The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-09-08

Through the crOOkedest creek you
ever saw. Over logs and under trees
until you all'd wish we hadn't come. "
The canoe turned toward the north,
crossed a little circular bay and en-
tered a patch Of woods. There was no
sign Of creek or passageway from
the bay. Trees were as thick and
hung as low as elsewhere on the
green-encompassed shore. The men
lay on the bottom Of the canoe and
pulled themselves forward by the
branches overhead. Bump! went the
canoe on a hidden log. Both men
got out and, balancing on the log,
worked the canoe across It. A swarm
OF mosquitoes settled down on them.
Not 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 1t under low-hanging
branches, they gained ground by
inches. And all this time they were
fighting a cloud of vicious, blood
hungry insects. The handle of the
professors paddle hit limb just over
his head and, from a hornets nest at
its further end poured forth a war
party of these merciless fighters.
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.
"DonnerwCtter! 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
bay about a mile in diameter. In
the middle we're two small mangrove
keys, over which a 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
second later by the report of a gun.
We saw a 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
lemme go alone and talk to EN-"
Frank padded toward the island
A charge of shot spattered the water
ahead of him.
"Heigh, Jackson! Don't you know
me? I'm Frank Brown. Put up yo'
gun, we're not after you" shouted
Frank, standing UP in his canoe with
arms outstretched.
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 I'll be a sight easier in my
mind when we're clear of 'em. didn't
expect to find 'em here or l wouldn't
a. come. That's the livin' truth. That
teller Jackson is wanted by the sheriff |
somethin' fierce, and he's a 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 our rubber mattresses.
wen use your fire, If you-all don't |