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

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 Dri 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.
IT'S a painter" said D'ri, 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 birch and
looking calmly down at us. The tree
top swayed, quivering, as it held the
great dun beast My heart was like
to smother me when Dri raised his
rifle and took aim. The dog broke
away at the crack of it. The painter
reeed 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 | could
get near, Rover began shaking him
by the neck. He came to suddenly, and
struck the dog with front claw, drag
ging him down. A loud yelp followed
| the blow. Quick as a flash D'ri caught
the painter by the tail and one hind
/ leg. With a quick surge of his great,
slouching shoulders, he flung him at
arm s-length. The 1.-THE body doubled
on tree trunk, quivered and sank
down, as the dog came free. In a
iiffy l had run my sword through the
cats belly and made an end of him.
"Knew f he got them hind hooks
on tibet air dog he'd rake his ribs right
off" said Dri, as he lifted his hat to
scratch his head. would mt "a left
nOthin' but the backbone-nut
thing-an' tibet would MT "a been
real fust-class one, nuther."
When Dri was very positive, his
words were well braced with negatives.
We took the painter by the hind legs
and dragged him through the bushes
to our camp. The dog had a great rib
across his shoulder, where the claws
had struct and made burrows; but he
felt a mighty pride in our capture. and
never had a better appetite for 4 mo1}
There were six more days of travel
in that iOurney-travel so fraueht
with hardships I wonder that soma
days we had the heart to press on.
More than all. I wonder that the frail
body of my mother was equal to IT,
But | am writing no vain record of on
durance. 7 have written eno9eh TO
suggest what moving meant i'm the
wilderness. There is but one more
color in the scenes Of that journey.
The fourth day after we left Chateau
gay my grandmother fell i'll and died
suddenly there in the deep woods. We
were far from any village. and sorrow
slowed our steps. We pushed on. COM
ing soon to a sawmill and a small set
Element They told us there was
neither minister nor undertaken with
in 40 miles. My father and D'ri made
the coffin of planed lumber, and lined
it with deerskin, and dug the grave on
top of a high hill. When all was
ready. my father, who had always been
much given to profanity, albeit know
he was a kindly and honest man with
no irreverence in his heart. called D'ri
aside.
"D'ri," said he, Eye we alwus been
more proper-spoken than I hev. Say
a word O prayer"
Don't much b'lieve I could" said
he. thoughtfully. 81 hev been { meet
: in but l hain't never been no great
hand fer pray in"
"T would MT sound right nohow fer
rae { pray" said my father 81 got s
: kind O rough when was in the army
"'Fraid it'll come a leetle unhandy
, fer me-" said D'ri, with a look of en-
barrassment "but don't never shirB
a tough job eff it hes { be done"
: Then he stepped forward, took of
his faded hat, his brow wrinkling deep
: and said. in a drawing preacher tone
; that had no sound of D'ri in it: &C
p God, TEX care O. granma. Help us Z
go on careful an when We re riled
: help us Z keep er mouths shet. o God
} help the OF cart, an the ex in per
tic'lar An don't be noway hard or
} us. Amen"