Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-17

Tor anybody.
loaded the critters into the skiff--
the pig fairly sung psalms while | waf
doing it-and then the Twins climbed
aboard
"All right, skipper" says Van.
Shove OF"
Just minute" says 7. What am
I going to do--take the next train!
This transport rcems to be pretty we'll
loaded"
1t was Van Brunt was on the
amidships thwart. Hartley was up IN
the bow, with the pig between his
knees The chicken coop was piled IN
the stern. I amt no dime show dwarf.
and where I was going 70 stow myself
was too much for me.
"Humph." says Van. ut does look
standing room only. Here, skipper;
| you kneel on the back seat. I'll row.
didn't exactly kneel, but strad.
died across the stern somehow, with
the butt end OF the hen roost In my lap
md my feet over each rail Just clear OK
the wet.
Mates boy showed us into deep wa.
ter. He had to take on his shoes and
stockings 10 do IT, and he was laugh
Ing so that he made mighty poor head
way.
You pesky Young one" says I.
losing my patience. III you don't tend
to your Job III get ont and duck you.
What arc you giggling at?'
II amt giggl!rg" says he. I'm
NV Of
| There you be-"
He gave rs a fnal shove and then
went back and rolled around IN the
bushes Somebody vas having a good
|. time If we wa nj.
We moved OF stately and slow. like
an ocean liner leaving her dock. we
didn't have any band. but the pig ana
hens furnished music The skif's rail-
was almost a-wash and my heels
dipped on every little wave.
Van rowed like good one TIL he got
about two.thirds OF the way across.
Then the tide got q grip en- rs and no
commenced to go slower and groan.
He'd miss stroke and we'd swing half
way around. We was going broadside
on most Of the time.
BY and by Hartley spoke up.
What makes this pig kick So
says he, like twas some kind OF a
conundrum The cr.tter seemed to be
doing his best 10 answer It, but his
language want understandable.
You look out he don't kick that
string of his legs" hollers lad to
boiler to make myself heard above the
choir.
He bent forward and looked down.
Why" says he. "1ll be shot II he
hasn't done It already"
: Hang on 20 him them" yeIls. For
the land sa1es don't let him loose"
Van Brunt gives a final groan and
'. stops the oars
mo use. skipper" he says. My CT
. cumber recreation has put me out
Of the race. wouldn't row another
!. stroke for the control Of tho Standard
). on. You'll have TO be shofer the rest
Of the way
}. I didn't know what q "shofer" was
;. and I don't know now but could see
: trouble coming.
Set where you be-" I shouted.
;. Don't move Thunderation. There
a you 60"
t The posky idiot had stood up TO
$ stretch. leaving the oars in the row.
+ locks. Course the skiff swung broad
side on and a wave knocked the star
4 board overheard. Hartley see it going
and made jump and grab. He
n missed 1t. you might know but he lei
30 Of tho pig.
ripped out q lively kind OF speech
: and dove for the port oar. The hen
!. COOP was in my way and It and me
!, went headHrst into Van Brunt's shirt
u front. When | got out OF the mix-ur
both oars was ten yards astern. the
o pig was doing three laps n minute ovel
d US and under the thwarts and the heas
t was nil ont OF jail and proud OF it
Likewise we was drifting out to sea
It Well" says 7. This is nice, ain
II IT, Get out. you varmiut!" This las
e part was TO a pullet that was fappinl
8 on my shoulders.
Would you believe II. all then
y Heavenly looms done was to laugh
They Just reared.
y. no. no." whcops Hartley. "Oh
5. dcar me. This is worth the price o
admission"
- "Ha. ha," cackles Van. pufnng TO-
'r breath. and showing the pig ont OF hi
ID lap. This is the best ever, The float
ing garden of Eden! Or the ark Say
s Martin begin to sympathizs will
O. Noah"
Noah sent out a dove, II remem
Der right" says Hartley. Wonder i
1t would work with chicken
a Where's our Ararat, skipper"
n was mad clean through Here va
twice that I'd been made fool OF OIL
I salt water. want used to It and
! hurt
| The ark was anoat for 40 odd days
you want to remember that" says
J And this skin won't float 40 minutes
. loaded the way she Is. II she drifts Out
side that point"
Then she mustn't drift there" say
Van, cheerful. x don't want to &c
wet--not now, with James gone. Thi
is the only presen,sole suit I've &c
| left. II this Is wrecked you'll have I
press It. Sol"
| My. but was hopping! Talkin