Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1909-07-16


share the loss. As Abijah would not
consent. they parted angrily. Jonas
kept the skins. and Abijah threatened
to replevin them. Meantime the pelts
were being spoiled by moths in the
back room Of the Warner homestead.
Thus the matter stood when Abijah.
hunting squirrels on sixpence hill, dis
covered Jonas busy among the trees.
With the patience Of born hunter
Abijah watched his former chum until
he learned where Jonas deposited his
booty.
Then smile Of satisfaction stole
over the freckled face Of Abijah VIII
liams. He had determined to appropri-
ate the nuts on account of his lost
furs.
Next night he left the house as II to
60 coon hunting.
It happened that Hiram Acton, Un-
Gle Hosea Swale and Joe Chute sal
lied ont the same evening to hunt
coons on Sixpence hill. Chute was a
French Canadian. They had a lantern,
gun and two dogs. By 8 O'Clock they
had started a coon.
Suddenly the barking Of one Of their
hounds seemed high above them. It
rang out full and musical. When the
dog ceased the echoes went calling to
and fro among the lodges and family
falling away till silence again ruled
the night. The three coon hunters
stopped running and began to talk.
"Fellers," said Hiram, wiping the
Precipitation from his brow with the
back Of his hand, "we've lost him."
"What makes you think so2" painted
Uncle Hosea.
'"Think so2 Why, I'm tellin' ON ye
know 1t. The ragin' beast O. prey has
took sanctuary in the bars den. Ye
might Jest as well try to ketch pond
sinner in steel trap as expect to find
a coon that gifts into the bars den."
~ told ye, didn't l." snarled Uncle
Hosea, "'twa'n't no use In comm of
here arter coons? They alters manage
20 git into that pesky hole. Let's go
hum"
'Waal, I amt goin' back now" said
Chute resolutely. II got my mout
mad up for dat coon, n I tell my wo-
man l fetch one coon home to him.
My woman-she's de bes' cook!'
"She won't cook no coon that amt
ketched, 1 guess" 'said Acton.
II tole you," exclaimed Chute, ''up
in Canaday smoke out coons in place
lax dat. Take some dead leaf m
strike match, m dat coon she come
out pooty mighty quick. ya-as!''
'Chute, ye might jest as well try to
drive a coon out o. Hoosac tunnel by
lightin' match at one end ont" said
Acton.
But Uncle Hosea Swale seemed to
think the plan worth trying, and pres
emily Chute was sent to light fire at
the upper opening, while the others
stayed at the nearer entrance with the
dogs. Chute was instructed to smoth-
er the fire with leaves and brush, so
that it's draft would be downward and
through the cave and. out of the lower
entrance.
His companions heard the cracking
Of the brush as Chute went through
it. Then all was silent save the moan
ing Of wind in the treetops overhead.
The solemnity Of the night became al
most oppressive.
TITS kinder fun'ral-like here, amt
It, Acton7' said Uncle Hosea In a low
tone.
"Kinder. wisht that Frenchman d
hurry up"
II don't s'pose," Uncle Hosea went
on, "that anybody ever explored this
here caveT'
"What'd anybody want to explore it
forT'
"waal. curiosity. maybe. Ye remem-
Der ole Sam Mash. don't ye2"
"Him that bruk his leg loggin' for
Henry Brasset? He said he heerd it
crack In three places. He was so
scared that he insisted on bein' brung
home on an OK sled. When they got
him halfway home he jumped off'n
the sled an went back after his dinner
pail Yes, I remember ole Sam
Mash"
"waal. be was a curtis sort Of a
critter. He'd tell the most singular
stories. He ulster tell sometimes bout
explorin' this here bars den. He
skart hisself so tellin' 1t one night
over to Benefits huskin' that he
didn't darse to 60 hum alone"
"What did he see in there2" asked
Acton, lighting his pipe and leaning
back against q b0wlder.
At this point Chute came back to re-.
port that the smudge was burning
finely. He sat down, and Uncle Hosea
went on with his story:
"Waal, highs I kin rec'lect 1t, ole