The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-09-02

snu Indhes even hluS ttCI ISspOh-
slble. Go easy, and there's famine,
freezing, blackleg, all sorts of rea-
sons against laziness. 1t sort of edu-
Gates.
Mother was worse than silent. There
was something about her that scared
me more than anything outdoors. In
the morning her eye KEEP following me
as if to say, go find your father"
Surely it was up to me, and IL l
wasn't big enough to drive the huskies
or pack fathers gun, thought could
manage afoot to tote his four-pound
ak. She beckoned me to her and
kissed me-just once in ten years, and
was quick through the door, out OF
reach, lest she should see me mighty
near Uryin'.
1t was all very we'll showing off
brave before mother, but when l got
outside, any excuse would have been
enough for going back. l wished I'd
left the matches behind, but l hadn't
wished the snow would be too soft,
but it was hard as sand. l wished I
wasn't a coward, and the bush didn't
look so wolfy, and what If l met up
with the Eskimo devil! Oh, / was
surely the scaredest Ill boy, and dead
certain I'd get lost. Then l went on
because was going, and there was fa-
TIERS trail blazed on past Bakeapple
Marsh. The way was as plain as
streets, and the sun shining warm as
he looked over into the valley.
Then l saw mans mitt, an old
buckshn mitt sticking up out Of the
snow. Father had dropped his mitt,
and without that his hand would be
fro7a When found him. how glad
he'd be to get I'll
But when tried to pick it up, it
was heavy. Then it came away, and
there was fathers hand sticking up
1t was dead.
OF course I know I'd ought to have
dug down through the snow, but
didn't I ran for all l was worth.
Then I got out Of breath and come
back shamed.
1t wasn't for love of father No. I
hated to touch that hand, and when
did was sick. Still that was better
than being scared to touch. It's not
30 bad when you dare.
dug, with a snow-shoe for a shovel.
There was the buckskin shirt smelling
good, and the long fringes I'd used
to tickle his nose with-then / found
his face. just couldn't bear that, but
turned my back and dug until came
to the great, big, number-four trap he
used for wolf and beaver. He must
have stepped without seeing it under
the snow, and it broke his leg. Then
he'd tried to drag himself back home.
1t was when l stood up to get
breath and cool off that first seen the
wolf, setting peaceful, waggin' his tail
First / thought he was one of our
own huskies, but when he didn't know
his name l saw for sure he must be
the wolf who lived up Two Mile Crick
He'd got poor inspecting fathers bust
ness instead of minding his own
That's why he was called the Inspeo
tor. 1t was March. too, the moon Of
famine. OF course I threw my az
and missed. His hungry smiles still
thar behind bush, and me wonder
ing whether his business is with me
or father. That's why stepped or
the snow-shoes, and went right pas
|, where he was, not daring to get my
ak. Yes, 1t was me he wanted 10 see
first, but Of course wasn't going tt
encourage any animal into thinking
, he'd scared a man. Why, he'd scarc'
have let father even see his tracks fo
fear they'd be trapped or shot. So
walked slow and proud, leadin' hin
off from father-at least played that
wishing all the time that mothers Ill
l boy was to home. After a while
grabbed down Topped stick wher
father'd blazed, not as fierce as al
l ak. but enough to make me more O
less respected.
The Inspector was bigger than me
!, stronger n any man, swifter n an,
horse. tell yer the named white vol
| Is wiser'n most people, and but 70
eating his cubs, he's natures gentle
man.
The trouble was not him hunting
but me scared Why, if he'd wante
me, one flash, one bite, and I'm breal
fast. 1t was just curiosity made hiI
so close behind like a stealthy ghost
L w ASu i u lu1u W ouOW UBuI, ne u seer
to apologize, and then I'd go on viii.
| ting hymn.
| Thar he was cached right ahead 1
| the deadfall, for a front view, if T
\ known But thrashed with my site
| in a panic, hitting his snout, SO h
| yelped. Then he lost his temper. He
| "sorTy, MISUNDERSTANDING e.
| preston on him. ran at him, trippe
on stump, let out yell, and he Lei
straight at my throat
II And in the middle of that came
4 gunshot, bullet grazed my arm, an
| went on whining. Another shot, an
/ the Inspector ran Then I was rul
bing whar the bullet hurt, sort {
9 sulky, too. with grievance, when
was suddenly grabbed and nigh smotl
IN,