Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-12

impatient of the leash.
 "see?" said D'ri, pointing with his finger. See 'em?-there n the dark by thet air big hemlock."
 We could make out dim stir in the shadows where he pointed. Presently we heard the spring and rattle of a trap. As we turned that way, the other trap took hold hard; as it sprang we could hear wolf yelp.
 "Meks lem holler," said D'ri, ''thet ol hetrap does, when 1t teks holt. Stay here by the sheep. n I'll so over n give 'em somethin' fer spraint ankles. ''
 Other wolves were swarming over the dead deer, and the two in the traps were snarling and snapping at them. My father and D'ri fired at the bunch, killing one of the captives and another the largest wolf I ever saw. The pack had slunk away as they heard the rifles. Our remaining captive strug- gled to get free, but in q moment D'ri had brained him with an ax. He and my father reset our traps and hauled the dead wolves into the freight. There they began to skin them, for the bounty was S10 for each in the new towns-a sum that made our adventure profitable. I built fires on the farther side of the sheep, and, as they bright ened. I could see, here and there, the gleaming eyes of wolf in the dark ness. was up all night heaping wood upon the fires, while D'ri and my father skinned the wolves and dressed the deer They had just finished when the cock crew.
 ''Holler. ye gol-dum little cuss!" D'ri shouted as he went over to him. Cant no snookin' wolf crack our bones fer us. Peeled 'em-thet's what We done tew 'em! Tux n knocked 'em head over heels. Judas Priest! He can peck mans finger some, can't | he?'
 The light was coming and he went off to the spring for water, while brought the spider and pots. The great, green-roofed temple of the woods, that had so lately rung with the howl of wolves, began to fill with far wandering echoes of sweet song.
 They was a big cat over there by the spring las night" said D'rl, as We all sat down to breakfast. Tracks bigger n griddle! Smelt the nut ton. mos likely" Like mutton?" inquired.
 "Yis-sir-ee, they dew" said he. meat, tcw! Shook eroun' the ponds after dark. Elf they see deer n the water they wallop i'm quicker n lightnin'; jump right in k'slap n tek 'im.''
 We were off at sunrise. on a road that grew rCugher every mile. At noon We came to a river so swollen as to make dangerous ford. After dinner my father waded in. going hips under where the water was deep and swift. Then he cut long pole and took my mother on his shoulders and entered the broad stream. steadying himself with the pole. When she had got down safe on the other side, he came back for grandmother and my sisters, and took them over in the same way. D'ri, meanwhile, bound up the feather beds and carried them on his head, leaving the dog and me to tend the sheep. All our blankets and clothing were carried across in the same man. ner. Then I mounted the cart, with my rooster, flashing the oxen till they took to the stream. They had tied the bell-wether to the axle. and, as I started, men and dog drove the sheep after me. The oxen widowed in the deep water, and our sheep. after some hesitation, began to swim The big cart floated like raft part of the way. and we landed with no great difficulty Farther on the road became nothing better than rude trail, where, fre- quently. we had 10 stop and chop through heavy logs and roll them away. On a steep hillside the oxen fell. break ins the tongue, and the cart tipped side wise and rolled bottom up. My roos- ter was badly flung about, and began growing and Tapping as the basket settled. When I opened it he flew out, running for his life. as if finally resolved to quit us. Fortunately, we were all walking, and nobody was hurt. My father and Dri were busy half day 'righting up" as they called it. mending the tongue and cover. and getting the cart on its wheels and down the steep pitch.
 After two days of trail travel we came out on the Chateaugay road, stopping awhile to bait our sheep and cattle on the tame grass and tender briars. It was great joy to see the clear road. with here and there a set tiers cabin. it's yard aglow with the marigold. the hollyhock and the fra grant honeysuckle. We got to the tav- ern at Chateaugay about dusk and put up for the night, as becomes a Chris tian.
 Next afternoon we came 10 rough roads again. camping at sundown along the shore of noisy brook. The dog began to bark fiercely while su. per was making, and scurried off into a thicket.
 D'ri was stopping over. cooking the meat. He rose and listened.
 "Thet air dogs leetle scairt." said he. Guess We better so n see whut s the matter"
 He took his rife and I my sword I never thought of another weapon