Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-02-03
D'ri and /
,su, By Io.Arop Publishing oonpsnyl
By IRVING BACHELLER
Holden" " " Darrell Of tho Blessed Isles" Etc.

Don jeS like this kind Nv a hoss,
said D'ri. Got t. keep whalin' i'm al
the while, an he 8 apt t slobber \
rough goin'."
I He looked thoughtfully at the sun q
breath, and then trimmed his remark
with these words: "Ain't eggzacly
sure-footed, nuther."
Don't require much feed, though,
I suggested.
| "No; ye hev t dew all the eatin', but
We can alwus eat 'nough fer BOTH"
It was a fine day, and ride to re-
member. We had warm sun, q clear
sky, and now and then We could feel
the soft feet of the south wind romp-
ing over US In the river way. Here
and there q swallow came coasting to
the ripples, sprinkling the holy water
Of delight upon US, or crows shadow
plowed silently across our bows. 1t
thrilled me to go cantering beside the
noigy Rapides du Plats or the wild
footed Galloup, two troops Of water
hurrying to the mighty battles Of the
sea, We mounted reeling knolls, and
coasted over whirling dips, and rushed
to boiling levels, and jumped foamy
ridges, and went galloping in the rush
and tumble of long slopes.
"Let 'er rip!" could hear D'ri shout
ing, once In while, as he flashed up
ahead Of me. Let 'er rip! Consarn
'er pictur'!"
He gave a great yell Of triumph as
we slowed in a long stretch Of still,
broad water. Judas Priest!" said he.
as | came alongside, "thet air .
rougher n the bog trail"
We came to Paleyville with time only
for a bite of luncheon before dark.
We could see no sign of life on the is
land or the "Canuck shore" as we
turned our bows to the south channel.
That evening the innkeeper sat with
us under a creaking sign, our chairs
tilted to the tavern-side.
pri was making moose-horn Of
birch-bark as he smoked thoughtfully.
When he had finished, he raised 1t to
his lips and moved the flaring end in
wide circle as he blew blast that
rang miles away in the far forest.
"Ef we heppen t git separated in any
way, shape er manner 'cept one" said
he, as he slung 1t over his shoulder
with a string. ."ye Il know purity nigh
where be when ye hear thet air
thing" ..
"You said, in any way, shape er
manner 'cept ONE" l quoted. What
do you mean by that?"
My friend expectorated, looking off
into the night soberly moment.
Guess l did mt mean nuthin'," said
he, presently. when I set out t say
suthin', don't never know where I m
goin' t. land. Good deal LUX settin'
sail without a compass. Thet s one
reason l don't never say much fore
women"
Our good host hurried the tagging
hours with many tale Of the river
and that island we were soon to visit,
once the refuge of Tadusac, the old
river pirate, so he told us, with cave
now haunted by some ghost. We start
ed for the shore near ten o'clock, the
innkeeper leading us with lantern, its
light Pickering in a west wind. The
sky was cloudy, the night dark. Our
host lent us the lantern, kindly offer
ing to build a bonfire on the beach at
II, to light us home.
Careful, boys" said the innkeeper,
as we got aboard. Aim straight fer
tn head o. tn island. Can't We see 1t
right ever yer heads there? Mem
Der, they s awful rough water below"
| We pushed off, D'ri leading. could
see nothing of the island, but D'ri had
better eyes, and kept calling me as he
went ahead. After few strokes Of the
paddle l could see on the dark sky the
darker mass of tree-tops.
Better light up" I suggested. We
were now close in.
"Hush!" he hissed. Then, as / came
up to him, he went on, whispering:
"'T amt bes' t mex no noise here.
Don know none tew much bout this
here business. Don cal'late we re
goin' t. hev any trouble, but if we dew
l-Hark!"
We had both heard stir in the
bushes, and stuck our paddles in the
sand, listening. After little silence
l heard D'ri get up and step stealthily
into the water and buckle on his
sword. Then | could hear him sinking
the canoe and showing her anchor deep
into the sand. He did it with no noise
that, so feet away, could have been
distinguished from that of the ever
! murmurirg waters. In moment he
came and held my canoe, while | also
took up my trusty blade, stepping out
of the canoe into the shallow water
Then he showed her off little, and
sank her beside the other. | knew not
his purpose, and made no question OF
it following him as he strode the
s. ore with measured PAGES, the Ian
t rn upon his arm. Then presently he
stuck his paddle into the bushes, ano
mine beside it. We were near the
head of the island, walking on reedy
strip of soft earth at the river margin
After a few PAGES we halted to listen
but heard only the voice of the water
and the murmur of pines. Then We
pushed through a thicket of small fiji
tn es to where We groped along II
utter darkness among the big tree
trunks on a muffle-footing. After 6
moment or so we got spray Of light
We halted, peering at the glow tha
now sprinkled out through many {
pinhole aperture in fairy lattice o.
pine needles.
My heart was beating loudly, fol