Evening journal., 1905-04-04
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ~.
gETlE listened awhile then but
wv heard no sound in the thicket
- although Fred was growing
w ominously. his hair on end.
As for myself. never had a more FEAR
ful hour than that we suffered before
the light Of morning came.
I made no outcry. but clung to my old
companion, trembling, He did not stir
for few minutes. and then we crept
cautiously into the small hemlocks on
one side Of the opening.
sKeep stfl." he whispered. Don't
move er speak,
Presently we heard a move in the
brush. and then quick as a fash Uncle
Eb lifted his rife and fred in the direc-
tlon Of it. Before the loud echo had
gone off in the woods we heard some
thing break through the brush at run.
"'S q man" said Uncle Eb as he lis
tened. "He amt a-losin' no time
nuther"
we sat listening as the sound grew
fainter. and when it ceased entirely I'm
Gle Eb said he must have got TO the
road. After a little the light OF the
morning began sitting down through
The tree tops and was greeted with in
Vulnerable songs.
"He done noble" said Uncle Eb, pat
ting the old dog as he rose to poke the
fire. Purity good chap / call inn He
can hev half O my dinner any time he
wants t."
"who do you suppose It wasT in
quired
"Robbers, I guess, he answered, "an'
they'll be layin' fer us syhen we 90 out
mebbe; but, if they are, Fred II find
'em. an I've got or Trusty here, an /
guess thet'll take care NV u.s."
His rife was always aattered with
that name Of or Trusty when It had
done him a good turn
Soon as the light had come clear he
went out in the near woods with dog
aud rife and beat around IN the brush.
lie returned shortly and said he had
seen where they came and went.
"I'd a-killed 'em deader n door
nail,T said he, laying down the old rife,
~ they'd a-come any nearer"
Then we brought water from the
river and had our breakfast. Fred
went on ahead Of us when we started
for the road. scurrylng through the
brush on both sides Of the trail as II
he knew what was expected Of him.
He flushed a number Of partridges,
and Uncle Eb killed one Of them on
our way to the road. We resumed our
Journey without any further adven-
ture. 1t was so smooth and level under
foot that Uncle Eb let me get in the
wagon after Fred was hitched to it.
The old dog went along soberly and
without much effort. save when we
came to hills or sandy places, when I
always got out and ran on behind.
Uncle Eb showed me how TO brake
the wheels with a long stick going
downhill / remember how II hit the
dogs heels at the first down grade and
how he ran to Keep ont Of the way
OF it. We were going like mad in half
minute. Uncle Eb coming after ua
calling TO the dog Fred only looked
over his shoulder with a wild eye at
the rattllng wagon and ran the harder.
He leaped aside at the bottom. and
then we went all in a heap. For.
tunately no harm was done.
II declarew said Uncle Eb as he
came up to us, pulling like n spent
horse. and picked me up unhurt and
began 10 untangle the harness OF old
Fred 81 guess he must "a thought the
devil was after him"
The dog growIed a little for a mo-
ment and bit at the harness but coax.
ing reassured him. and he went along
all right again on the level. At small
settlement the children came out ask.
ing me questions. Some OF them tried
to pet the dog. but old Fred kept "a
his labor at the heels OF Uncle Eb and
looked neither to right nor left We
stopped under tree by the side Of a
narrow brook for our dinner. and ons
Incident or that dinner l think OF al
ways when / think Of Uncle Eb II
shows the manner Of man he was and
with what understanding and sym
pathy he regarded every living thing
In rinsing bis teapot be accidentally
poured bit Of water on a big humble
bee. The poor creature struggled e
lift himself, and then another down
pour caught him and still another unit
his wings fell drenched. Then his
breast began heaving violently, his
legs stiffened behind him. and he sanl
head downward in the grass. Uncle
Eb saw the death throes OF the be-
and knelt down and lifted the deat
body by one Of its wings.
"Jes' look at his velvet coat" he said
"an' his wings all wet an stin They'l
never carry him another journey. IT.
too bad a man has e kill every step n
takes"
The bees tail was moving family, an,
Uncle Eb laid him out in the warn
sunlight and famed him awhile witt
bis hat. trying TO bring back the breatl
OF life
Guilty. he said presently. cominl
back with a sober face. "Thet's a deal
bee No tellin' how many was de
pendent on him er what plans he he'd
Must "a gin him a lot O. pleasure { a.
round In the sunlight, workin' ever
fair day. 5 all over now"
He bad a gloomy face FOR an hour All
er that, and many a time in the day
that followed heard him speak Of th
murdered bee.
We lay resting awhile after Dime
and watching a big city OF ants. Uncl
I'D told me how they titled the soil Of n
mound every year and sowed their ow