as the lands of “Nod” by a venerable old lady who
resided in Newton. The old people as well as younger
ones were in dread when travelling through this densely
wooded land unless they were sufficiently protected

from the attacks of bears, wild cats and other ferocio us.

wild animals. About this time two lumbermen, cutting
timber in the vicinity of where Mr. James A. Murphy’s
comm odious farm buildings now stand, were attracted
by the barking of a dog at a cave under a partly up-
turned tree and upon investigation discoverd a large
bear. In the afternoon they carried their rifles and soon
disposed of Bruin for which they received a reward of
five pounds. This locality was the favorite haunt of the
cows in day time though sometimes they might be
found meandering on the banks of the Dunk where
verdant groves and rich forage proved enticing.

Johnny had an uncanny premonition that the herd
were not going to be easily located on this particular
evening; yet his boyish buoyancy asserted itself when
settling the shiny new hat on his undressed locks, for
his eyes spied his father’s jacknife ensconced in its
special niche with the strong black “tabaccy” in the
stones of the huge fireplace, and possibilities of all
kinds of fun flashed through his lively brain.

In his most wheedling tone he pleaded, “Ma, can
I take Da’s knife to cut a switch, the black cow does
be awful hard to drive.” .

“Ah, to be sure, ’twill be whistles you’ll be whittlin,”
said his mother, though she handed him down the
knife as she said it, for rarely did she ever refuse ‘wee”
Johnny anything.

“No, Ma, I won’t,” promised Johnny, and with sud-
den inspiration he’ added, “I’ll get some quill wood,
if I see any;” craftily figuring he’d install himself yet
more solidly in his mother’s good graces if he supplied

95

her with this necessity for “putting in a web.” He regret—
ted this too generous promise about the whistles when
he reached the side of the river where grew the very
choicest of whistle making branches. He made up for
the restraint he had to put upon himself to keep his
word by picking the yellow blobs of gum he found on
the spruce trees.

Johnny walked along the banks of the Dunk—that
Mecca of Isaak Walton’s disciples—to a point where
now a smooth road brings the sportsmen for fruitful
holidays. H ere a slippery foot bridge enabled Johnny
to cross to the other side; he knew by the movement
of the water that speckled trout were flickering back
and forth in the shadowy depths beneath him; he long-
ed for the time when his arm would have muscle
enough to land the large pink beauties.

He cut his switch for the black cow when he reach—
ed the other side, but he listened in vain for the tinkle,
tinkle of Brindle’s bell. Acting on the dictum,
“Everything comes to those who wait” Johnny
wandered con ten tl y about and before long his interest
was absorbed by the giant trunk of a large birch tree
broken off some five feet from the ground. He walk-
ed round it, tapped it, trying to decide if it were hollow,
and he finally “shinnied” to its jagged top. It was
hollow with a hole of generous circumference runn-
ing down to invisible depths and with a small boy’s in—
satiable curiosity to know all about the inside of
everything, Johnny lowered himself in to i t to test if he
could “bottom” it. “Bottom” he did when his hold
gave way and down, down he went.

What was his indescribable horror to find himself
among young bear cubs! —-— but the sleeping animals
paid no attention to their affrighted visitor. Just as
Johnny recovered sufficiently to perceive that he was