Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1916-03-08
ame from the rear Of the house carry

back and that of Uncle jeff were bum
dies Of very rich ..fat" pine cut in
splints about the size of a finger and
about four feet long. Each carried an
empty sack wrapped about the cord
that held the pine splints. q
What are those pine sticks for?'' in.
quired Tom
Torches answered Joe, who was
an old hand at the, game. 4 Take four
or five Of those long splinters. hold
them together in your hand and light
the other end and it makes the best
sort of a light harder the wind blows
the brighter it GETS
"Whar we better go, Unk' Rube?" in.
quired Uncle Jeff.
: II spec we stand a better chance
over in dat big ole fel by de creek
Dey's some simmonses lef' on de trees
VT down dar. | come thoo dar yes
tiddy and seed whar possums been
feedin'. Den dey's plenty black haws
down in de bottoms en- choke berries
en- red haws too. Dey's plenty er feed,
en- bets we gifts er possum er so.''
.sAll right lead on, les be going
somewhere said Joe, with impotence
Uncle jeff sounded his horn. The dogs
leaped joyfully with frantic yelps and
sprang ahead.
The party cut through the stable lot,
down through the lower pasture and up
the long slope Of the hill where the old
field lay on the other side. They walk
I'd Gin n11 IL int ho oSrI,
RUDE with the lantern leading, then
the boys. and Uncle JEFF bringing up
the rear. AS they reached the crest Of
the hill they stood still few moments
while the dogs ranged in front of them.
Directly one of the dogs broke into cry,
joined by the others shortly. L
'EUh, huh! Hear. dat? Done struck .er
trail erready!' exclaimed Uncle jeff in
triumph. a.
'Hot trail, too,' observed Uncle
RUDE. ''We'll git dat ole possum in err
mighty few minutes ':. 1851
. The dogs were making the silent
woods ring with their musical notes as
the two men whooped encouragement
The trail led directly down the long
slope and into the sweet gum flats near
the creek. T.
MAXIM fer de swamp" said Uncle
Jeff. There was a pause in the trailing
cry of the dogs, and the long drawn
out notes gave place to short, excited
yelps., .
"Treed. by granny-treed already!
Come orr called 'Rube. striking trot
in the direction of the dogs and yelling
encouragement to them SO they would
not desert the quarry and take up an
other trail. l.. -
Dancing about the base of tall, slim
sweet gum tree were the four dogs,
jumping up with forefeet on the trunk
and baying in a frenzy of excitement.
Oar he-dar he!' cried Jeff in joy,
peering UP in the darkness ':Way up
in de top. See imp r. -.
Tom could merely see an indistinct
blur against the starlight through the
bare branches.
Il guess so. l see something's
"Cimb or cut?' inquired Uncle Rube,
nnslinging his bundle of splinters and
making two torches, which he lit and
gave the boys to hold. AS the fat pine
sputtered and Jared the light disclosed
two pin points Of green light shining
from the dark object. - g:,s.. 81.
"Oh, yes, doggone yer! Grinnin' at
us, is yer? Thinks we aim gwine git
yer, does yer? Thinks yer too sharp
fer us, huh? Gimme dat ak, jeff. I'll
have dat tree down fore yo' cd git
ter de fust. limb climbin'''
Uncle Rube swung the ak, and in
two ticks it bit out an immense chip
from the tree trunk. Two more ticks
brought another, then another.
"Hole dem dawgs, now, jeff. We
dom want no chawed up possum Dis
tree is trim'lin' now; two more ticks
IL bring hit DOWN. cautioned RuDe,
Jeff slipped the Irvine through the col
lars of the four dogs. They were wild
with excitement, for they knew what
was coming. st
Look out, folkses; trees a-fallin'!'
sang Uncle Rube,- and with crash the
tall stem fell. Almost at the same
time jeff was near where the top
struck the ground, scuffling with the
dogs, who had got tangled with his
legs, and he was trying to keep his
balance and handle the lantern at the
same time.
Turn dem dawgs loose turn 'em
loose, jeff! My, Lawd ha' mussy, eff
we amt let dat ole possum git erway.
Turn 'em loose quick, befo' he en- git
far OFF,
well, amt he er slick un!'' com
mented Jeff as. he finally got untan-
gled from the cord holding the dogs,
and they plunged excitedly into the
brush of the treetop, scufHing and sniff
fling in confusion. They lost several
minutes in that way, then broke into
full cry again, trailing up the hill, men
and boys following as best they could.
It was hardly five minutes after they
took the trail the second time, but the
party had travelled pellmel over quar-.
ter Of mile. n. BIZ s
Don tell me dat ole possum aim
been hunted befo' disy' painted Rube.
He's a-makin' time like gerR deer,