Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-08-15

down on rock, mopped his red face
with a flaming red bandanna, then
started down the eft.hand gully for
drink.
"Come on = whispered the youth
and the brothers crouched low be-
tween the brush walls of the trail and
Ssneaked swiftly toward their donkey.
The little Least, although battered
and bleeding and still half-reclining,
was munching a mouthful of dry
leaves as the boys approached him.
Donk had never been known to miss
an opportunity.
"Blow in his ear-just little, mind
you |" ordered the youth, as with half
raised rifle he watched both gulliea.
"Whoo-o-ol' 'breathed the youngster'
and with the swiftness Of a jack-in-a'
box Donk rose to his feet, his aerated
ear pointing angularly outward.
The youth lowered his rife, whipped
out pocket knife, severed the pack
rope, threw of roll of blankets and
a sack of -four that were lashed across
the seat of an old riding saddle, and
hurriedly mounted. AS ne settled in.
to his seat the tall man emerged from
a clump of willows with his cudgel.
For a moment he stood angrily
trimming the stick, then suddenly
raising his eyes, he gave the boys a
fierce stare, and perked out revolv-
er.
what you doin' theref", he yelled,
shrilly.
Don't you blow in his ear Don't
you'll begged the youngster, in a sa-
cred stage whisper, scrambling franti-
cally for position behind the saddle.
Don't you blow in his ear till l get
on"
The youth expected to be shot, but
he sat motionless.
Bang The tall mans bullet struck
| the saddlehorn and few off, scream
ing.
"Mike, you fool" he yelled, "head
'em off Shoot 'em Shoot em, quick,
or we lose the sack |"
As he leveled his revolver and fred
again, the youth felt wiry pair of
arms clamp his waist, and bulging
toadlike from deep inhalation, he
leaned quickly forward and sent
blast of air into Donk's fuzzy ear, at
the same moment turning him about
by sharp blow on the cheek with
his hat.
The bullets were flying from both
gullies now and as Donk whirled to
lope homeward, his master pufed at
his ears till he stretched himself like
greyhound.
For hundred feet the trail kept
| the ridge top. The boys rode IN full
view of the murderous partners, cling
ing like leeches to their mount, terri.
bly, scared by the shots and shouts
from behind and the bullets that
whistled by them.
Still unharmed, they dashed over
the crest of the ridge. They were
now out OF sight indeed. but they
were in new danger.
For Donk, thoroughly reused at
last, was racing down the side Of the
| mountain like bounded rabbit. His
master had blown in his ear too hard
and too often.
It is against bErro nature to run
away, but once started, it is also
against burro nature to stop or to
slow up or to swerve asidefor anything
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whatever. Donk, entirely oblivious
to the safely winding s@itch-backs,
went down the rough and PERCEPTIONS
slope with the headlong velocity of a
rolling boulder.
The boys had blown too hard in
Donk's ear before-nothing else saved
them. With cool headed precision
the youth calculated Donk' leaps and
bounds, and with knees tightly grip
ped and shoulders deftly shifting into
balance, successfully offset them.
The youngster. his arms elapsed tight
ly about his brothers waiet and his
heels digging into Donk's hanks, clung
blindly. So, breathless, and nerve
strained, they made the descent to
Sluice Valley in safety.
Just before dark that evening a
battered burro bore his two young
masters to the door of their mothers
cabin, and while she welcomed them
with tears and caresses. Donk. intent
on retrieving a lost opportunity,
licked up the potato parings which ne
had failed to come for that mornihq.
Later. when they, including Douk,
went into the cabin, and with barred
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