[Laddie by Gene Stratton Porter]@TWC D-Link bookLaddie CHAPTER III 4/53
Then I got my biggest alder popgun and started up the road toward Sarah Hood's. I was going along singing a little verse; it wasn't Dutch either; the old baby could have that if it wanted it.
Soon as I got from sight of the house I made a powderhorn of a curled leaf, loaded my gun with portulaca powder, rammed in a tiger lily bullet, laid the weapon across my shoulder, and stepped high and lightly as Laddie does when he's in the Big Woods hunting for squirrel.
It must have been my own singing--I am rather good at hearing things, but I never noticed a sound that time, until a voice like a rusty saw said: "Good morning, Nimrod!" I sprang from the soft dust and landed among the dog fennel of a fence corner, in a flying leap.
Then I looked.
It was the Princess' father, tall, and gray, and grim, riding a big black horse that seemed as if it had been curried with the fine comb and brushed with the grease rag. "Good morning!" I said when I could speak. "Am I correct in the surmise that you are on the chase with a popgun ?" he asked politely. "Yes sir," I answered, getting my breath the best I could. It came easier after I noticed he didn't seem to be angry about anything. "Where is your hunting ground, and what game are you after ?" he asked gravely. "You can see the great African jungle over there.
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