Part 10 (1/2)

This suggestion persuaded w.i.l.l.y, who could not bear to have anything suffer.

So they sauntered down toward the swamp.

As they approached it, a squirrel ran up a tree, and both boys were after it in a second. They were standing, one on each side of the tree, gazing up, trying to get a sight of the little animal among the gray branches, when a sound came to the ears of both of them at the same moment.

”What's that?” both asked together.

”It's hogs, grunting.”

”No, they are fighting. They are in the swamp. Let's run,” said w.i.l.l.y.

”No; we'll scare them away. They may be near the trap,” was Frank's prudent suggestion. ”Let's creep up.”

”I hear young pigs squealing. Do you think they are ours?”

The squirrel was left, flattened out and trembling on top of a large limb, and the boys stole down the hill toward the pen. The hogs were not in sight, though they could be heard grunting and scuffling. They crept closer. w.i.l.l.y crawled through a thick clump of bushes, and sprang to his feet with a shout. ”We've got 'em! We've got 'em!” he cried, running toward the pen, followed by Frank.

Sure enough! There they were, fast in the pen, fighting and snorting to get out, and tearing around with the bristles high on their round backs, the old sow and seven large young hogs; while a litter of eight little pigs, as the boys ran up, squeezed through the rails, and, squealing, dashed away into the gra.s.s.

The hogs were almost frantic at the sight of the boys, and rushed madly at the sides of the pen; but the boys had made it too strong to be broken.

After gazing at their capture awhile, and piling a few more outriders on the corners of the pen to make it more secure, the two trappers rushed home. They dashed breathless and panting into their mother's room, shouting, ”We've got 'em!--we've got 'em!” and, seizing her, began to dance up and down with her.

In a little while the whole plantation was aware of the capture, and old Balla was sent out with them to look at the hogs to make sure they did not belong to some one else,--as he insisted they did. The boys went with him. It was quite dark when he returned, but as he came in the proof of the boys' success was written on his face. He was in a broad grin. To his mistress's inquiry he replied, ”Yes'm, they's got 'em, sho' 'nough. They's the beatenes' boys!”

For some time afterward he would every now and then break into a chuckle of amused content and exclaim, ”Them's right smart chillern.”

And at Christmas, when the hogs were killed, this was the opinion of the whole plantation.

CHAPTER XII.

The gibes of Lucy Ann, and the occasional little thrusts of Hugh about the ”deserter business,” continued and kept the boys stirred up. At length they could stand it no longer. It was decided between them that they must retrieve their reputations by capturing a real deserter and turning him over to the conscript-officer whose office was at the depot.

Accordingly, one Sat.u.r.day they started out on an expedition, the object of which was to capture a deserter though they should die in the attempt.

The conscript-guard had been unusually active lately, and it was said that several deserters had been caught.

The boys turned in at their old road, and made their way into Holetown. Their guns were loaded with large slugs, and they felt the ardor of battle thrill them as they marched along down the narrow roadway. They were trudging on when they were hailed by name from behind. Turning, they saw their friend Tim Mills, coming along at the same slouching gait in which he always walked. His old single-barrel gun was thrown across his arm, and he looked a little rustier than on the day he had shared their lunch. The boys held a little whispered conversation, and decided on a treaty of friends.h.i.+p.

”Good-mornin',” he said, on coming up to them. ”How's your ma?”

”Good-morning. She's right well.”

”What y' all doin'? Huntin' d'serters agin?” he asked.

”Yes. Come on and help us catch them.”

”No; I can't do that--exactly;--but I tell you what I _can_ do. I can tell you whar one is!”

The boys' faces glowed. ”All right!”