The new South-news., 1908-05-16
A BATTLE WITH
PUMPKIN SEEDS"


boma In Maine. had become fron'ierN-
mcu ard had like himself settled IN
Iowa. he stuck n notice on his cabin
door 10 the effect that he had gone
Visiting and would rc.lrn within
couple of months. and started on
horseback 20 welcome the newcomers.
lie enjoyed his visit. but fould his
former neighbors not disposed 10
take seriously all his advice when
kc spoke of the fcroci'y " the Wild
hogs that infested tho country
pumpkin seeds" they were called,
because of their tawny color and
conlcsI forms-ail the crswfords
laughed
wolf. thoro. can take the biggest
rsrorback that ever sqncaied. and
put him out Of business In no tlmci"
Jim Crawford scored. Jim was
twenty years old"
Maybe fo." mumblei the old man.
Thcn bis eyes began 20 twinkle. and
he spoke again. Along last fall. %
be naid II heard a racket out In the
brush behind my cabin. and ! went
out 10 look round. ON the other side
nj clearing whore ia had potatoes.
] spotted big black bear. standing
ever a pumphln-seed that he'd lust
wnlioped the llfo out OF. Next mo-
mcnt another pig showed up--blg-
rest one ever saw. he was. and II
rocmod 10 me his ears we're set half
way between his nose and the root
~ his tail. Before IA stood there
two minutes. twenty or thirty more
pumpkin-rocds had ancnkcd into tho
clearing. and were looking Kind OF
doubtful at Mr. Dear"
and then Mr.. Dear got mad md
thrssbed the whole ortnt." laughed
Mrs Crawford. Don't tell us that
. bunch OF scrawny pigs made bear
run. Elijah Purdy."
''They didn't make him run.
agreed tho trapper. They circled
round him. and then. all OF n sud.
den. bear and pumpkIn-seeds were
piled up ten deep. Du, II was all
over In Few minutes. there wasn't
anything left OF the bear but n few
bits OF fur and his bonca. and thos,
we're polished pretty clean"
This stors reused In the settlers n
spirit OF ridIculc. They laughed al
Mr. Purdy's respect for wild hogs
and jim offered to go out with a
club. accompanied by the great half.
mastin dog called Wolf" and cx.
terminate a drove OF the animals
A few days later MIR. Purdy and
Jim started down the Maquoketn
River beyond what IL now the town
Of Hopington They were armed
With heavy, long g-barrcled sho,guns
that took eight drains OF powder for
raoh barrel. and that were powerful
at shotgun range, also they were
accompanied by Wolf. Buddy. M
AHels.h bulldog who had bevn slver
to the CrNw:ordr ~ soWr crst .boun'
rOvcrs. was To bc unclaimed as sooI
40 Wolf was gonc--for the bulldoy
and the half-mastir were never al
lowed TO run at the same time. Thus
Mrs. Crawford would have the com
ranionship and protection OF Buddy
uhilc the other dog was away.
Unfortunately for this plan. before
Jim discovered tho white bulldo,
skulking few rods behind.
"Confound the dog" said Jim
Father won't be home Till night nns
mother viii be nervous without
living thing for company. Wc'll hav
to lead Buddy to keep him and VOL
from fghting. too"
Tho bulldog was secured by
drap Jim had worn about his waist
aud SO icashed. trotted amiahly a
his masters side. Occasionally h
~rinklcd his nose at Wolf. but 1t wa
easy TO keep tho enemies apart.
Game was scarce. MIR. rurd
dropped goose AS Il rose. noppinl
from side current in the river. an
Wolf killed woodchuck. Aside frol
this. they had seen nothing whs
they stopped to eat dinner near
unrshy stream that omptied into Il
Maquoketa.