Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1858-12-25

One day, Mr.. Drake, the elder, was re-.
turning home with pocket full Of rocks,
from Chicago, where he had been 10 dis.
pose 81 load Of grain, aud Sam Barton
was on the wagon with him. As they ap.
prouched the grove which interviewed he.
tween them and Mr.. Brakes house, he
observed to his companion:
"Why a. trau'ful sho, old Crickley's
roam is \pder!'
"Hapy luinu,, uu,iered old Drake,
The Eurse was standing under some
trees twelve rods from the road.
Involun,ariy. Drake stopped his team
He glanced urtisely around then, with
oueer smile .,hp old hunter took up his rite
from The bo,,om Of the wagon, and raising
i, to his shop9der, drew sigh on the Col.
oners hnrs'.
Beauitul." mu,tered Drake, lowering
his riff with the air OF a man who had re.
sistsdpoweriul temptation. 81 could drop
the old rom SO handsome.
"Shoot!" suggested Sam Barton, who
loved fun in any shape.
"No, ',won, dO, said the old hunter,
slancing cautiously around.
~ won't tell" said Sam.
swell, l won't shoot this time, toll or
not tell. The horse is too night he
was fifty yards off instead OF Twelve, so
there would be bare possibility of mis-
taking him tor deer. I'd let fly. As it is
I'd give old Crickley five dollars for a
shot"
At this moment the Colonel himself
stepped from behind a big oak, not hall u
dozen PAGES distant, and stood before Mr..
Drake.
"WeIl, why don't you shoot p
The old man s,ammcred out some words
in confusion.
.Tha, you, Colonel IL was tempt
ed to, declare. But as saId' III give
you V, Tor pud."
"Say an X, and its bargain"
Drake ;elt for his rifle, and looked al
the old horse.
GLOW much is old roam worth 2" he
whispered in Sans ear.
I" Abou, $50"
/, n" Well, | n do it. Here's an X"
The Colonel pockeied the money, NUT
tcri6g =" I'll De' na7ge n ffrorHnr yod d
do it,"
With high alee the old hunter put u
FISH zap on his ritz, stood mp in his wa.
aau aud drrw Il close sight on old roam.
Tie Colonel put his money in Ills pocket
and churi,led too. a.-s
Crack vent the rife. The hunter lei
uul IA ho:y,d oath which ! will not here
repeat. sam was aslonished, the Colonel
SHRED lid roam never stirred.
Drake stared at his rife, with face
us LACK It's Ohello's.
"Wha'- the matter with you, hey fusl
time yon ever served Inc such trick,
swan ~
And Drake RELOADED his piece with
great wrath and indignation.
People say you've lost your knack o
shooling,' said the Colonel, in a tone q
emitting sarcasm
Who sand SO? It's lie !" thunderec
hr enraged old hunter. Il can shoot -
81 horse a, ten rods. lila ha !"
Drake was liyid.
Look here, Colonel, can't stanc
that" he began.
"Never mind, the horse can" sneercd
the Colonel
Grinding his teeth, Drake produced an
other X. Here" he growled, "ln
bound to have my shot. y +5.z
"Crack away" said the Colonel, peck.
citing the note. .zs.
Drake did crack away-w'h deadly
aim too, but The horse did not mind the
bullet in the least. To the range anc
unutterable disgust of the old hunter, roam
stared him right in the face, as if he likec
the fun.
Drake" cried Sam, "you're drunk.
A horse at dozen rods 0 Lord |"
"Shn, your mouth, or ri shoot you,
said old Drake.
Las, week si Ia sSS:s sss Gan. shout ,
rods, and can do it again. CrIckley,
you can laugh now, but ri bet you hy
dollars that can bring down old roam al
the very next shot"
The wager was really accepted. The
stakes were placed in Sans hands. Flat.
ed with the idea of winning back hi. two
tens and making an \ in the bargain,
Drake carefully selected a perfect bail,
and with uck.kin PATCH carefully load.
cd his rifle.
I, VAS now nearly night, but the hunter
was in the habit of Boosting that he could
shoot a bat on the wing by starlight and
without hesitation he drew bead on Old
roan's head.