The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-01-10

ana then I1ted his wings to fly, but the chain
heavy, and his several attempts only resulted in
tumbng him in the dirt Uncle Ned did not
wait to see the bird Uncovered, but called back to
Jack from the porch, you'd better wash yourself
Jack, and then come here and let dress your
scratches; some of them pretty deep"
In the afternoon the two went fishing and came
home at supper time with Il string of fine trout
Jacks first thought of the eagle, and he carried
goOdsized fish and laid it within reach of the bird
His mother, standing in the doorway with her broth
er, said, I'm glad to him thoughtful for the
poor thing, but L wash he hadn't caught it. | can't
bear to see it chained, and an eagle can never be
tanned"
Pm sorry, too," said Uncle Ned, "to find Jack
such young pagan He's kind-hearted naturally
m sure, and it's only thoughtlessness that makes
him finty-hearted gaoler. l believe [ can cure
him if you'll let me try"
Every day of Uncle Ned's visit had been a red
letter day to Jack, and, when next morning he sug
gested long bicycle ride up the beach, the bov was
dellghted. The day was perfect with a hawless sky
above and only gentle Chinook breeze blowing in
from the ocean. The beach as smooth and hard
as an asphalt pavement, and Uncle Ned was in high
spirits About noon they to an abandoned
shack set in sheltered cove only Just far enough
back to escape the high tides of winter Here thew
dlsmounted to eat their lunch big flat rock that
made at once loungng place and a table. An
IRON staple driven into the rock showed that it had
been used landing place.
"This would be a snug place TO camn wouldn't Il
now" Uncle Ned remarked as they Law on their
backs looking up into the sky, "a regular Robinson
Crusoe sort of place. Wonder why Robinson aban-
doned t?"
HE had to, but his name wasn't Robinson" Jack
laughed. 1T was old Indian joe and the ranchers
made it too hot for him to stay One of the Tavlor
boys back in the woods robbed his traps and at last
ne caught him at it and brought him home and shut
him up in the hut there. His folks thought Jim
was lost In the woods and they searched for him for
week. AT last a man came up here to get Joe to
help hunt He'd lived here for years and knew the
woods like book. Joe was out fishing and tbe
man went in and found Jim Taylor chained to a
post He was reading a book Joe had got for him
somewhere and he had plenty of food and water with
IN reach, but he was mighty glad to be rescued. He
said Joe was awful mad at first and he was 80
scared for fear he was going to kill him. that he
couldn't eat Sleep besides he knew how his mother
must be feeling. He couldn't understand much Joe
SAID but he made out that he intended to keen him
prisoner always. Joe said himself when they ar
rested him that he going to let him 90 the next
DAY, and guess he only meant to scare him. but
that didn't help Jimmy any, shut lp n that dirtv
little hut, when he'd been used to roaming around
the woods and beach all day 1t must have been
pretty tough; l don't know what I'd have done
The settlers thought so, too and they gave Joe a
week to get out of the country"
"H'm," said Uncle Ned chat was pretty hard IN ,
man to have to leave cosy place like this for such
a little thing"
Jack looked up astonished but his companion went
on calmly, Il guess Jimmy Taylor deserved some
punishment, too which can't be said of all prisoners
why I've read of men who had been chained ND in
dungeons for years until they died. fact for moth
ing more than loving the homes God had given them
the homes and their families and their freedom
freedom to go and come as they pleased the freedom
OF the earth and the air and the sunshine Oh Joe
wasn't so bad when you think OF the others. It's
pity they him off You say he gave the bow
water and food and even book? He wasn't chained
too tight was he; the chain didn't hurt his leg"
"Oh no." Jack admitted reluctantly. "he put it on
over his trouser leg and he gave him hemloc boughs
for bed but all the same it wasn't much fun being
chained How do you think you'd like it?"