The Washington herald., 1911-08-13
Chapter Sixteen
WHAT BEFELL OIL OATES, AND WHAT
HAPPENED WHILE ABE WAS GONE
TO ARMADALE.
TO ARMADALE

h. .
I'LL OATES, drenehed as he was from
AI his involuntary duckings in the river,
had no sooner declined TO go with
NU his companions on their trial trip
than he could have bitten his tongue
off for having allowed his temper to
overrule his wishes for q moment He had
thought the rest were laughing at him, and
that it would spite them to have him refuse
to GO.
their first stroke, he hurried away to his
home, thinking that he would change his
clothes and return to claim his place in the
boat.
But the best of US do not always carry out
our plans, and OIL finding company at his
house, remained there longer than he had in
tended-longer, IN fact, than he realized, for
it was after sunset before he started toward
the river.
Sam Flutters and was pursuing his way at q
rapid gait when he thought he saw a dark
form skulking in the bushes of to his right.
His first thought was to turn back, but his
desire to get to the river overcame his pra-
kept on. But he had not gone ten rods be-
fore he discovered two persons coming for
ward to intercept him.
The foremost was Sam Flutters. OH was
sure of that, and he wheeled sharply to his
left, thinking he could yet escape his enc
The next moment Gale Powers leaped into
his pathway, and ordered him to stop.
On's stock Of courage was not very great,
Drawer heart than his might have failed.
He shouted for help, and, hinging Gale
Powers heels over head to the ground he ran
at the top Of his speed, without regard to
the direction he was taking.
Sam F1ntters and his followers gave pur-
suit, yelling exultantiy as they gave their
victim chase
Il was the sound of these cries which reach
ed the boating party, and. rs they recognized
QlPs despairing shrieks, he was doing his level
best to outdistance his pursuers, and probably
would have succeeded had he not tripped upon
bush in his course and been hurled to the
he scrambled to his feet Just a. the fore
wild struggle ensued for moment. Then,
for the second time. the hunted boy broke
from his would-be captors and fed.
He had not gone much farther before he
and and hanging .t an ns angle Of fortySve Degrees degrees.
The leaning trunk was not over foet in di-
ameter, and there was not branch for more
than twenty feet upon which he could catch
to steady himself; but, in his fright. Oh
went up this narrow incline like squirrel,
until he had gained q perch in its top.
Sam Fiutters and his companions stopped
at the foot of the leaning tree, with yells of
derision, though not one of them seemed to
have the courage or ability to ascend the
Come down." called out Sam. IF you
don't, wen keep you up there all night. Bah!
i wouldn't be sich coward as yer air fer
emmy money - iNl
Oh made no reply to this TRADE, while he
gazed down upon them in evident fear. Then,
in the midst Of the silence that settled for q
moment on the scene, the sound of heavy
footsteps gave the boy in the treetop thrill
Of hope, while his tormentors started with
alarm.
Its Joe Blnl1s" exclaimed sam IAN
he's got an ak, boys! Here, Joe, i want
thet ar in short metrew
Without stopping to ask what was wanted
Of the AK, Joe handed it over to Sam, who
passed it to Gale Powers, saying:
."Chop off the pine, Gale; that's the way
they git down 'eoonsP'
"What air ye doin', boys?' asked Joe, as
Gale began heavy blows into the body Of the
pine. Got q coonw
yep, bouncer," replied Sam. "Hilloa
there, coward! Air yer ready ter come down
now? Gale will have thet tree of in a min
ute, 80 yer'l hev to think purity lively"
OH imagined he could already feel the pfnt
yielding, and he knew that to be carried with
1t TO the earth meant almost certain death Il
him, and in reply to Sam he renewed his out
cries in louder key than ever
"Yell away" said Sam. Make the mos
of yer, time. fer the tree is bound ter com'
down"
BY this time Joe Bhnks of course under
stood the situation, though he offered no re
monstrance to the work of the boys, who's,
attention was divided between watching tn,
nrogreaa of Gale PoWers' steady blows and tn,