'I know,' I said, 'Taut you wouldn't think she would be that way. I believe if I had a gun of my own I could break her of being gun-shy.'
Papa looked at me. He said, 'From what your mother says, you won't be getting a gun for some time yet.'
'Yes, I know,' I said.
When we reached the store we saw the team was already hitched to the buggy and was standing in front of the store. Grandpa had loaded the tent and several boxes of groceries.
I had never seen him in such high spirits. He slapped Papa on the back, saying, 'I'm sure glad you could go with us. It'll do you good to get out once in a while.'
Papa laughed and said, 'It looked like I had to go or have everyone in the family mad at me.'
Looking in the buggy I saw my ax. I didn't think I ever wanted to see it again, but for some reason it didn't look like I thought it would. There was no blood on it and it looked harmless enough laying there all clean and bright.
Grandpa saw me looking at it. He came over.
'I kept it a few days,' he said, 'just in case the marshal wanted to ask some questions. Everything seems to be all right now, and we may need a good ax on this hunt.'
Grandpa sensed how I felt about the ax. He waited in silence for my answer.
The excitement of the hunt was so strong in me, even the sight of the ax brought back only a fleeting remembrance of Rubin's accident.
I said, 'Yes, we will need one. Besides, it's a good one and there's no use in throwing it away.'
Grandpa laughed, reached over, and screwed my cap around on my head, saying, 'That the boy, that's what I wanted you to say. Now, you better go to the barn and get some hay and make a bed in the buggy box for your dogs.'
'Aw, Grandpa,' I said, 'they can walk. They don't ever get tired; besides, they're used to walking.'
'Walk!' Grandpa almost shouted. 'They're not going to walk. No, sir, not if I can help it. You want them to be footsore when we get there?'
Papa chuckled and said, 'We can't win a gold cup with two sore-footed hounds, can we?'
'Of course not,' Grandpa said. 'Now, you go and get that hay like I said.'
As I turned to go to the barn I couldn't help but smile. It made me feel good to have my papa and grandpa so concerned about my dogs.
I had taken only a few steps when Grandpa said, 'Oh, wait a minute.'
I stopped and turned around.
Walking up to me and glancing toward the house as he did, he whispered, 'In that empty kraut barrel in the harness room, there's a jug of corn liquor. Cover it up in the hay so your grandma won't see it, and bring it back with you.'
With a twinkle in his eye, he said, 'You never can tell when we'll need some medicine.'
I knew my father wouldn't drink any of the liquor, but if Grandpa wanted to take along a whole barrel, it was all right with me.
Just when I thought we were ready to leave, Grandma came bustling out.
Grandpa got nervous. He whispered and asked, 'Did you hide the jug good?'
I nodded my head.
Grandma handed Grandpa a pair of long-handle underwear and a scarf, saying, 'I knew you'd forget something.'
Grandpa snorted but knew there was no use arguing with her.
