The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-05-09

If was to cut it down, and | have
been thinking too, that, if we car
split the tree, we might make a
couple of long useful troughs,
which might, l think, be made to
carry water from Jackal river to
Tentholm. Is my plan worth on
sideration?"
Indeed it is" l replied; land
at all events we must not abandon
such a valuable prize as a sage
palm. would put off our depart
ure for a day rather than leave
it behind"
We went to the palm, and with
the tools we had with US attempt
ed to split the trunk. We first
sawed off the upper end, and
then with an ak and saw managed
to insert a wedge. This accomp-
lished. our task was less difficult,
for with a heavy mallet we forced
the wedge in further and further,
until at length the trunk was split
in twain. From one half Of the
trunk We then removed the pith,
disengaging it with difficulty from
the tough wood fibers; at each
end, however, | LEFT a portion OF
the pitch untouched, thus forming
a trough in which to work the
sage.
Now, boys said I, when we
had removed the pith from the
other half of the trunk, off with
YOU coats and turn up your shirt
sleeves; I am going to teach you
to knead.'
They were all delighted, and
even little Franz begged to be al
lowed to help. Ernest brought a
.ouple Of pitchers of water, and
hrowing it in among the pith, we
set to work right heartily. AS the
dough was formed and properly
kneaded, I handed it to the moth
en- who spread it out on a cloth
in the sun to dry. This new oc-
cupation kept us busy until the
evening. and when it was at length
completed we loaded the cart with
HE sage, a store of c%ocoanuts,
and our other possessions, that
we might be ready to start early
en- the following morning. As the
Fun rose above the horizon we
packed up orr TEN and set forth,
q goodly caravan. l thought it
unfair to the cow to make her
drag such a load as we now had
alone, and determined if possible
70 make the young buffalo take
the place of our lost donkey: af-
ter some persuasion he consented
and soon put his strength to the
work and brought the cart along
famously. As we had the trough
slung under the cart we had to
choose the c~learest possible route
and avoid anything like a thicket;
we. therefore could not pass di-
rectly by the candleberTy and
oaoutchouc trees, and l sent Jack
and Ernest aside to visit the store
we had made on out outward trip.
They had not been gone long /
when | was alarmed by a most ter
rible noise, accompanied by the
furious barking of the dogs and
shouts from Jack and Ernest.
Thinking that the boys had been
attacked by some wild beasts. l
ran to their assistance. A most
ludicrous scene awaited me when
I reached the spot. They were
dancing and shouting round a
grassy glade, and l as nearly as
possible followed their example,
for in the center. surrounded by a
promising litter lay our old sow,
whose squeals, previously alarm
ing, were subsiding into com
Portable grunts of recognition.
did not join my boys in their tri-
umphal dance, but l was ~neverthe-
less very much pleased at the
sight of the Furnishing family and
Immediately returned to the cart
to obtain biscuits and potatoes for
the benefit of the happy mother.
Jack and Ernest meanwhile push
ed further on and brought back
the sack Of candleberries and the
c%aoutchcuc, and as we could not
take the SOW with us, we left her
alone with her family and proceed
ed to Falconhurst.