The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-06-09

just when to strike for present victory
Three days Tony drove his team
down the ten miles of tram-line to
the mill By that date he knew each
animal by name. and he knew their
| characteristics. And they knew him
as animals do know the human who
loves them On the fourth morning
Buster was sulky. He did not obey
the wall-eyed old leader who rounded
the mob at daybreak. and Tony had TO
go out for him with whip He came,
dropping saliva from his great jaws,
and stood, four square and unmoving,
as Tony yOked up. Then he flung him
self straightway, and it took six men
to bring him up again. Robinson was
angry. for Jake was grinning "You
get away. Jake" he said. ~rhe ladll
want room s'posin' they starts goin'."
When Jake had creaked off through
the faint light Robinson said: Yer
goin' to leave pair behind terday,
Tony" Cd you think I'm going to
leave my head?" retorted Tony, crisp
ly.
Couldn't say. But" Then you
needn't think I'll leave Buster" Tony's
eyes were burning. I'm not going 10
be bested by any brute that chooses
to play up with me. He'll have to go;
and III make him put his back into it,
or III know why. Stand clear there,
you fellows"
Tony knew that he was on his trial
before the whole camp, with a thous-
and pounds worth of bullocks to his
care. and danger waiting at each turn
Of the track.
Buster crawled sulkily over the
rough corduroy where the grade was
level. and the weight of the heavily
laden truck steadied him Tony
watched, light-lipDed, for the steep
downward pinched beyond grinding
down the brakes as firmly as he dared,
until the screech Of the wooden tram
lines under the wooden wheels shut
out all the merry music Of the bush.
Tony's hands were yet stiff on the
whip, and the chains chilled him as he
took the rear ones up two links at
the foot of the grade. They had come
down faster than he liked to remem-
Der, and he felt sick somewhere when
he thought Of the meaning of false
STEP AN very certainly there'l be
false step fore long. Busters max
ing pace to blow the lot of en-
With a quick. clumsy "clack-clack'
they rounded the cutting above the
Black Whirlpool, with Tony walking
partly on air and partly on any stray
scrub root available, and holding him
self ever beside Buster. alert-eyed and
quick-tongued. Below the water was
white foam and black ink, and gray as
death. Tony looked down only once
He had walked between the lines until
this day. Over a frail bridge they
creaked; through swamp where the
rails were greasy with slime, and
Tony ran. half-bent, sanding the track
to give grip.
At a pool beyond Buster desired to
drink. Tony objected, and then came
the trouble. From sulkiness the brute
grew to stubbornness. Finally he stuck
in his toes, and refused movement Of |
any kind. Tony tried art, persuasion,
and the merciful lash of the whip. |
Buster stood firm; his great head low,
his little eyes half shut Then Tony |
sat down in the narrow gut between |
the line and the chalky cliffs, and |
wiped the sweat off his face and neck.
You'll get sick of that presently, !
my friend" he said. And then I'll |
take it out of you"
The day was very hot among the
tall trees-hotter than it should be
for the time of year. There was a new
tang in the air, Tony flung up his head I
and shifted. Then he came to his feet |
with horror wide in his eyes. To right |
OF the line the sky was smeared red. |
and red glinted in the top-most gum
leaves.
"Fire!" said Tony in his throat, and |
gripped his whip, bringing the but
down on Busters quarter The bull
locks snorted, thrusting their heads |
forward with the sudden strange moan
ing that hurts the heart of those that
love them. Tony's eyes blinded for a
We've got to go through
with it, old boys-if we can. But I'm
not going to leave you. And there's
no turning back. Buster-if l get you
started"
Here Tony did a cruel thing. He