Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-16
a hull bushel basket o. them air.
haint a-flghtiD' fer no honor"
'tWhnf ihpu ~ caid I

What them" said ].
His face turned very sober. Hc
pursed his lips. and spat across the
ditch then gave his mouth a wipe.
and glanced thoushtfuly at the sky.
Fer liberty" said he with decision.
Same thing my father died fer"
Not 10 this day have forgotten H.,
the answer of old Dri, or the look Of
him as he spoke. ! was only q reckless
youth fighting for the love of peril and
adventure. and with too little thought
OF the high purposes of my country.
The causes OF the war were familiar to
me; that proclamation Of Mr.. Madi-
son had been discussed freely in our
home. and had felt some share In
the Indignation of D'ri and my father.
This feeling had not been allayed by
the bloody scenes in which had had
a part. Now I began to feel the great
passion of the people. and was put to
shame for a moment
"Liberty-that is a grand thing to
fight for" said I. after brief pause
Swap my blood any time fer tn ct
air" said D'ri. Il can fight sassy. but
not fer no king but God Almighty.
Don't pay { Git all tore up less II g
fer suthin' purity middln' vallyble.
My life amt with much, but, We see,
| hain't nuthin' else"
We rode awhile in sober thought.
hearing only soush of the wind above
and the rustling hoof-beat of our
horses in the rich harvest Of the a,i-
timn woods. We were walking slow
ly over stretch of bare moss when, at
a sharp turn, we came suddenly in
sight of huge bear that sat facing
us. drew my pistol as We pulled rein
firing quickly. The bear ran away
into the brush as fred another shot
He $ hit" said D'ri. leaping or and
bidding me hold the bit Then. with a
long stride. he ran after the fleeing
bear. had been waiting near half an
hour when D'ri came back slowly, with
Il downbearted look.
ct ain no USE said he. Cant
never git tibet bear. He S got flesh
wound high up in his him quarters, an
he S travelln' fast"
He took fresh chew of tobacco and
mounted his horse.
Terrible pity" he exclaimed shak-
ing his head with some trace OF lingcr-
ing sorrow. Ray" said he. soberly,
after little silence, when We see a
bear lookin' your way. Of we want i'm.
always shuto at the end thet's toward
ye"
There was no better bear-hunter in
the north woods than D'ri, and to osn
hear was. for him. no light affection.
Cant never break a bears neck by
shutin' i'm in the him quarters" he
remarked.
| made no answer.
Might jest es we'll spit n is face"
he added presently; lest eggzac'ly"
This apt and forceful advice Gained
lingering sense of duty. and he rode
on awhile in silence. The woods were
glooming in the early dusk when ht
spoke again. Something revived his
contempt of my education. He had
been trailing after me. and suddenly
felt his knee.
Tell ye this. Ray. said he. in a
hiliVi! toA'. I'll .e wan GIT pear.
got t muX i'm up leetle forard-
right up n the neigh borhood NV rs
focsle. Don't dew no good t shute
Is hams. Might es vel, try t choke
i'm t death by pinchin' is tall
we were out in the open. Roofs
and smoking chimneys were silhouet-
TED on the sky. and, halfway up hill,
we could see the candle-lights of the
red tavern. There. in the bar before
blazing logs in great fireplace. for
the evening had come chilly. table
was laid for us. and we sat down with
hearty happiness to tankards of old
ale and a smoking haunch. have
never drunk or eaten with a bette!
relish. There were half dozen or so
sitting about The bar. and all ears were
Tor news of the army and all hands
for our help. If we asked for more
potatoes or ale, half OF them rose to
proclaim it. Between pipes of Vir-
gina tobacco. and old sledgc. and
songs of love and daring. We had
memorable night. When we Went to
our room. near II o'clock, told D'ri
OF our dear friends. who, all day, had
been much in my thought.
'Wus The letter writ by nero" he IN
quired.
mot a doubt If It,"
"Then it s all right" said he. "a
likely pair O gals them ar--no mis-
take"
But think they made mo miss the
bear" answered
Kay said D'ri soberly when yer
shutin' bear, eff ye want i'm. don't
never think O. nuthin' but the bear"
Then. after moments pause, he add.
cd: Won't never hev no luck KILN
q bear ef ye dor quit dwclln' so on
them air gals
| thanked him. with a smile, and
asked if he knew Eagle island.
Ben all over 1t half dozen times"
said he. 1T ain no moro n % rod
from the Yankee shore. tibet air island
amt. We c'u'd paddle there in a day
from our cove"
And that was the way we planned
to go-by canoe from our landing
and wait for the hour at Paleyville a
Yankee village opposite the island
We would hire team there and con-
vcy the party by wagon to Leraysville
We were off at daybreak, and going
over the hills at n lively gallop Cross
ing to Caraway pike, in the Cedar