The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-08-10


QUILL be surprised at the flavor.
IN a canoe all day for over two
months hasn't done our legs any
good. As we neared the top of the
hill the inevitable dog rushed out
and made a great fuss. but, like
most of the dogs we have met, he
was friendly. However, when we
reached the top Of the hill we
weren't sure whether the people
were friendly or not.
A Cool Reception
We caught fleeting glimpse of
the lady OF the house when she had
followed the dog TO the top of the
hill and looked down at us. but she
had Immediately retreated to the
house. The farmer and his hired
man met us Just inside the. fence
on the hill top and greeted us rather
coolly. Used to the hospitality of
the river we were puzzled by such
a reception. We exchanged a few
words with the men, but they were
unusually quiet and looked us over
very carefully. When we asked for
a space to spread our beds the
farmer excused himself and went
into the house. here he took some
time talking it over with his wife.
Coming out again he asked us
good many questions about our
selves. After we had explained who
we were and what we were doing
he went TO the edge of the hill and
looked down at our canoe. After
that, he warmed up considerably
and invited us into the house TO
meet his wife. As we talked they
gradually became more cordial and
soon completely thawed out and
accepted us.
At first we thought that slow
welcome was because our hosts
were on the left side of the river, |
and that we were getting farther
east every day, but later they ex-
planned that few hours before a
radio broadcast had warned the |
people of this section OF Dakota |
against two convicts who had es-
capped and were believed in that |
vicinity. We must have looked a
fright. Too, some of the farmers
along the way are rightfully sus-
picious of river people. Not many
years ago tramps and hobos used
the river on their trek to warmer |
climes and every farmer along the
way missed things after they had /
passed.
More Grasshoppers
These people were part of a back
-o-the-land movement and like so
many of their kind they did not
,wn their own farm. They rented
I on shares from a Nebraska own
sr. We don't know just how they
we're getting along, for the year
before grasshoppers had ruined
what crops they had, and this year
hose same little pests were doing
, great amount of damage. For
awhile we had seemed to be out
If the grasshopper belt, but these
asst two days have brought us into
mother. Northern North Dakota
had been in bad shape, but around
Bismarck the farmers had suffered
,ut little. Then there had been
mother section as far as Mobridge.
that was a comparative
y clear section until the Bowie
'anch. where we had stopped the
light before. Now we were in them
gain and lack Of rain is beginning
o be another definite threat. There
Iasn't been a drop of rain in this
ection for over two weeks and the {
cal burning winds are due any /
ime. II rain doesn't move In soon,
hose winds will team with the :
,rasshoppers and again wipe out
he farmer Of this section.
There Is one thing that all the !
armers along the Missouri have.
nd that Is ice. curiously enough
he ice from that muddy river Is
lear as crystal and kept under
swdust and straw viii last all
hummer. A freezer full Of delicious
homemade ice cream IL generally
Saturday night or Sunday affair.
Ne were glad this was Saturday
light for they made a huge freezer I
ull and we ate that combination
and vanilla cream until {
re couldn't hold anymore.
fMORE LATER