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

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younester rode sturdy burro out
from the timber and shouted the words
simultaneously.
1.-TWO men, laddies? Which way
from, and what like are they ?"
zones a tall, looking fell
low. " replied the youth. "His pard-
ner is stubby and red-headed, the
same two that the Vigilantes chased
out of camp-aud there hasn't been
any sluice. box robbing since"
"Tbey offered us $l5 for Donk,
added the youngster.
"And you refused it?" said the
mother, severely, but with twinkling
eyes.
ga thousand dollars in gold would
not touch our Donk," averred the
youngster.
The elder brother nodded his firm
approval of the small boys remark,
then. .queried, "What do you suppose
those toughs are shopping around try
ing to buy burros for, mother ?"
"They want to rush to Coarse Gold
Creek with the rest of the ninnies,
reckon. Or if they're the slulce'box
robbers, maybe it's cache of gold
they've come for. But jump down
from that thousaud.dolla Donk Of
yours, both Of you, and get ready for
supper"
Early the next morning the youth,
with his fathers rifle on his shoulder,
and the youngster, carrying Donk' E
bride, went up the canon through
the deserted camp. Donk was needed
to drag log to the wood pile, and if
a squirrel could be knocked from a
pine top, the bacon would last just so
much longer.
The burro was nowhere to be found
but at the company's corral, his favor
ite haunt, the boys came upon tracks,
Donk's tracks, and the tracks made
by long, French-heeled boots and
short, wide, hobnailed shoes.
They've stolen himP' said the
youth, sorrowfullY, and the youngster
began to cry.
go back and tell mother I've gone
after Donk," said the youth.
"I'm going with you-after DoDk'
declared the youngster, suddenly dry.
ing his tears and setting his jaws with
a decision which his brother accepted
as final.
Along the dusty trail up the canon
they followed the tracks. They were
covered by the the lace-like tracings
of creatures that crawl by night.
They've hours the start" observed
the grave youth, sternly.
The trail divided at Sluice Valley,
and the tracks and the trailers turned
northward. About the middle of the
forenoon the youngster broke a long
silence. He had need of all his breath,
for he had to walk very fast, when
not trotting, to keep up with his
brother.
"But Donk will balk, said he, not
very hopefully. "Donk always balks,
and nobody but US knows our system. :
"He's travelling right along" the
youth replied, impassively.
An hour later, when the youngeter
had fallen some distance behind, the
youth again broke the silence:
"Feet gettin sore, brother?"
"Ye-nor not very.
Hungry"
"You bet Good and hungry.
"We're getting good piece from
home, and Donk is still travelling
right along. Maybe you'd better go
back and tell mother where I've
gone"
The youngster promptly closed the
gap between him and his brother.
I'm going with you-after Donk."
About noon the trail left Sluice
Valley and began switch.backing up
ridge. At the foot Of the switch.
back the trailers found signs of much
trampling. Donk's tracks, the front
rims cutting sharp half-circles, were
everywhere. The French-heeled boots
and the hobnailed shoes had scraped
and slid as if from mich pulling and
hauling. A little farther on they
found in the dust the mold of a shag-
gy.coated, outstretched burro.
"Goody, goody + cried the youngter.
"Donh' s balkedl"
Then from up the mountain came a
mufied whack whack whackl And
the yonngster shuddsred and almost
cried. for he remembered how Donk
had looked when first they bought
him-a sorely beaten burro that had
balked.
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