The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-08-08
Continuation Of
CHAPTER XIV

growing on short stalks, and look
at hat splendid straw completely
wastedi | don't approve OF your
Italian fashion at all"
at is not a bad plan, | can as
sure YOU. wife, and the Italians
do not waste the straw by not
cutting it with the grain; having
more arabic than pasture land,
they use this high stubble for
their pasture land, letting them
feed in it, and eat what grain is
left: afterward, allowing the grass
tn grow up among it, they NOV
all together for winter fodder.
And now for threshing, also in
Italian style. We shall find it will
spare our arms and backs as much
in that as in reaping.
The little sheaves were laid in
A large circle on the floor, the
bows mounted Storm, Grumble'
Lightfoot. and Hurry, starting off
at a brisk trot, with many a mer-
~ Jest. and round they went,
trampling and stamping out the
grain, while dust and chaff flew
in clouds about them.
Nv wife and l were necessarily
occupied with hayforks, by means
of which we shook up and moved
the sheaves over which the
threshers rode, so as to throw
them in the track.
From time to time the animals
took mouthfuls of the tempting
food they we're beating out; we
thought they we'll deserved it, and
called to mind the command given
10 the Jews. "Thou shall not muz-
zle the OK that treadeth out the
corn"
After threshing, we proceeded
IN winnowing; by simply throwing
the threshed corn with shovels
high in the air when the land or
sea-breeze blew strong, the chaff
and refuse was carried away by
the wind and the grain fell to
the ground.
During these operations our
poultry paid the threshing floor
man visits, t~estifying a lively in
terest in the success of labors,
and gobbling up the grain at such
a rate that my wife was obliged
tn keep them at a reasonable dis
lance; but l would not have them
altogether stinted in the midst Of
our plenty. l said, Let them en-
Joy themselves; what we lose in
grain. we gain in flesh. | antici-
nate delicious chicken-pie, roast
goose, and boiled turkey"
When our harvest stores were
housed, we found that we had
reaped sixty, eighty, even a hun
dred fold what had been sown.
Our garner was truly filled with
all manner of stores.
Expecting a second harvest, we
were constrained to prepare the
field for sowing again, n 1mme-
diately therefore commenced NOW
ing down the stubble. While en-
gagged in this, flocks of quails and
cartridges came to CLEAN among
the scattered ears. We did not
secure any great number, but re-
solved to be prepared for them
next season, and by spreading
nets. to catch them in large
quantities.
NV wife was satisfied when she
saw the straw carried home and
stacked: our crop of maize, which
of course had not been threshed
like the other corn, afforded soft
leaves which we're used for STUFF
fling mattresses, while the stalks,
when burnt, left ashes so rich in
alkali as to be especially useful.
1 changed the crops sown on
the ground to rye, barley, and
oats, hoping they would rlpen be-
fore the rainy season.
The shoals of herring made
their appearance just as we fin
ished our agricultural operations.
This year we picked only two
barrels of them; but we were not
so mercifuI toward the seals
which arrived on the coast after
ward. We hunted them vigorously,
reouiring their skins for many pur-
noses. more especially for the
completion of the cajack. On the
little deck of that tiny vessel
had made a kind of magazine, in
which to store pistols, ammuni-
ton. water, and provisions, and
This meant to cover with seal
skin. so as to be quite watertight.
A couple of harpoons furnished
with seal bladders were to be
suspended alongside.
CHAPTER XIV.
At last came the day when
Fritz was to make his trial trip
with the caiack. Completely equip
ned in swimming costume-trou-
sers. Jacket. and capt was most
ludicrous to see him cover down
in the canoe and puff and blow
till he began to swell like the
frog in the fable.
All trace of his original figure
was speedily lost, and shouts OF
laughter greeted his comical APP
Even his mother could