The Irish standard., 1905-02-18
bounty was $40 for each in the new

bounty was $40 for each in the new
towns-a sum that made our adventure
profitable l built fires on the farther
side OF the sheep, and, as they bright
ened, l could see, here and there, the
cleaning 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, We gol-dum little cuss!"
i D'ri shouted as he went over to him.
Cant no snooliin' wolf crack our
I Zones fer us. Peeled 'em-thets what
We done tew 'em! TUX N knocked 'em
head over heels. Judas Priest! He
can peck a mans finger some, can't
he?"
The light was coming and he went
off to the spring for water, while l
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 Dri, as
we all sat down to breakfast. Tracks
bigger n sriddle! Smelt the NUT
ton, mos likely"
Like mutton?" l inquired.
"Yis-sir-ee. they dew" said he.
"Kind O mince-pie fer EN-. Like deer
meat, tcw. Shook eroun' the ponds
after dark. IF they see a deer n the
water they wallop i'm quicker n
, ishtnin'; jump right in k'slap n TEX
i'm
We were off at sunrise, on a road
that grew rcusher every mile. At noon
we came to a river so swollen as to
make a 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,
Dri, meanwhile. bound UP the feather
beds and carried them OH 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 | mounted the cart, with
my rooster, lashing the oxen till they
took to the stream. They had tied the
bellwether to the axle, and, as
started, men and dog drove the sheep
after me. The oxen wallowed in the
deep water, and our sheep, after some
hesitation, began to swim. The big
cart tloateH like raft part of the way,
and we landed with no great difficulty.
Farther on the road became nothing
better than a rude trail, where, fire.
quently, we had to stop and chop
through heavy logs and roll them away.
On steep hillside the oxen fell, break
ing the tongue, and the cart tipped side
wise ana rolled bottom up. My roos-
ter was badly flung about, and began
growing and Tapping as the basket
settled. When | 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 D'ri were busy
half a day Fighting up" as they
called it. mending the tongue and
cover, and getting the cart on it's
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. 1t was a great joy to see the
Clear road, with here and there set
tiers cabin, its yard aglow with the
marigold, the hollyhocll and the fra
grant honeysuckle. We got to the tav-
ern at Chateaugay abo,,t dusk and put
up for the night, as becomes Chris
tian.
Next afternoon we came to rough
roads again, camping at shutdown along
the shore OF noisy brook The dog
began to bark fiercely while supper
was making, and scurried off into a
thicket.
D'ri was STOPPING over, cooking the
meat. He rose and listened.
Tibet air dogs a leetle scairt," said
he. Guess We better go n see whut
S the matter"
He took his rifle and my sword
l never thought of another weapon
making off through the brush The
dog came whining to D'j and rushing
on, eager for us to follow. We hur-
ried after him, and in a moment D'ri
and the dog, who were ahead of me,
halted suddenly.
Its painter" said Dri, as | came
up. See i'm in tibet air tree-top. I'll
larrup i'm with or Beeswax, then jes'
like es not he'll mex some music. Bet
ter grab holt O. the dog II won't dew
fer i'm to git tew rambunctious, er the
fust thing he knows he won't hev no
insides in i'm"
could see the big cat clinging
high in the top boughs of a birch and
looking calmly down at u.s. The tree
top swayed, qu;verng, as it held the
great dun beast. My heart was like
to smother me when D'ri raised his
rifle and took aim. The dog broke
away at the crack OF it. The painter
reeled and spat; then he came crash
ing through the branches, striking
right and left with his fore paws to
save himself. He hit the ground heav..
lily. and the dog was on him. The
painter lay as if dead Before 1 could
get near, Rover began shaking him
by the neck. He can: to suddenly. and
Strurl, tho flpr wifi, ri wv 1,.o o.