July, 1920 
FOREST AND STREAM 
375 
his outlandish way of talkin’ ; seems bom 
in him.” Aunt Mary sat thoughtful for 
a few minutes and then said: “I do wish 
there was some way to get him and Ned 
Southard on better terms. He’s older’n 
bigger’n Matt an’ I worry some fearin’ 
he’ll sometime hurt him. He’s picked on 
him for years, for why I don’t know, but 
Matt manages as he says to keep about 
square an’ he does, an’ sometimes a little 
more.” In her quiet laugh it was easy 
to trace a little note of triumph. 
On seeing his friend, Matt greeted him 
with his free and easy “Hello” and seat- 
ing himself on the porch, leaned his head 
back against one of the posts and con- 
tinued: “I s’posed I could find a boat 
nearer’n I did but none would do like 
Mr. Adams said he wanted till I got the 
one I did. It’s been some trip. I had to 
promise him two dollars for the use of 
it for the trip — wonder if Mr. Adams’l 
kick? But she’s a good boat an’ lots o’ 
room an’ say,” he went on without stop- 
ping for reply, “I seen a mink carryin’ 
a fish down ’long the river; never seen 
one with a fish ’fore, wish’t I’d a had a 
gun.” “You’re forever talkin’ gun,” 
broke in his aunt, “I wish there was 
never none made, you’d blow your foolish 
head off first thing,” and she began busy- 
ing herself in the kitchen. Meanwhile 
many things were discussed by man and . 
boy, the latter had not had dinner, and 
he knew his aunt was preparing some- 
thing for him and she soon appeared 
with two egg sandwiches and a glass of 
milk which were readily disposed of by 
the hungry lad. 
T HE morning of their departure was 
dull, and heavy clouds gave prom- 
ise of approaching rain. The two 
men with Mr. Adams’ hired man drove 
up early but not too early for Matt as 
his poles were already at the gate. Aunt 
Mary had fussed about since before day- 
light, grumbling considerable about 
“wastin’ time on fool fishin’ trips.” Matt 
had dug a basket of sweet potatoes from 
the garden and while disposing of them 
his aunt produced a boiled ham from 
somewhere. She had bought it and pre- 
pared it without his knowledge and he 
was delighted to feel she was contributing 
a share of the food. A jar of preserves 
went in next and some eggs. “I shouldn’t 
a been so foolish as to let you go on no 
trip like this,” she put at him, “it ruins 
boys lettin’ of ’em run off here’n there. 
Lan’s sakes,” she continued, “go an’ put 
on your shoes this minute an’ for once 
roll your trousers down an’ look like 
folks. You’d be goin’ without a coat I 
s’pose, too.” This lecture took place be- 
fore the arrival of the wagon, which, 
with tent and other paraphernalia and 
with Matt’s poles as well as those of the 
tent sticking out behind, looked motley 
enough. “Now see he don’t get into no 
fool trouble,” she said to Mr. Adams as 
they prepared to start. Matt had seated 
himself on top of the tent which gave 
him a much elevated position. “I hope 
we see Ned Southard as we go along, 
I wouldn't like to leave without saying 
a good bye to him.” “If you’d keep that 
pert tongue of yours to yourself more 
you’d have less trouble with him in my 
opinion,” snapped his aunt, then adding 
as the wagon rolled away: “I declare you 
look jest like gipsies.” “Your aunt thinks 
a lot of you,” said Mr. Woodhull, “al- 
though she wouldn’t say as much to your 
face. You tease her some yet you stick 
to her and she knows it, and says so.” 
“Well,” replied Matt, “she’s walloped 
me good an’ plenty in times past an’ 
won’t stand for no sass yet, still I don’t 
reckon she’d stan’ by and see me die 
’thout givin’ me pep’mint or castor oil.” 
As they jogged along Matt’s attention 
was centered on a hawk which had 
marked down a meadow lark for a meal 
and he noticed it would not strike its 
intended victim while it was on the 
ground. As soon as the lark would take 
wing the hawk would give pursuit, then' 
would continue circling when the bird 
dropped again. 
How the contest ended he never knew 
as he suddenly became aware that there 
were cows in the road and upon looking 
The camp on the river 
around saw Southard driving them from 
the lane toward an adjoining pasture. 
Southard was standing by the roadside 
wondering at the strange outfit when he 
espied who was on the wagon. To offer 
any attack was not to be thought of as 
Matt had ample protection but he couldn’t 
restrain sarcasm. “Hello, Freckles,” he 
shouted, “leavin’ the country?” “Well,” 
came the quick reply, “suckers has quit 
bitin’ an’ not bein’ glued down I go ’bout 
where I want to.” Here was a double 
taunt and Southard grabbed a clod of 
dirt and hurled it with all his force at 
the head of the sharp-tongued lad. Matt 
dodged and the driver who had turned 
his head at the conversation between the 
two boys received the lump of dirt on 
the side of the head, sending hfs hat 
spinning to the ground. He looked just 
in time to see who had fired the clod 
and dropping the reins into the hands 
of Mr. Adams and whalebone whip in 
hand he was on the ground nearly as 
soon as the hat. Southard took in the 
situation at a glance and started for the 
fence at full speed 'but he had a nimble 
pursuer and as he vaulted the fence he 
was caught by the whip in such a man- 
ner as to raise a cloud of dust from the 
seat of his trousers which was followed 
by a howl of agony. 
Matt was on the ground by the time 
the race had started and had picked up 
the driver’s hat. Southard finding he 
was to be pursued no further stood nurs- 
ing the livid welt he had received from 
the cut of the whip and hurling invec- 
tives at both Matt and the driver. As 
they started away Matt observed : “That 
ol’ whalebon’s some whip. Gee, did you 
hear her whistle?” 
T HEY found their boat in readiness 
when they reached their destination 
and received much information 
from the boat owner as to where good 
camping sites might be found. It was 
about ten miles to where the river broad- 
ened out into a bay and it did not get 
much wider than fifty feet until it 
reached the bay. There was, however, 
good depth of water and many very deep 
holes or pools along the entire course. 
About a mile from one of the best camp- 
ing sites there was a store where sup- 
plies of all kinds could be procured. The 
site spoken of would be easily recognized 
as it was where a high, gravelly point 
ran down to the water and on the sum- 
mit stood two large cedar trees. Their 
course being down stream there was little 
rowing to be done, just enough to keep 
the boat guided right, and they thought 
they would reach their destination by 
two o’clock at the latest. Mr. Adams 
told his driver he would get word to him 
when to come for them and they began 
dropping down the stream. Each of the 
men had an oar outboard on opposite 
sides of the boat to steady the drift and 
make the bends in the stream. High 
banks ran down to the water most of 
the way and in the main they were heav- 
ily wooded so that they were almost 
constantly shaded from the sun. Giant 
oak, ash and hickory trees threw their 
arms across the stream so that at times 
they touched. To Matt it seemed a wil- 
derness and to him, like all nature lov- 
ers, there was an unspeakable grandeur 
in solitude and he was impressed by it 
in a manner which grew until it gov- 
erned all his actions in maturer years. 
Fallen trees impeded their passage from 
time to time but by the use of the axe 
such obstructions were overcome and in 
due time their goal was reached. They 
were soon hard at work, Mr. Adams 
proving his perfect knowledge of camp 
construction and detail. Their tent, 
which was commodious, was soon up and 
arrangements for their outdoor fire made 
complete by securing two small size green 
logs and by facing them slightly with 
the axe the flattened side laid uppermost 
so that pans and kettles would set on 
them without sliding off, leaving but a 
few inches of space between them for 
the fire. Mr. Woodhull and Matt were 
much surprised to see how very small 
a fire would serve to cook a good meal 
when made in this manner. Net ham- 
mocks had been provided and swung low, 
supported by the stout tent poles and 
stakes driven in the ground and a pair 
of blankets each, completed their sleep- 
ing arrangements. There was plenty of 
dry wood lying around ready to be broken 
up by the axe. 
Then followed their first meal — and 
such a meal; Aunt Mary’s ham in gen- 
erous slices, bread and butter in plenty 
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 394) 
