Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-09
Seeing The World
CHAPTER III.

Lie was 81 bAdFS. Anu AASIlC pei I'LL
ted his tears to flow in sympathy.
Though neither thought Of settling
down to sleep again, they kept well
within their tent until the waning
stars the gray softness of the air, and
the twittering Of thousand songsters
announced day. Then out they dashed
to search for signs of their deadly Wis
itor. Nothing but some torn bushes re-
warded them, no trace Of a mangled
dog. =
He must have carried him away to
make meal for his family; just like
the story you told.' Tom set briskly
about breakfast preparations to con-
ceal his grief ~,
Are we goin' to Armela % asked
Archie as they breakfasted frugally
upon such bits of food as their noe
turnal caller had left undestroyed. He
had. it seemed, eaten little, but walk
ed or sat on good deal.
mo" answered Tommie, in the slow
tone Of one, weighing the question. mo,
I guess we'd better get home before
that boar breaks into the village after
the children. He's probably crazy now
that we've foiled him. l wish we had \
gun; we might have shot him and Gov
ried his skin home on our should IS.
Won't it be fun to see how scared pc?-
pie are, and they'll wonder how we
kept our heads and didn't scream or
something. Was he as big as a buffalo,
Arch?"
"Oh, twice" easily responded that
hero from where he lay at length gaz
ing dreamily at his reflection in the
stream. mo. about once and half, l
guess. I mustn't exaggerate."
Tom threw him a green Glance OF
envy. and sighed. wish I'd seen him.
But it would never have done if two
Of us had peecked the beasts hearing
is so sensitive, you know. But drrirs
the day he'll be asleep in his"--"e
weighed "den' and Gave" then de"iH-
ed that lair" outcaDped the two $50
We'll be safe to walk home if we go in
the OPEN"
The tediousness OF hreating camp
was mitigatcd by the thought Of t'ctr
great news. D''rin~ the walk home their
last nights visitation usurpcd the con-
versation.
"Rack SO soon?" cried Mrs. Morrison.
Mother"-TC mmie falt thot ''e
must be brief so Re, did not wait for
a greeting-"we had q great adventr~n
last NIGHT: 4 wild boar broke into ovr
CAMP from IIlS-eT-ldlT. ana dIt 1NO'''l
and nearly killed rs. You must hurry"
"a wild boar? Thomas, what are you
saying?"
Just then Mr. Morrison sauntered ~
with q fishing rod. "Hello. yn-' cd
campai sners. Done up already? WHY,
when was boy
Listen to your SOM" comman'ed his
wife II can't make out what he's say
ing"
"Father. wild ferocions. big black
| boa r'--immeasurahle emphasis on c'o'l
adtective-"burst into camp and nearly
ate us! You must
i Here. here, what's this? This sounds
interesting"
"Father. don't Joke. ] tell you it wes
awful. You tell. Arch. Arch saw him >
F., The faintest shadow of a cl1rcl-'a
lurked in Mr. Morrison's eye. Tom
thought his father rad never been so
stupid. "Ah, Mr.. Gliding, pray COM !,
| mence."
Thrs adiured. Archie stepped quietly
forward. Now for his trump card. yes,
sir, boar he stated firmly. Il look
eel out from behind tenfold and saw
him quite clearly. In fact, his tusks
shone in the moonlight
I A sudden enlightenment broadened
over the counterance of their listener
| with the close Of Archibald's narrative,
but he demanded with unhroken sol.
| emnty: "Ah. tusks? Tell me. Mr.. Cid
ding. do you chance to remember upon
what portion Of the animals anatomy
you saw those tusks?"
| Archie had difficulty in maintaining
| his respectful tone why. on his head.
| sir
! "On the head ah! Would you recog-
! nize the deadly creature If you were to
| har hot ic Ga N
ooh, yes, father" cried Tom, not al
the time aware Of the anomaly OF
identifying something he had never
seen.
Both Of you follow me-
Deeply mystiied and inwardly chat
ing at the delay which might cause the
death of so many innocent people. tbs
| two fell in step behind Mr. Morrison,
who while he walked continued in his
serious tone to inquire after certain de-
| tails. which the boys, nothing loath,
supplied Within few moments they
reached a large pasture where grazed
a herd of Holsteins. This they crossed
wonderingly and entered the stable at
the other side There submitting
meekly to the operation of milking,
stood a black, soft-eyed cow who
them. Behind her. supervising the
business and wagging a frantic well
come to the boys. lay Colin. 5s
Tommie in the joyous excitement of
his greeting forgot to wonder that
few hours ago he had heard a boar
crunch the poor dogs bones But the
heart of Archie thumped wild tattoo
within him. Absolutely dumfounded he
stood there with the unpleasant inkling
dawning upon hi mthat tremendous
mistake had occurred. and most I'M
comfortably he glanced from TIE stern,
accusing gaze of Tommie to the jocu-
lar, questioning face Of Tommies faith
er: - -,
recognize the lady? She got out last
night, and Jim here"-he pointed to the
farmer-'tracedh her to near your camp.
The dog followed her home. rather
feared you'd be seeing Dinosauria and
dithvrambs.' Mr.. Morrison chunckled,
partly at this brillian euphony, partly
at the expressive countenances of the
two: for Tommys eyes sought those
20 Ar.b cccrchincr with wrath and ho