The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-01-20
UNCLE DANIELS
ADVENTURE.
BY ANN ISABELLA EMMoNs.

It was a bitter day, with deep snow.
Yet Uncle Daniel was resolved on
hunting.
Aunt Martha protested, saying, ~
Daniel, don't go! Thee'll freeze"
"I freezei" Uncle Daniel retorted.
Dressed as warm as I am! And
don't you know I have a new beaver
a that cost six dollars? And L
a-running after rabbits most of the
time. How could I get cold?"
@But you might not be running
most of the time; the snow is too
deep; and it is ten degrees below
zero. Don't 60"
Uncle Daniel was silenced, but not
persuaded. After the midday meal
he made ready for hunting by draw
Ing on his heavy boots and an extra
waistcoat, and by tying the strings
of the ear-flaps of his fine new cap
under his chin. With gun and ak and
dogs he started.
Aunt Martha, in the doorway, was
still demonstrating.
Don't worry about me! I'll be
back soon!" he called, as he climbed
the high rail fence which separated
bis father-in-law's land from his.
Uncle Daniels land was all cleared,
but this was thickly wooded, with
much u%nderbrush, where he thought
there would be plenty Of game.
He had gone but a short distance
when his dogs scared up a rabbit.
With dogs yelping and baying and
Uncle Daniel yelling, it was soon
despatched. Nor was it long until
another one shared the same fate:
Soon the dogs were on the track
Of a third rabbit, with Uncle Daniel In
hot pursuit. They a under trees,
over logs, and through brush, until
the old man was almost spent. When
he came up to the dogs, they were
yelping and smelling about a hollow
tree.
That's where you are, is it," the
hunter surmised. (Ill soon have you
out.)
Uncle Daniel laid the two rabbits
in the ground and leaned the gun and
ak against the tree, preparatory to ex-
aiming whether the creature were in
1t or not. He looked up. The top of
the tree was lying near on the
ground. The butt of the tree was
hollow, so he knew the body of the
tree, still standing, vas open through
out.
There was a hole in the side of
the tree which some one had cut long
ago. He thought to put his head in
this hole to see if the rabbit were
there. If it should be, he would cut
the tree down.
Sinking on mis- knees, Uncle Daniel,
trying to put his head in the hole,
found he could not with his cap on,
so he showed it back until it hung on
his shoulders by the string round his
neck. Quickly inserting his head, he
found no rabbit there. Then, at
tempting to withdraw his head, he
found that he could not do SO!
Uncle Daniel pulled and twisted
and squirned in vain. With frantic
effort he renewed his exertions. But
the feather edges of the wood being
pushed inward by the ak when the
hole was cut, were only so many teeth
to catch his hair and beard, and hold
him fast.
He thought of his knife. If he had
1t he might cut off those ugly splin-
tiers. But, unfortunately, his knife
was at home.
Uncle Danial groaned and shouted
at the top Of his voice, but the sound
only went in echoing circles about his
head. He knew it vas of no use to
call. No n would be out on such
a day. But upon thinking, he con-
cluded that he did not want any one
to undertake to cut the tree with him
fast in it, for in falling, it might twist
round and break his neck. Still, he
wished some one were there, for then
there would be some plan devised
whereby he might be released.
What should he do? He was at
least a half-mile from any house, and
there was not one chance in ten thou
sand that any one would come along
in time to save him.