Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12
Uncle Tom Andy Bill
Continued from page 4

the cave Father and Balser called me, and
they looked everywhere; but it seemed as II
the earth had opened and swallowed us. The
mouth of the cave was almost hidden by
bushes, and they did not at once discover 1T.
After looking about for two or three minutes,
they came close to the opening and lnd1stlnctly
heard the barking of the dogs.
The noise coming from the cave seemed
to shoot out into the woods as a bullet IS
shot from gun Father was deceived by the
peculiar effect, and thought the voices of the
dogs had come from spot opposite the mouth
of the cave. He and Balser, therefore, ran in
the direction whence the sound seemed to
come and of course were going away from
me. When they failed to find the dogs and
me, they were greatly alarmed, and could not
imagine what had become of us. Presently
Balser said:
"'I know they are up there on the top of
the hill, near that little cliff some place.
certainly had not left them thirty seconds
when you came
"They hurried back to the vicinity of the
cave and began to search the place carefully.
All these mishaps and misunderstanding con-
stunned perhaps four or five minutes, during
which time it is one of the seven wonders
that the bears had not consumed me. Balser
soon found the mouth of the cave, and father
came to my rescue. His eyes being unused to
the darkness, he could not see far into the
cave; but he heard the conflict between the
dogs and the bears, and he knew that was
in the midst of it.
Father said he heard me cry out, though
1 was unconscious of an effort to do anything
but to get through the stone wall at the back
of the cave. He said he saw the flash of my
gun, and did not stop for bears, darkness. or
anything. He ran back to save me, if possible
He found the large bear lying on top of me.
and supposed l was dead. He said he did not
see the other bear; but Balser saw it and felt
it too.
when fired and killed the bear, the other
evidently concluded to get out OF the cave;
so it started for fresh air just as Balser was
STOPPING to enter. There was collision, and
Balser took another trip down hill. He said
if he had rolled down that hill many more
times he would have acquired the habit.
Father pulled me out from under the
bear, and he and Balser carried me home on
a litter made from the limbs of tree
neighbor went next day and brought home
the bear, and father gave me the ten shllllngs
he received for its skin. The other bear got
away; but Balser and l thought we found it
afterward, as l will tell you tomorrow even
ing. if l don't 60 to church"
SILENCE ensued for moment or two, and
- little Nab. who had sat open eyed long
after the sandman's visit was due, said:
We'll, l hope you won't 60 to church,
Uncle Tom Andy Bill"
Dick. who sat near her and was thankful for
the suggestion, seconded with, " You bet!"
Nab slept in a cozy little room adjoining
Uncle Tom Andy Bills, and the door between
the rooms was always kept open SO that she
need not be afraid.
Il suppose I'll be frightened to death to-
night, Uncle Tom Andy Bill, said Nab; and
if l am, l am coming in to your bed"
Then the two rose and started to bed, Baby
Nab clinging to her favorite finger.
The second of Uncle Tom Andy Bills stories.
entitled The Wolves and the Powder Kes." will
appear in next Sundays issue.