Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-30


He glanced lurtivcly around, then with Il
queer smile the old hunter took up his
rifle from the bottom Of the wagon, and
raising it to his shoulder, drew sight on
the C0loncl's horse.
Beautiful! !" muttcrcd Drake, lower
ing his rifle with the air Of a man resist
ing powerful temptation. 81 could drop
old Roam so easy"
"Shoot." suggested Sam Barston, who
loved fun in any shape.
NO, no, twould'nt do" said the old
hunter, glancing cautiously around him
again.
u wont tell, said Sam
wont shoot this time, any way, tell
or no tell. The horse is too nigh. If he
was fifty rods off instead of twelve, so
thcre'd bc bare possibility of miotaking
it for deer, I'd let fly, As it is I'd give
the Col. five dollars for shot"
At that moment the Colonel himself
stepped from behind big oak, not half
dozen PAGES distant, and stood before Mr..
Drake.
"Wcll, why don't you shoot?"
The old man stammcrcd some words in
confusion:
"That you loncl!-I-I was tempted
to, declare! And as said, III give you
a ' for one pull
"Say an y and it's bargain" replied
Col. Cricklcy.
Drake felt for his rifle, and looked at
old Roam.
"lIow much is the hoss wuth?" he
muttcrcd in Sans ear.
"About fifty dollars"
Cad, Colonel, I'll do it. Here's your
X
The Col. pockctcd the money, muttcr-
Hanged ic ! thought you'd take me
up." p."'-..-....-.....-........
With high glcc the old hunter put n
fresh cap on his rifle, stood up in his
wagon and drew close sight on old Roam.
Sam Barston chucklcd. The Colonel put
his hand to his face and chucklcd too
Crack went the rifle. The hunter tore
out a horrid oath, which | will not repeat.
Sam was aStonishcd. The Col. laughed.
Old Roam never stirred. Drake stared at
his rifle, with face as black as Othello's.
whats the matter with you, hcy?-
Fust time you sarvcd me quite such q
trick, swan"
And Drake loaded the piece with great
wrath and Indignation.
People said you'd lost your knack o
shooting" observed the Col. in cutting
tone of satire. r.
"Who said so? It's a lie !" thundcfGd
Drake ~ eau shoot"
\ horse at ~ rods ha la"
Drake was liTi'l. Look here, Colonel,
can't stand that!" he began.
Never mind. the hoEm cam" snccrcd
the Col. u'll risk you.'
Grinding his teeth, Drake produced
another y.
Here" he growlcd, 81 am bound to
have another Shot, any way"
"Crack away cried the Col. pockcting
the money.
Drake dH crack away--with deadly
aim too-but the horse did not mind the
uttcrablc establishment of the hunter, old
Roam looked him right in the face, as il
he rather liked the fun.
Drake" cried Sam, "you arc drunk
\ horse at dozen rodS-oh, my eyes !!
"Just shut your mouth, or Ill shoot
you." thundcrcd the excited Drake
1.-The bullet was hollow, I'll swear. The
man lies that says can't shoot! Last
week | cut off gooSr's head at fifty rods,
and | cando it again. Col. you can laugh,
but III bet now thirty dollars can bring
down old Roam ut one shot
The wager was readily accepted. The
stakes were placed in Sans hands. Fla
ted with the idea of winning back his two
tens, and making an y in the bargain,
Drake carefully selected apcrlcct ball, and
even buckSkin patch, and loaded the rifle.
1t was nearly dark, but the old hunter
boastcd of being able TO shoot a bat on the
wing by starlight, and without hesitation
he drew clear sight ON Roan's head.
\ minute later Drake was driving
through the grove, the most enragcd, the
most desperate of men. His rifle, inno-
cent victim Of his ire, lay with broken
stock on the bottom of the wagon. Sam
liarSton was too much frightened to
laugh. Meanwhile the gratificd Col. was
rolling on the ground convulScd with
mirth, and old Roam was standing undis-
turhcd under the trees.
When Drake reached home his two
sons discovered his i'll humor, and the
mutilated condition of his rifle stock, and
FASTENED to arouse his spirits with piece
of news which they were sure would
make him dance for joy.
"Clcar OUT" growlcd the angry old
man, 81 don't want to hear any news;
get away or shall knock one of you
down."
but father, it is such n trick, played
off on the Colonel.
"On the Colonel? Cad, if you've
played the Colonel trick lets hear it,
cried the old man, beginning TO be inter
eStcd.
"Wcll, father, jed and I, this after
noon, went out for deer"
Hang the deer, come to the tricky"
"Couldn find any deer, but thought
that We must shoot something so Jed
banged away at the COloncl's old Roam
shot him dcad!"
"Shot old Roam y" thundcrcd the hun
ter =" jed, did You shoot the Coloncls
old hOsS?"
"l didn't do anything else. And thcn."
pursued jed, confident the Joke part must
please his father, Jim and proppcd the