Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-05

Ind I remember II looked TO be about
khe size Of his fist. lie was putting II
back when II fell from his hand heav-
lly, and l could hear the chink OF coin
Ns II struck. One Of the men who sat
Rear picked It up and gave It back to
him. As I remember we'll, his kindness
yhad an evil flavor, for he wnked at his
companions, who nudged each other as
they smiled knowingly. Uncle Eb was
b bit cross when I climbed into the
Basket, and walked along In silence so
rapidly 1t worried the dog to keep pace
Nhc leading rope was tied to the stock
bf the rifle, and Fred's walking gait
WAS too slow for the comfort Of his
Deck.
"You shif'less cuss! I'll put a kinls
In your neck fer you II We don't walk
Gp," said Uncle Eb as he looked back
Ut the dog in a temper wholly un-
worthy OF him.
We had crossed a deep valley and
were climbing long hill in the dusky
twilight.
"Willie." said Uncle Eb. "your eyes
ere better'n mine. Look back and see
u any one y comm.
"Cnn't see any one" answered.
Look way back in the road as fur
D We can see"
did SO. but I could see no one. He
elackened his pace little after that.
and before we had passed the hill IL
was getting dark. The road ran into
woods. and n river cut through them a
yitt1, no. al r;V
supper time Uncle Eb," suggest
efl as we came to the bridge.
supper time, Uncle Eb," he answer
3D. turning down to the shore.
got out of the basket then and fol-
oowed him in the brush. Fred found it
hard travelling here and shortly we
kook off his harness and left the wagon,
Transferring its load to the basket,
while we pushed on to find camping
place. Back in the thick timber long
way from the road we built fire and
had our supper. 1t was II dry nook in
the pines-"tight as a house." Uncle Eb
'ead-and carpeted with the fragrant
lneedles. When we lay on our backs
In the freight l remember the weary
sbroning voice Of Uncle Eb had an i'm
preSsive accompaniment of whispers
Awhile he told stories had glowing
kindcr on the end of stick and was
weaving fiery skens in the glogn.
He had been telling me of a panther
Nhc had met in the woods one day and
how the creature ran away at the sight
of him.
why's panther 'fraid O. folks"
lnquircd.
WAL. We see they used { be friend
1y, years an years ago-folks an pan
thers-but they want eggszac'ly calla
ed Z git along t'gether some way. An
Of she panther gin EN- one Nv her Cubs
a great while ago jes' t make frien's.
The cub he grew big an used t play an
be very gentle. They WIZ boy he
TUX to. an both on 'em got very friend
~. The boy an the panther went off
one day II the woOds-guess twas
more'n a hundred year ngo-an' was
lost. Walked all over an tin'ly got T.
goin' round an round n big circle till
they was both on EN- tired ont. Come
night they lay down es hungry es few
bears. The boy he was kind O. 'fraid
tuC OutA 81 iC SOt uP NiuS thC
panther an lay tween his paws. The
boy he thought the panther smelt funny.
an the panther he didn't jes' like the
smell O. the boy. An the boy he he'd
The leg ache an kicked the panther n the
oelly, so t he kin O gagged an spit an
they want neither on 'em reel com.
Ftable. The sof' paws O the panther
was jes like pincushions. He'd great
hooks in 'em sharper'n the pint Nv
a needle. An when he was goin' {
sleep he'd run 'em out jes' like an OIL
cat-kind o playful-an' pur an pull.
"All Z once the boy felt sumthin'
Ike lot O needles prickin' his back;
made him Jump an holler like Sam
Hill. The panther he spit sassy an
tiz up an smelt O. the ground. Didn't
neither on 'em know what was the mat
her. I'ime by they lay down agin.
@Twan't only little while fore the
boy felt sumthin' prickin' NV him. He
hollered an kicked ag'in. The panther
be grOwled an spit an clumb n tree an
BOT on limb an peeked over Mt tibet
queer little critter. Couldn't neither
bn EN- understan' it. The boy cu'd
see the eyes O the panther in the dark
shOne like tew live Goals eggsZac ly.
THE panther'd never sot n tree when
he was hungry an see boy below
him Sumthin' tol' him t. jump. Tail
went swish In the leaves like tibet. His
whiskers quvered; his tongue come
out. C'ud think o nuthin' but his big
empty belly. The hoy was scairt. He
mp with his gun quick es flash, aimed
Pt his eyes an let 'er flicker. Blew a
lot o smoke an bird shot an paper
waddin' right up int his face. The
panther he lost his whiskers an one
eye an got his hide full O. shot an
Sell off the tree like ripe apple an
run fer his life. Thought he'd never
see nuthin' c'n'd growl an spit s. pow.
erful es tibet boy. Never cu'd bear the
sight Nv man after tibet Alwus
made him gag an spit t think O. the
man critter. Went off few his own
folks an toll O. the boy at spit fire an
Smoke an growled so't almos' tore his
ears of. An now whenever they heal
gun go OF they allwus think it's the
man critter grOwlin'. An they gag an
spit an look es II 1t made 'em sick I
the stomach. An the man folks they
didn't hev no good 'pinion o the pan
Ak~k lntk