The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-11-27
snd chant 10 unison the war sengs and hynes Il
liberty Of old Norway.
"And the sounding nislss Of the tim woods nnsi
To the ANTHEM OF TnE FRKH."
Col. Crickiey' Horve.
a RAcY sKHrca.

Oi taelr acquaintance, there had been mutuai
feeling Of dislike between the two families. Then
some misunderstanding about the boundary Of
their respective farms, revealed the latent flames.
and Col. Crickley having followed o fat buck ali
one afternoon and wounded him. cathe pP to him
and found old Drake and his soens cnsiing him
upl This incident added fuel to the fs., aud
from tina, time there wGs nothin, the tive fami'
lies did not say to annoy each other.
One evening. Mr. Drake, the elder. was return
ing home with his pocket full of rocks from
Chicago. whittier lie had beeh 70 dispose ofa load
OF grain. Sam Brsstoh was with bin in ue
wagon, and as they approached the grove which
intervened between them and Mr.. brakes house.
he observed to his companion:
What beautiful mark Col Crickleys old
roam is over yonder"
Hang it muttered old drake. "soit is."
The horse was standing under some trees.
about twelve rods from the road
Involuntary Drake slapped his team. He
glanced furtyely around, then, with queer
SMILE the old hunter took up his rifle from the
bottom ofhis wagon and raising ii to bis shoulder,
drew sight on the Coils horse.
Beautiful y muttered Drake, lowering his rias.
with the air Of man resisting powerful tempt.
alton. Il could drop old roam 80 easy
"Shoo;" suggested Sam Btaston, who loved
fun in any shape
mo, no." said the old hunter glancing cautious.
ly around him.
"l,wont tell"
"Wal won't shoot this time anyhow Tell Of
no tell. The horse is too nigh. II be was fifty
rods off instead Of twelve, so thered be bare
possibility OF installing him for deer, I'd iei fly,
As tits, I'd give the Col Eve dollaes for shot"
At that moment the Col. himself stepped from
behind a big osk. not half dozen paces dis.
,asr, and before Mr.. Drake.
"Wsl|, why don't you shooti
The ole nan s.ammered in some confusion.
That you, COZ II was tempted to, declared
And as said. IN give you " for one pull"
Say an x and its bsrgainl"
Drake felt for his rife, and looked at old roam
"Hew much 10 the hoss worthr be muttsrsa
in Sans ear.
+" Bout ffty"
Cad Col, I'm doil Here. your tx'-
The Col pocketed the money, mutterins:
Hanged il | thought you'd take me upg'
With high glse the old hunter put fresh cap
on bis rifle and stood up in bis wagon, and drew
close sight on the old roam Sam Braston
chucklsd The Col pu, bis Laud before bis face
and chuckled too
! Crack went the ride. The bunts. tore out
horrid OATH which will not repeat. Sam was
a~toni-hed. The Col. laugh. Old roan never
stirred
! Dake stared at his rife with kss as black -
| Othello,
What's the matter with you, heyi Fus time
you ever served me quite such trick, swami
Asd Drake loaded hs psc, Iwlth great wrA,h,a
indlgnatiuD
People said you lost rour mack oishooting,"
observed the Col, in cutting tone Of sa,i's.
"who said sol it's lie !" hundred Drake. II
can -hoNt--"
- horse at ten rods, Ia hsi-
Look here. Colonel, ! can't stand that - he
began.
Never mind, the horse can" snesred the Col.
I'm risk you
Grinding bis tse.h. Drake prodassi another ten
dollar bill
Here" he srowled, II am bound to have a.
other shot, any way"
Crack away" cried the Col pOeketins tho
note
Drske did crak svay-vith deadly aim, too,
hut the horse did not mind tile bullet in the least
To tho rare and unurterable s,,onislment Of the
hunter, old Roam looked him rgh 10 tie face, rs
iihe rater like the fun.
Drake cried sam. you're drunk, 4 horse
at dozen rods-oh, my syrsp
'Just shut your mouth, or III shoo, you !" thu,.
dersd lie e1cited Drake. "'rhe bullet was hol.
low, III swear. The man lies that says cant
shoot Last week | Gu, OF goose head at sfiy
rods, and kin dew il again BY the wars, Col
you can laugh, but I'll bet now thirty dollars
can bring down old Roam a, ons sho,'
The wagrr v,s readily accepted, tie stakes
were Saced in Sans hands. Els,ed with thn
idea of winning back his two tens. and making an
X in th. bargain, Drake carefully selected q
perfect ball an even buckskin patch. and Ssnrd.
ed his rife. A minute later, Drake vas driving
through the grove, the most desperate OF m-n. -
ils rltls innocent victim Of his irs, lay with bro.
ken stock on the bottom Of the wagon Sam
Brsston was 20 much frighteasd to laugh Mean.
while, the grahed Col was rolling on the ground
conyulsed with mirth, and old rorn was standing
undsturbed under the trsss
When Drake reached home, his two sons die
covered lis illhumor, and the mutilatsd condi
ton Of hi. rifle stock and hasteued to arouse his
spirits with a piece Of news. which, they were
cure would make him dance with joy
Clear out, .growled the anyr! old man. II
don't want to hear any new,r'
But, father, lie such trick"
Blast YOU and your treksl'
PLAYED of on the Colonel 70
"On the Colr cried the old nsA beginning ts
be interested; Cad If you've played the Col. 9
trick. let's hear it,"
"til' iA'h''' Vsu nun uiksIuOou, Weut
eu, for deer"
Hang the deer come 10 the track"
Couldn't find any deer. thought We must shoo,
something; 40 Jed banged away at the Cole aid
Roan-shot him dead."
"ShO, old Roam! BY the wars. Jed did VOC
shoot the Coils hess! y
II didn't do anything else"
"Sold, sold - groaned the old hunter
"Aui then" pursued Jake eontden. that ths
ioko part of the story mus, please his father.
Jim aud propped the horse up and tied his
head back with cord. and lpf, him standing IN
der the trees, exactly W IL he was alive. Hal hal
Fancy the Colonel going TO catch himl ho hol
wasn't il a joker
Old brakes head fell upon his brc,.t He fell
ipr hi. empty pocket book, and looked q, his bro
ken rife. Then in rueful tone. Ls whispered q
tLs bows;
at. siok.' But f,ou ever tell ofi,--or l
you do. sam Brastou, III skin you alive BY the
wars, boys. I've been shooting 4, that dead hors<
h-lfan hour at tea dollars n shot"
Al tsn, moment sam fell into tho gutter. JED
dragged him ou, insensibo. Sam had !aughsd