing through thom.
Sheets of spray shot skyward, coming
down like shower. We were shaken
as by an earthquake in the rough wa
ter. Then the roar fell back of us. and
the raft grew steady.
Gin us a tough twist" said D'ri.
shouting down at me-"kind NV twis.
o the bit n kick n the side"
1t was coming daylight as we sailed
into still water, and then Dri put his
hands to his mouth and hailed loudly.
getting an answer out of the gloom
ahead.
"Gol-dum eff it hain't the power NV
a thousan' painters!" D'ri continued.
laughing as he spoke Never see
nothin jump n kick n spit like thet
air, less it he'd fur on-never n all
my born days"
D'ri's sober face showed dimly now
in the dawn. His hands were on his
hips; his faded felt hat was tipped
sideways. His boots and trousers
were quarrelng over that disputed ter.
ritory between his knees and ankles.
His boots had checked the invasion
Smooth water now" said he,
thouehtfully. Seems terribly still.
Hain't a breath NV air stirrin'. Jeru-
shy Jane Pepper. VIVA does tibet
mean?"
He stepped aside quickly as some
bits of bark and small bough of hem
lock fell at our feet. Then a shower
of pine needles came slowly down.
scattering over us and hitting the tim
Der with faint hiss. Before we could
look up a dry stick as long as a log
hn MA
Never seen no sech doins afore,"
said D'ri, looking upward Things
don't seem t me t be actin eggzacly
natral-nut jest es I'd like t. see EN-"
AS the light came clearer, we saw
clouds heaped black and blue over the
tree-tops in the southwest. We stood
moment looking The clouds were
heaping higher, pulsing with light,
roaring with thunder. What seemed to
be flock of pigeons rose suddenly
above the far forest, and then fell as
if they had all been shot A gust of
wind coasted down the still ether fut-
tering like a rag and shaking out a
few drops of rain.
Look there!" l shouted, pointing
aloft
"Hark!" said D'ri, sharply, raising
his hand of three fingers.
We could hear far sound like that
of great wagon rumbling on a stony
road
THE Almighty's whippin' his hosses,"
said D'ri. Looks es eff he was plum
gin 'em through the woods way yen
der. Look a tibet air sky"
The cloud-masses were looming rap
idly. They had a glow like that of
copper.
"Tryin' to put a ruff on the world"
my companion shouted. "Swingin'
Their hammers hard on the rivets"
(To be continued