West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-07-13

about four feet long. Each carried an
empty sack wrapped about the cord
that held the pine splints.
what are those pine sticks forY' I'm.
quired Tom.
Torches" answered Joe. who wns
an old hand at the game. "Take four
or Ave OF those long splinters, hold
them together I'm your hand and light
the other end and 1t makes the best
sort OF light-harder the wind blows
the brighter it gets"
"Whar we better go, Unk' RubeY' in
quired Uncle Jeff.
II spec we stand better chance
over I'm dat big ole fiel' by de creek.
Dey's some simmonses lef' on de trees
yft down dar. / como thoo dar yes
tiddy and seed whar possums been
feedin'. Den dey's plenty black haws
down In do bottoms en- choke berries
en- red haws too. Dey's plenty or feed,
en- L bets we gifts or possum err So"
"All 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
ed single fileSnto the mysterious night,
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.
"Uh, hub! Hear dat? Done struck or
trail erreadyw exclaimed Uncle Jeff I'm
triumph.
Hot trail. too" observed Uncle
Rube. Wen git dat ole possum In er
mighty few minutes"
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.
MAXIM fer de swamp" said Uncle
Jef. There was 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 RUDE, striking n trot
In the direction of the dogs and yelling
encouragement TO them so they would
net desert the quarry and take up an
other trail
Dancing about the base of tall. slim
sweet gum tree We're the four dogs,
Jumping up with forefeet on the trunk
and baying I'm n frenzy OF excitement.
Oar he--dar her, cried JEFF I'm 10y,
peering up I'm the darkness. way up
in de top. See 'imT'
Tom could merely see an indistinct
blur against the starlight through the
bare branches.
Il guess so. i see somethingw
Climb or cutT' inquired Uncle RUDE,
unslinging his bundle of splinters and
making two torches, which he lit and
gave the boys to hold. AS the fat pine
sputtered and flared the light disclosed
two pin points OF green light shining
from the dark object.
"Oh, yes, doggone yer. Grimm nj
us, Is yer? Thinks we ain gwine cit
yer, does yer? Thinks yer too sharp
fer us, huh7 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 I'm
two ticks It bit out an immense chip
from the tree trunk. Two more Hicks
brought another, then another.
Hole dem dawgs, now. JEFF. We
don want no chawed up possum. Dis
tree is trim'lin' now; two more ticks
ii bring hit down. cautioned Rube.
Jen slipped the Irvine through the col
lars Of the four dogs. They were wild
with excitement for they knew what
was coming
Look out, fOlkses; trees a-fallin'r'
sang Uncle Rube, and with crash the
tall stem, fell. Almost ut the same
time JeR was near where the top
struck the ground. scufilng with the
dogs, who had got tangled with his
legs. and he was trying to keep his
balance md handle the lantern at the
same time.
Turn dem dawgs loose-turn 'em
loose. JEFF! My Lawd ha' mussy, ef
we amt let dat ole possum git erway.
Turn EN- loose quick. befo' he en- git
far on!
well, amt he er slick unw com.
mented Jen % he finally got untan-
gled from the cord holding the dogs,
md they plunged excitedly into the
brush OF the trcetop, scuming and sniff
ding in confusion. They lost several
minutes In that way. then broke into
fun cry again, trailing mp the hill. men
and boys following as best they could.
IL was hardly five minutes after they
took tho trail the second time, but the
party had Travelled pellmeu over n quar-.
Ter OF a mile.
Don tell me dat ole possum ain
been hunted befo' dlsr' papted Rubo
Hes a-makin' time like or deer"
The dogs slgnaled that they had
freed again.
Now we got i'm! ain gwlne take
no mo chances-dem dawgs kin have
dey fun On chaw I'm too, ST deg wants.
4 don purpose FER no pOssum ter make
mo run mersef ter deathtr announced
Uncle JEFF.
ibis time tho quarry had taken 10 n
tall blackjack about az large around
az a mans leg.
III hole dc dawgs, INK JeH- blrs
20 time ter cut do tree-but T sbo "a
gwino ter Jet dem puppies in soon's
hit nears do Rroun."
"An right jes' 80 yer dom Jet 'em
loose en- let De tree fan on 'em. Denis
vallyble dawgs"
Tom and Joe stood holding the
torches 30 Uncle JeR could see 10
swing the Ak Directly came the pre-.
urinary cracking and swaying.
Ready nOwg' warned Uncle Jefg az
he hit the final lick, and the tree ma.