Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE OLD DRUMMIN' LOG Many autumns now have vanished since my brother Tim and I, While a-milkin' in the mornin', jest as day was drawin' nigh, Heard a bit of pleasant music kinder floatin' through the fog; 'Twas the boomin' of a pa'tridge on a well-known drummin' log. Quick we left the tiresome milkin', skippin' quickly from the stall; Softly stole into the kitchen, took the musket from the wall; Then we hustled off like Injuns on a light and stealthy jog, Down toward the cheerin' music wafted from the drummin' log. On all fours we went a-creepin' fer a dozen rod or more, Gettin' thistle in our fingers, an' our breeches badly tore; THE OLD DRUMMIN' LOG 29 But we slid along with caution, through the damp and through the fog, Per we heard the steady boomin' comin' from the drummin' log. Then we did some cautious peekin' through a clump of little trees; Gee! there set our feathered drummer, jest as perky as you please; So we shoved the faithful musket 'cross a hummock in the bog, Allers keepin' of our optics glued upon the drummin' log. Glancin' straight along the barrel, brother took a careful sight, While we almost quit a-breathin' lest the bird should take a flight; Then the shooter pressed the trigger, all his faculties agog, An' the smoke went rollin' forward to'rd the big old drummin' log. With our hearts jest fairly bumpin', off we started on a run To pick up our splendid pa'tridge, never stoppin' for the gun— jo THE OLD DRUMMIN' LOG Jumpin' Jinks! what disappointment! all our bright hopes slipped a cog; 'Twas a knot that we had peppered on that cussed drurnmin' log. Then the pa'tridge jest up an' flew. Brad L. Hubert chapter{Section 4THE HUNTER IN CAMP 0! the bountiful s...