Evening journal., 1905-03-30

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The horses shook and trembled at the
roaring thunder Of the strings
having put on my cap and coat, stood
me on the table and stopped so that l
could climb into the basket-a pack
basket that he had used in hunting the
top a little smaller than the bottom.
Once in, could stand comfortably OF
sit facing sideways, my back and knees
wedged from port to starbOard. With
me in my place. he blew out the lantern
and groped his way to the road, his
cane in one hand, his rifle in the other.
Fred, our old dog-a black shepherd,
with tawny points-came after US.
Uncle Eb scolded him and tried to send
him back, but plead for the poor crea-
ture and that settled it; he was one Of
our party.
Dunno how well feed him." said
Uncle Eb. "Our own mouths are big
enough L take all we can carry, but
hahn no heart t. leave i'm all lone
there"
was old for my age, they tell me,
and had a serious look and a wise way
OF talking for a boy so young. but
bad no notion Of what lay before or be-
hind us.
"Now, boy. take a good look at the
old house" l remember he whispered
TO me at the gate that night "Tain't
likely ven ever see il ag'in. Keep quiet
now" he added. letting down the bars
at the foot of the lane. We're goin'
west, an we mustn't let the grass
grow under US. Got L be purity spry.
] can tell ye."
1t was quite dark and he felt his
way carefully down the COW paths into
the broad pasture. With every step
kept sharp lookout for swifts, and
the moon shone after awhile, making
my work easier.
had to hold my head down present
ly when the tall brush began to whip
the basket. and l heard the big boots
Of Uncle Eb ripping the briers. Then
we came into the blaclness Of the thick
timber, and ] could hear him feeling
his way over the dead leaves with his
cane. got down shortly and walked
beside him, holding on to the rife with
one hand. We stumbled often and
were long in the trail before we could
see the moonlight through the tree col
umns. In the clearing / climbed to my
seat again, and by and by we came to
the road. where my companion sat
down. resting his load on a bowlder
"Pretty hot, Uncle Eb; pretty hot"
he said to himself, tanning his brow
with that old felt hat be wore every
where. We've come three mile er
more without a stop, an guess we'd
better rest a jiffy."
My legs aohed, too, and 1 was get.
ting very sleepy l remember the jolt
OF the basket as he rose and hearing
him say, well, Uncle Eb, / guess we'd
better be goin'."
The elbow that held my head, lying
On the rim of the basket, was already
numb, nut the prickling could no lon
ger rouse me, and, half dead with wea-
riness. fell asleep Uncle Eb has told
me since that tumbled out Of the bas-
ket once and that he had a time of it
getting me in again, but remember
nothing more of that days history.
When 1 woke in the morning I could
hear the cracking Of fire and felt very
warm and cozy wrapped in the big
shawl. l got a CHEEKY greeting from
Uncle Eb. who was feeding the fire
with a big heap Of sticks that he had
piled together. Old Fred was licking
my hands with his rough tongue, and I
suppose that is what walked me. Tea
was sleeping in the little pot that hung
over the fire, and our breakfast Of boil
ed eggs and bread and butter lay on a
paper beside it. l remember well the
scene Of our little camp that morning.
We had come to a strange country, and
there was no road in sight. A wooded
hill lay back Of US, and just before ran
a noisy little brook, winding between
smooth banks, through a long pasture
into a dense wood. Behind a wall on
the opposite shore a great field OF rus
ting corn filled a broad valley and
stood higher than mans head.
While l went to wash my face in the
clear water Uncle Eb was husKing
some ears of corn that he took out Of
his pocket and had them roasting over
the fire in a moment We ate heartily.
giving Fred two big slices of bread and
butter, packing up with enough remain
Ing for another day. Breakfast over,
we doused the fire. and Uncle Eb put
on his basket. He made after squir-
rel presently with old Fred and brought
him down out OF a tree by hurling
stones at him. and then the faithful fol.