TWIN BABIES. 51 



Some one from the ranch, or "hotel," must 

 go with the company of volunteers that 

 was forming down at the post for a winter 

 campaign. Of course Reese would not go. 

 He wanted Mountain Joe to go and get 

 killed. But Joe was sober now and he 

 wanted to stay and watch Reese. 



And that is how it came about that the 

 two black babies were tumbled headlong 

 into a big, black bee gum, or short, hollow 

 log, on a heap of hay, and nailed up for 

 the winter. The boy had to go to the war. 



It was late in the spring when the boy, 

 having neglected to get himself killed, to 

 the great disgust of Mr. Sil Reese, rode 

 down and went straight up to the big black 

 bee gum in the back yard. He put his ear 

 to a knothole. Not a sound. He tethered 

 his mule, came back and tried to shake the 

 short, hollow log. Not a sound or sign or 

 movement of any kind. Then he kicked the 

 big black gum with all his might. Nothing. 

 Rushing to the wood-pile, he caught up 

 an ax and in a moment had the whole end 



