Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-16

'D'R1 PULLED UP srDDENLY-AND
LISTENED, rEERING INTO THE
DUSK"
meanwhile feeling the pipc-stem with
his lips, and then resume the narra-
tive as suddenly as he had stopped.
He was lank and powerful man, six
feet tall in his stockings. He wore a
thin beard that had the appearance
Of par ched grass on his rudy counte-
nance. In the matter Of hair, nature
had treated him with a generosity
most unusual. His heavy shock was
shcared OF square above his neck.
That evening, as he lay on his elbow
in the hrelight. D'ri had Just entered
the eventful field of Renaissance. The
women were washing the dishes; my
father had gone TO the spring for wa
ter. D'ri pulled up suddenly. lifted
his hat Of faded felt and listened, peer
ing into the dusk.
Seems & me them wolves is comm
nearer" he said. thoughtfully.
Their cries were echoing in the far
timber. We all rose and listened. In
a moment my father came hurrying
back with his pail OF water.
'D'ri." said he. quietly, as he threw
some wood on the fire, they smell
mutton. Mex the guns ready We
may git few pelts. There's a big
bounty on 'enl here in York state"
We all stood about the fire listening
as the wolves came nearer.
1T IS the sheep tibet brings EN-"
said my father.
Quite consid able number on EN-,
the bore Of his rifle.
My young sisters began to- cry.
Need mt be scairt," said father.
"They won't come very near. 'Fraider
Of us n We are o. EN-, a good deal"
"Tow-w-w" said Dri, with laugh.
They'll be apt { stub Their toes fore
they git very nigh us"
This did not quite agree with the
tales he had previously been telling.
went for my sword. and buckled its
belt about me. the scabbard hanging
to my heels. Presently some creature
camo bounding over the brush. / saw
him break through the wall Of dark
ness and stop quickly in the firelight,
Then D'ri brought him down with his
rife.
Started him up back there II the
woods few mild" said D'ri. He was
mekin' fer this ere pond-thet's what
he was dewin.'
What for?" inquired.
"'Causc fer the reason why he
knowed lie would Mt mex NO tracks r
the water. ner no scent" said D'ri
with some show OF contempt for my
ignorance.
The deer lay ioundering in the brieri
some 80 feet away. My father ran with
: his knife and put him quickly out o
misery. Then We hauled the carcass
to clear ground.
LET 1t lie where I is fer now" sal,
|, he, AZ we came back to the fire. Thel
no got our two big traps out Of tn
:, cart and set them beside the carcass
r and covered them with leaveA tn
). bowling Of the wolves had ceased.
G could hear only the creakinE of dea
g limb high above rs, and the below
e frogs in the near pond. We had fsa
il tened the trap chains and were CON
4 ing back to the FIRE. when the dog ros'
e barking fereely; then We heard tn
s crack OF D'ris rife.
d More n 30 wolves eroun' here" b
d whispered as We ran up to hin
q Never see sech q snag on EN-"
n The sheep were stirring nervousl!
Il Near the pen o wolf lay kicking wheI
D'ri had dropped him.
- REST On 'em smoked on when tn
l. gun hOllered." he went on, whisperin
:, as before.
= My mother and grandmother d
~ With my sisters In the cart. hushiu
a their murmuys of taas. Esfy IN u
y svsuiuv I hsa taed Rover u Tho CT
|. whett, where he vas grUwlius h0tl
= impatient Of tho leash.
!. Seer" said D'ri. pointing with h
- finger. See 'em?---there n tho dal
- by tibet air big henlock."
N We could make eut . dim sits in Il