Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-07-26

. in so far as he guessed them Duncan
who had been set to watch the first
weeks of Freckles' work, carried to the
boss at the south camp, but the inner.
most, exquisite torture Of the thing the
big Seotchman never guessed, and Nc
Lean with his finer perceptions came
only a little nearer
After a few weeks, when E'reckies
found that he was still living, that he
had home and The very first money
be had ever POSSESSED was safe in his
pockets, he began to grow proud He
was gradually developing the fearless
ness that Ten ever acquire Of dangers
to which they are hourly accustomed
His heart seemed TO be in his mouth
when his first RATHER disputed the
trail with him, but he mustered cour-
age and let drive at it with his club.
After its head had been crushed he
cut off its rattles to show Duncan.
With the mastery Of his first snake
his greatest fear Of them was gone.
Then he began to realize that with
he abundance Of food in the swamp
flesh hunters would not come out on
the trail aud attack him, and he had
his revolver for defense if they did.
He soon learned to laugh at the hoppy
birds that made horrible noises. One
day watching from behind a tree he
saw a crane solemnly performing a
I few measures of a belated nuptial
song aud dance with his mate. Re
alizing that Il was intended in tender
ness. no matter how it appeared, the
lonely, starved heart of the boy went
out to them in sympathy.
When day after day the only thing
that relieved his utter loneliness was
the companionship of the birds and
beasts of the swamp Freckles turned
to them for friendship. He began by
instinctively protecting the weak and
helpless. He was astonished at the
quiekness with which they became ac-
customed to him once they learned
that he was not hunter and that the
club he carried was used more fire.
quently for their benefit than his own.
He could scarcely believe what he saw.
When black frosts began stripping
the Limberlost he watched the depart
ing troops of his friends with dismay.
He made special efforts toward friend
liness with the hope that he could in
duce some of them to stay. 1t was
then that he conceived the idea Of
carrying food to the birds, for he saw
that they were leaving for lack of it.
But he could not stop them. Day
after day hocks gathered and depart
ed BY the time the first snow whit
ened his trail about the Limberlost
there were left only the little black
and white juncOs, the sapsuckers, yell
lowhammers, a few patriarchs among
the flaming cardinals, the bIuejays,
the crows and the quail
Then Freckles began his wizard
work. He cleared space of swale,
and twice a day he spread a birds
banquet BY the middle of December
the strong winds Of winter had beaten
most of the seed from the grass and
bushes. The snow fell covering the
swamp. and food was very scarce and
hard to find. The birds scarcely wait
ed until Freekles' back was turned to
attack his provisions. In a few weeks
hey flew toward the clearing to meet
him. By the bitter weather of Jan
larry they came halfway to the cabin
avery morning and futtered about him
ike doves all the way to the feeding
ground. By February they would
,erch on his head and shoulders, and
he saucy jays would try to pry into
lis pockets.
Then Freckles added to wheat and
rumbs every scrap of refuse food he
ould find about the cabin. One morn
ne. coming TO his feeding ground I'M
sually early, be found a gorgeous
ardinal and Il rabbit socially nibbling
cabbage leaf side by side, and that
lstantly gave to him the idea of
racking nuts from the store he had
altered for Duncan's children, for
lie squirrels. in the effort to add them
, his family. Soon he had them com
lg-red gray and blaek-and he be-
anne filed with a vast impotence
lat he did not know their names nor
lbits
SO the winter passed. Every week
clean rode over to the Limberlost.
sver on the same day nor at the same
'ur- The boys earnings constituted
S first money, and when the boss ex-
aimed to him that he could leave
EN- safe at bank and carry away
scrap Of paper that represented the
mount he made a deposit on every
Y day, keeping out barely what was
cessary for his board and clothing.
hat be wanted to do with his money
did not know. but it gave to him
nse Of freedom and power to feel
at 1t was thcre-it was his and he
uld have it when he chose
That winter held the first hours of
Il happiness in Freckles' life. He
IS free. He was doing mans work
thiully through every rigor Of rain.
lw and blizzard. He was gathering
wonderful strength Of body, paying
way ani saving money
IRIS Duncan had hot drink ready
him when he came in from n freez-