Chapter 3: The Long RIFLE

every evening before o tell stories, pa made ts for or days ing. laura and mary and ts of lead, and t-mold. tted on ts, t one on eacched.

first ed ts of lead in ted, carefully from to ttle -mold. ed a minute, t dropped a brig onto th.

t oo to touc it semptingly t sometimes laura or mary could not ouc. t t say anytold to touc. if t ; t to cool tcs.

topped. trimmed off ttle lumps left by tiny so melt again t time s.

ts into pouctle bag wifully of buckskin, from a buck pa .

after ts ake . out in t migtle dampness, and to be dirty from powder smoke.

so pa ake ts place under ten a piece of clean clots end. ood tt of ter from tea kettle into t up and doer blackened ed out ttle he gun was loaded.

pa: kept pouring in more er and er ran out clear. ter must al ted steel antly.

t a clean, greased rag on till , all over, outside, until every bit of it er t ock until t was brigoo.

no anding straigall, on its butt, her side of him, pa said:

“you cell me if i make a mistake. “

so tc ake.

laura op of tal cap.

pa filled ttle and tapped to be sure t all togettom. c; tle tin box full of little pieces of greased clots of greasy clot one of ts on it, and and tightly

against t t it and t it down again. ime.

next ts place against taking a box of caps from , tle brig t came dohe gun would go off.

no on its he door.

led t of a green stick raigo he gun securely.

t pa could get it quickly and easily, any time he needed a gun.

into t t poucs, and t tin patc in s. tc and he gun ready loaded on his shoulder.

, for, to meet trouble y gun.

at a op and load t in and s do in bullet and pound t a fres again. at -a bear or a pant kill it s. a ime to load his gun again.

but laura and mary o t s.

after ts ory-telling time.

“tell us about the oods, laura would beg him.

pa crinkled up ;o; ;you dont to time i le boy.”

“o; laura and mary said. so pa began.

tory of pa and the oods

“tle boy, not muco go every afteoon to find told me never to play by t to he woods.

“one day i started earlier t i did not need to o see in t i forgot t dark rees, ctle rabbits playing games togettle rabbits, you knoo bed.

i began to play i alking ting til t once i tering good nig he woods.

“i kne i must get t he cows!

“i listened, but i could not t come.

“i s, but i dared not go o my fat ting and calling. all time tting trees and trange.

i could not find t doo dark ravines, calling and looking. i stopped and listened for t a sound but tling of leaves.

t a pant it hing.

“my bare legs cruck me. but i kept on, looking and calling, sukey! sukey! “ sukey! sukey! i sed . sukey! “rig;my ood straight on end.

“ all about ted o get out of to get home.

“t ter me and called again, ;i ran . i ran till i couldnt breatill i kept on running. somet, and do. up i jumped, and t even a wolf could me.

“at last i came out of tood all ting to be let t to the house.

“my fat makes you so late? been playing by t;i looked do my feet, and t one big-toe nail o clean off. i i felt it till t minute.”

pa alopped telling tory ed until laura said: “go on! pa! please go on.”

“ell, pa said, t out into t a stout sco t i o mind er t.

a big boy nine years old is old enougo remember to mind, i tell you to do, old, no o you.“

“yes, yes, pa! “ laura ;and t did ; “ in ter dark, and you have been scared by a screech-owl.