Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-09-06
3S<GREze5 IN Z7zEIP RUOlLGHY

got out and, balancing, on the log.
worked the canoe across it. Aswarm
Of mosquitoes settled down on them.
Not a breath Of wind could reach them
and the perspiration poured from
their bodies. Pushing, pulling, polling
and padding, they advanced their
craft. Lifting it over sunken logs
and forcing it. under low-hanging
branches. they gained ground by
inches. And all this time they were
fighting cloud of vicious, blood
hungry insects. The handle Of the
professors paddle hit a limb Just over
his head and, from a hornets nest at
its further end poured forth war
party OF these merciless fighters. q,
q Overheard, quick!" yelled Frank.
and both men tumbled into the water
and sank out Of sight, rising again
just enough to keep nose and mouth
above the surface, while the angry
hornets buzzed around the canoe and
crawled over its contents.
The war party dissipated its energy
by flying hither and thicker and max
ing the air vibrate with muttered
threats Of vengeance. At last they
quieted down and returned to the nest.
Slowly Frank lifted himself from the
water. reached for his shotgun in the
canoe. fired both barrels point blank
beneath the water. But there was no
need Of the second submersion. for
the shots had destroyed nest and in
habitants. <
"Donnerwetter! Let's go back,
Frank!" exclaimed the dripping man
at the bow OF the canoe as he climbed
aboard. isn't there some other way
to the rookery?"
Nope. The plume hunters keep
the creek blocked up, SOS to shut
out other fellers. We're over the
worst now. Wen soon be in the bay"
Even obstructed creeks OF cork
screw tendencies have a beginning
and an end. We finally emerged in
a bay about a mile in diameter. In
the middle were two small mangrove
keys, over which multitude of birds
were soaring The shores of the bay
were an unbroken line Of green;
neither entrance nor exit was visible.
for the mangrove trees extended to
the waters edge.
Even as we looked a puff Of smoke
came from the little island, followed a
second later by the report Of a gun.
We saw stricken bird fall to the
water and a cloud of white, blue and
pink ones rise suddenly from the trees
OF the key.
Gosh! The plume hunters re here
now!" exclaimed Frank, excitedly;
looks like we mought have trouble.
You-all better get in t'other canoe and
femme go alone and talk to 'em."
Frank padded toward the island.
"A. charge of shot spattered the water
ahead Of him.
"Heieh. jackson! Don't you know
me? I'm Frank Brown. Put up yo'
gun. we're not after you'll" shouted
Frank. standing UP In his canoe with
arms outstretched.
A gruff voice mumbled something
that didn't reach US and we heard
Frank say:
Put up yo' gun! I'm coming to-
talk to you. You know me-"
II A skin, swiftly coming from behind
the island. jYst showed as It rounded
q point.
K They're two to one, now" re-
marked the professor. II wish were
in that canoe"
you're good sight better OF right
here, and SO is Frank" commented
the man at the stern of my canoe.
frank knows those fellers and can
talk to 'em, but they would load you
with shot first and talk afterward."
At last Frank appeared padding his
craft over our way.
"Fellers, it's all right. They say
we can come and camp with 'em one
night, but Ill be sight easier in my
mind when we're clear of 'em. didn't
expect to find 'em here or wouldn't
a. come. That's the Twin truth. That
Teller Jackson is wanted by the sheriff
somethin' fierce, and he's bad 'un
all right. However. we're four and
they amt likely to do nothin' foolish.
We took as few things as possible
out of the canoe and even forebore
to exhibit FOUR rubber mattresses.
well use your fire, II you-all don't