第67章 CROSSING THE NIOBRARA(3)

"Well, when daybreak came, I shot a nice big fat Mr.Zip Coon out of an old pin-oak, and we started for home like old pardners.Old as he was, he played like a puppy around me, and when we came in sight of the house, he ran on ahead and told the folks what he had found.Yes, you bet he told them.He came near clawing all the clothing off them in his delight.That's one reason I always like a dog and a poor man--you can't question their friendship."A circus was in progress on the other side of the wagon.From a large rock, Jake Blair was announcing the various acts and introducing the actors and actresses.Runt Pickett, wearing a skirt made out of a blanket and belted with a hobble, won the admiration of all as the only living lady lion-tamer.Resuming comfortable positions on our side of the commissary, a lad named Waterwall, one of Sponsilier's boys, took up the broken thread where Forrest's wrangler had left off.

"The greatest dog-man I ever knew," said he, "lived on the Guadalupe River.His name was Dave Hapfinger, and he had the loveliest vagabond temperament of any man I ever saw.It mattered nothing what he was doing, all you had to do was to give old Dave a hint that you knew where there was fish to be caught, or a bee-course to hunt, and he would stop the plow and go with you for a week if necessary.He loved hounds better than any man Iever knew.You couldn't confer greater favor than to give him a promising hound pup, or, seek ing the same, ask for one of his raising.And he was such a good fellow.If any one was sick in the neighborhood, Uncle Dave always had time to kill them a squirrel every day; and he could make a broth for a baby, or fry a young squirrel, in a manner that would make a sick man's mouth water.

"When I was a boy, I've laid around many a camp-fire this way and listened to old Dave tell stories.He was quite a humorist in his way, and possessed a wonderful memory.He could tell you the day of the month, thirty years before, when he went to mill one time and found a peculiar bird's nest on the way.Colonel Andrews, owner of several large plantations, didn't like Dave, and threatened to prosecute him once for cutting a bee-tree on his land.If the evidence had been strong enough, I reckon the Colonel would.No doubt Uncle Dave was guilty, but mere suspicion isn't sufficient proof.

"Colonel Andrews was a haughty old fellow, blue-blooded and proud as a peacock, and about the only way Dave could get even with him was in his own mild, humorous way.One day at dinner at a neighboring log-rolling, when all danger of prosecution for cutting the bee-tree had passed, Uncle Dave told of a recent dream of his, a pure invention.'I dreamt,' said he, 'that Colonel Andrews died and went to heaven.There was an unusually big commotion at St.Peter's gate on his arrival.A troop of angels greeted him, still the Colonel seemed displeased at his reception.But the welcoming hosts humored him forward, and on nearing the throne, the Almighty, recognizing the distinguished arrival, vacated the throne and came down to greet the Colonel personally.At this mark of appreciation, he relaxed a trifle, and when the Almighty insisted that he should take the throne seat, Colonel Andrews actually smiled for the first time on earth or in heaven.'

"Uncle Dave told this story so often that he actually believed it himself.But finally a wag friend of Colonel Andrews told of a dream which he had had about old Dave, which the latter hugely enjoyed.According to this second vagary, the old vagabond had also died and gone to heaven.There was some trouble at St.

Peter's gate, as they refused to admit dogs, and Uncle Dave always had a troop of hounds at his heels.When he found that it was useless to argue the matter, he finally yielded the point and left the pack outside.Once inside the gate he stopped, bewildered at the scene before him.But after waiting inside some little time unnoticed, he turned and was on the point of asking the gate-keeper to let him out, when an angel approached and asked him to stay.There was some doubt in Dave's mind if he would like the place, but the messenger urged that he remain and at least look the city over.The old hunter goodnaturedly consented, and as they started up one of the golden streets Uncle Dave recognized an old friend who had once given him a hound pup.

Excusing himself to the angel, he rushed over to his former earthly friend and greeted him with warmth and cordiality.The two old cronies talked and talked about the things below, and finally Uncle Dave asked if there was any hunting up there.The reply was disappointing.