Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-01
CHAPTER TX. (continued).
"Good dog, good dog!"

CHAPTER X. (continued).
"Good dog! good dog!"
Out of breath, spent with a run OF
more than three-quarters of a mile,
torn by thorns, despatched with mud,
the men approached the setter, now
standing AS ii craven in granite out
side a thick holly bush. Hugo took
the right, and motioned to Burgess
to command the lett; Henbest at
tackled the holly bush with his stick.
Whirr-r!
Bang!
Burgess fred and missed a-hen.
81 thought it was a cock" he ex-
planned.
so did Don" said Hugo.
And it flew across the sun. What a
SELL"
Balm, however, awaited them =
not in. Gilead, but in Rakes Brake
bog, where two snipe are bagged.
Here they saw a fox calmly sitting
on a dry tussock in the bog, watching
them intently, and with an air that
no need not disturb himself. A, few
minutes later, in Broomie, a woodcock
rose silently, and vas just INVITING
out of sight behind a holly bush,
q WLSIlE IluSo Dlou5uI III" w 5ioSs
with q clever shot. Henbest was of
opinion that duck might be found on
some of the splashes between Broomie
and SHUTTER. A careful reconnaissance
was made. Hugo carried a pair of
small Zeiss glasses, and presently vas
able to announce that six mallard
were lying In a pool some three
hundred yards ahead.
Johnnie Frost ha' brought they
beauties ill.," said Tom wiping the
sweat from his lean face. Jaspar Now
land has lost his look of melancholy,
his long, convincing nose snuffed the
air,
"Us1l never get nigh EN-" he de-
clared.
A notable stalk followed.
They crawled, slithering through
the whin and heather, to within sew
enty yards of the splash. 1t being i'm
possible to crawl nearer without be-
ing seen, the two heaters were in
structed to fetch a compass, to ap.
proach from the other side, and en-
deavor to drive the ducks over the
guns. Two holly bushes furnished
screens. Alas! Luck, changing mex
orably, ordained that the mallard, on
rising, should elect to fly over the
heads Of the heaters and, instead Of
~circling as is their kindly habit, take
a. bee line due south.
Luncheon offered compensation.
Mowland u%nstrapped the bag which
held sandwiches, bread and cheese,
apples and a flask. Tom Henbest did
not refuse a drop of whisky. Mowland
with a discouraging smile, shook his
head.
Father died o. drink, e did. Doc
tor said so-yas. e. did"
Doctor told no lie, neither" re-
marked Tom cheerily. 'Allus ready
for a pot were your father, if summun
else 'ud pay for it. Fine %upstannin'
sinner e was, when sober
Mother made me take the pledge
when | were nine years DID," contin-
ued Mowland meditatIveIy. 81 KEEP
it faithful eve since" He addressed
Burgess, with an y to backsheesh
Don't &c get o vain about that
Jaspar. Taste fer strong drink do go,
seemin'ly, from %granfer TO grandson
vas, it do. My granfer were a tarnable
thirsty Teller"
"Ah," said Hugo, nov we know
Tom, why you generally try to enc
up near the inn at Kingcross."
Presently pipes were lit, and to
bacco smoke mingled with the reel
of the small camp fire which Ton
Henbest had lighted. Mowland threw
into the flames a few fir cones; al
agreeable resinous odor filled the
air.
How good it is TO be alive" ex
claimed Burgess.
Upon the faces of the four men lay
an expression of elemental conten'
and repose. Familiar to Hugo wa.
that look. He had seen it a thousan,
times upon the faces of trapers in thu
far west, lying round the camp fire
upon Indians drifting down the rivers
with their canoes full of pelts, upo1
his Tartar guides In Manchuria, upo1
the blacks of Somaliland. 1t is an ex
preston for which you may searcl
In vain through roaring thorough
fares.
Depends where you are" sait
Hugo. lazily. tits not good to be aliv,
in a prison."
Burgess nodded and quoted som,
lines from the Ballad of READING
Gaol";
with bars they blur the graciou