Year: 1876

at his old tricks.


lie kicked over the pan of dirt he had dag
and made rush for the reservoir, the frog
"plumping' underth III. water at his approach
Pete again went into the .reseryoir with his
long handled shovel, and Charged about at
furious rate, but he could see nothing of
the .rog, or anything that looked like it.
Being determined to do for his tornentor
this time, Pete went for his pan, and began
trying to bail out the reservoir. Finding
this TO great task he got II pick, dug down
the embarkment of dirt and rocks forming
the little dam, ,and eagerly watched, with
uplited shovel, for the frog as the water ran
ofF The water all ran out, but the frog was
no where to be seen.


Pete then waded ont in the oozy bed of
the POND, digging and plowing away with
his shovel, but failed to start the goblin frog.
lie then arrived Mt the very reasonable con-
clusion that the little imp had gone down
the stream with the body OF water that rush
cd out of the reservoir when it was opened.
lie cruised about the spot tor An hour or
two, going down the channel of the ravine,
turning over rocks and beating tufts of grass
with his shovel, but saw nothing of tine frog.
Thinking his evil genius lhad been washed
down the canyon into the Carson River Pete
concluded to build his dam in order that he
might have water ready for use in the morn
ing. This job done he went home, feeling
quite sure that he had eitheriklled or perma-
nently ,oustel his little enemy.


The next day he returned to his work.
Before starting in, however, he walked
around the reservoir several times, peering
kccnly into the water and kicking every
bunch OF grass about its margin. The frog
was no where to he seen or started.


Pete then went to his prospect hole and
began To dig, stopping occasionally to cock
an eye toward the pond and to listen for the
frog, All promised well Tor Pete. He had
dug pan of dirt without the hated inter-
ruption, and was on his wayto wash it out,
when-"Struck it struck 1t 2" was squeaked
from the pond 10y the goblin frog.


This was too much for Pete. The pan
,iroppeifruuf his inudp; his Under jjtutieiili-'
and he sank down on the nearest rock,
where he sat and consider i the matter. As
he was wondering lift was possible for him
ever in any way TO rid himself of the evil
thing that destroyed his luck, the frog again
sang out, checrily as ever "Struck it? struck
it"


MAY the diyil burn ye" cried Pete. n
haven't sthruck it, md what's more never
will wild ye there, yc dirty blackguard Must
come afther ye again, ye unclane bastc of
the divil :"


"Sruck it ~ sad the frog


"Ye think so !" said Pete, and catching up
his pick, he rushed into the reservoir and
began digging down the embarkment


Presently he paused in his work and said:
"It's no use Haven't tried TO get him in
all ways9 No; when get the wather off
he'll be gone. He's no human frog I'll jist
let him howld possession and I'll hunt me
another place Divil the lick will | ever
sthrikc here again; it's tue diviIs own
child he is "


Pete began to gather up his clothes and
tools with the intention of vacating the place,
when he stopped and gazed wistiully at his
prospecting hole. "a promising place it
was, too, in the main," said he. Now shall
he tormentcd away by dirty little baste
like you1 No; ILL give him warmin' yet,
and all the likes of him. I'll pepper him to-
morrow ~ So saying. Pete put on his coat
and struck out for home turning t" shake
his ist toward the pond as he departed.


The next morning Pete went up to john
town and borrowed shotgun; he then
bought quantity otpowdcr and shot, and
returned to his claim, saying us he strobe
along: I'll kill thai frog if it's among the
possibilities


On reaching his claim lie crawled to
rock near the edge of the pond, and seating
himself uron it, watched for some hours,
but the goblin frog was neither to be seen or
heard


"He has run away" said Pete, "but I'll
kill him if he is anywhere on the face OF the
green earth"


lie then moved along down the canyon
and presently saw what seemed to be his tor
mentor. He blazed away and stretched tho
creature dead on the margin Of the rill. He
was beginning to rejoice over the victory he
had gained. when up iiom the spot sprang
another frog, the very picture of that he had
killed. Pete looked Mt this new apparation,
and then turned and glzcd upon the sIalgh-
tered animal to bc sure it was dead. Find.
ing it stretched liiCless on the ground, he
went after the s,cond frog This was inal!y
slaughtered and he continued his blnt
down tn, canyon. All that d,y he hrnte!
frogs, Blazing away at everything that moved
in the water or that looked Like fog.


The next day he bought more ammunition
and again went on the warpath along tho


(CDa'inVei on J1WM Fays)