Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-09-26

when disposed to assault him, but
no one that was as certain as a
good fire, backed by dense
column of vapor. Various plants
thought to be so very offensive
to the insects that they avoid even
their odor; and the bee-hunter
had faith i'm one or two of them
but none of the right sort hap
pened now to be near, and he Was
obliged to trust, first to power
full heat, and next to the vapor
of damp wood.
AS there were axes and wedges
and beetle in the canoe, and Ger
shom was an expert with those
implements as master OF fenc-
ing is with his foil to say nothing
of the skill of lie Bourbon, the
tree was soon laid open, and it's
ample stores of sweets exposed. In
the course of the afternoon the
honey was deposited in kegs, the
kegs We're transferred to the canoe,
and the whole deposited in the
chiente. The day had been one of
toll, and when our two border
men sat down near the spring TO
take their evening meal, each felt
that his work was done.
II believe this must be the last
hive / line, this summer" said lie
Bourbon, while eating his supper.
my luck has been good SO far,
but in troublesome times one had
better not be too far from home.
| am surprised, Warning, that you
have ventured so far from your
family, while the tidings are SO
gloomy"
eThat's partly because you don't
know me, and partly because you
don't know Dolly. AS for leaving
hum, with anybody to kear for it,
l should like to know who is more
to the purpose than Dolly Waring?
haven't no idee that even bees
would dare get upon her! If
they did, they'd soon get the
worst ont. Her tongue is all
powerful, to say nowthin' of her
arm; and if the so'gers can only
handle their muskets as she can
handle a broom, there is no need
of new regiments to carry on this
war;"
Now nothing could be more false
than this character; but a drunk
ard has little regard to what he
says.
II am glad your garrison is so
strong" answered the bee-hunter,
thoughtfully; shut mine is too
weak to stay any longer, out here
in the openings. Whiskey Centre,
intend to break up, and to re-
turn to the settlements, before the
redskins break loose in earnest. If
you will stay, and lend me hand
to embark the honey and stores,
and help to carry the canoe down
the river, you shall be well paid
for your trouble"
"Waal. ia about as lief do that as
do anything else. Good jobs is
scarce, out here in the wilderness,
and when body lights on one he
ought to profit by it. / come up
here thinkin' to. meet you, for /
heer'n tell from voyager that you
was a-beeing it, out in the open
ms, and there's nawthin' in natur'
that Dolly takes to with a greater
relish than good wild honey. TRY
whiskey,' I've told her thousand
times, 'and you'll soon get to like
that better than all the rest of
creation;' but not a drop could i
ever get her, or Blossom, to swal-
low. It's true, that leaves SO much
the more for me; and Pm a COM
panionable crittur, and don't
think I've drunk as much as / want
unless / take it society-like. That's
one reason I've taken so nightly
to you, Bourbon; you're not much
at pull, but you ant downright
afread of a jug, neither"
The bee-hunter was glad to hear
that all the family had not this
mans vice, for he now plainly
foresaw that the accidents of his
position must bring him and these
strangers much in contact, for
some weeks, at least. lie Bour-
don, though not absolutely 'afraid
of Jug" as Whiskey Centre had
expressed it, was decidedly tenn
perate man,-drinking but seldom,
and never to excess. He too well
knew the hazards by which he was
surrounded, to indulge in this way,
one small Jug of brandy forming
his supply for whole season.
companion of such person as
Whiskey Centre; but there was
no choice. The man was an utter