The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-08-15

spring was going to burst forth
instead of that, W rose the hid
eous head and gaping jaws of a
hippopotamus, who, with a hoarse
terrific snort, seemed about to at
tack me. | can tell you / did not
wait to see the rest of him! a
glimpse of his enormous mouth
and it's array of white cleaning
! tusks was quite enough. Right
about facet said l to myself, and
shot down the stream like an ar
row, never pausing till a bend in
the river brought me within sight
of the Gap, where l once more
felt safe, and joyfully made my
way back to you ALL"
This narrative was of thrilling
interest to us, proving the exist
ence of tribes of the most for
midable animals beyond the rocky
barrier which defended, in so pro
idential a manner, the small and
fertile territory on which our lot
was cast.
During the absence of the ad-
venturer we had been busily en-
gagged in making preparations for
our departmental everything was
packed up and ready by the morn-
ing after his return.
After some hesitation l yielded
to his great wish, which was to
return by sea in his cajack round
Cape Disappointment, and SO
meet us at Rockburg.
He was much interested in ex-
amining the outlines of the coast
and the rugged precipices of the
Cape. These were tenanted by
vast flocks of sea fowl and birds
of prey; while many varieties of
shrubs and plants, hitherto I'M
known to us, grew in the clefts
and crevices of the rocks, some
of them diffusing a strong arc
matte odor. Among the specimens
he brought l recognized the caper
plant, and, with still greater pleas
ure, a shrub which was l felt
sure, the tea-plant of China-It
bore very pretty flowers, and the
resembled myrtle.
Our land journey was effected
without accident or adventure of
any kind.
Jack, mounted as usual on Hur-
ry, the ostrich, carried the mys-
terious wet bag very carefully
slung at his side, and when near
home started off at a prodigious
in advance of us.
He let fall the drawbridge, and
saw no more of him until, on
'eaching Rockburg, he appeared
eisurely returning from the swamp
where apparently he had gone to
his moist secret" as
franz called it.
We were all glad to take up
quarters once in our
arge and convenient dwelling.
md my first business was to pro
7ide for the great number of
,irds we now had on our hands, !
~ establishing them in suitable
ocalities, it being impossible to !
maintain them all in the poultry '
ard. Some were, therefore, taken !
o the islands,; and the black !
vans, the heron, the graceful de- }
noiselle cranes, and our latest ac- |
uisition, the splendid sultan cock, I
DON became perfectly at home in q
he swamp, greatly adding to the l
interest of the neighborhood of
,afety Bay. ,
The old bustards were the tam :
st of all our feathered pets. and :
ever more so than at meal times. :
hey were unfailing in their at 9
endence when we dined or sup .
ed in the open air. IL
Toward evening, as we sat in
le veranda listening to Fritz's
of his trip round the :
ape, an extraordinary hollow, :,
sound from the swamp not :
Mike the angry believing Of a :
I'LL. =,
The dogs parked, and the fam
Y rose in excitement; but | re- O.
.arked a look of quiet humor in 6
ritz's eye, as he stood leaning o.
one of the veranda pillars, m
atching Jack, who, in some con- h,
lsion, started off toward the1 Ia
arsh. n,
"Come back, you. silly boy," ii
led his mother; "the child has is
1t so much as a pistol, and is Y,
off alone to face he knows W
what" o.
Perhaps" said l, looking at y,
ritz, this is not a case requir- IA
g the use of firearms. It may
only the booming OF a bittern CT
hich we hear" 81
you need not be uneasy, moth OF
)" said Fritz; Jack knows tn
nat he is about; only this charm
g serenade took him by surprise, til
d | fancy he will have TO ex- m
his treasures before they m
am perfection. Yes, here he tn
as
Logging his emoist secret ar
ong with him, Jack, flushed and
eathless, came up to us, ex- da
blu
They to grow as big as &C
bbits before you saw themi &C