The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-12-24
THE GALLANT TRAPPER,

THE GALLANT TRAPPER.
Eben Gardner was Minnesota trap
per and hunter--a mighty man in his
field and vocation. His cabin was fal
away out in the woods, and stood by
itself, occupied by himself and his little
family.
That his wife did not like to lead this
desolate life was certain. cts what
never expected" she said, "when L mar
ried, to be dragged out here like goods
and chattels, among rattlesnakes and
wild Iniuns. [ can't sleep in my bed at
night for thinking the redskins are
crawling through the BUSH
Redskins pooh !" exclaimed Eben,
polishing away at his gun-barrel with the
sleeve of his mnting-shirt. "There
hasn't been an Injun raid in these parts
for more than five years, and amt likely
t. be, with a fort only twenty miles off
full of government troops to protect the
settlers. You may sleep like the dead
for all the redskins will DO to you"
They had been talking that day about
a young hunter named Eph, of whom
Eben spoke highly, but whom the good
wife thought too much like a savage.
While they were speaking the sharp
report of rifle rang through the woods,
and at the same moment the graceful,
1.-the form of the young trapper leaped
like a cat out of the woods. He held his
cooked piece in his hand. His hunting
shirt of buclzskin, with gayly dyed frin-
ges, was open at the throat his head
was bare, his eyes glittered, and his
bronzed face was strangely pale.
Eben sprang to his feet. "Eph
what's the matter =
"The redskins !" The young man,
throwing back the dense clusters of curly
brown hair from his forehead, almost
hissed the words through his blanched
lips.
ooh, the redskins :" smieked Mrs.
Gardner, rs she caught the words in the
interior OF the cabin.
"Be still :" said Eben, sternly and
he stood up and clutched his rifle.
" [ heard at Brashear," Eph added,
bringing his words out with wonderful
GOODNESS and precision, " that the red
skins We're out on the war-path after
plunder and scalps. L turned in my
tracks. [ covered every step of the way.
I crept through the woods. Five miles
below the Bend, at Tuttle's, they have
murdered all the pale-faces and set fire
to the settlement"
"And Tuttle's babies, the twins
them pretty flaxen-haired poppets he
was so proud of (" asked Eben, in kind
of gasp.
Drained EN-" returned Eph, laconi-
cally, and the girl fifteen years Old"
Bessie uttered fearful shrek. The
women We're clinging together in a
frightened group, and the old mans be-
wildered, half-vacant face made a pa
thetic background. A terribly grim look
came into Eben's face.
There was further talk and prepara-
ton, for all felt that the Indians would
soon be upon them and there was need
for work now.
Eph had hastily driven the cattle and
horses into the sheds. Everything was
put in a state of siege. The heavy plank
windOwshutters were barred, and it was
through the small openings of these,
which made a dim twilight in the inte-
rlor of the cabin, that the two frontiers
men proposed to repulse their assailants.
Eph's mouth was drawn into a grim
hard line, but there was kind of glow
about his fine dark eyes He felt wild
Joy he could but half conceal, for his OPP
portunity had come to defend the girl he
loved with the whole force of his i'm
petuous, half-tamed nature. At least he
could die with her, and to q being like
Eph that alternative was far better than
living without her.
Hanny had been busy on her own line
of defense. She was supple and spry as
Il cat. Flushed with excitement, the
child's dark face was almost handsome.
What be you about, Hanny 2" asked
Eben.
"Getting my gun ready" said Hanny,
coolly. She had rummaged out an old
fowling- piece from some corner of the
cabin. "You know you said yourself,
father, I could make first-rate shot.
You have always been wishing for q boy.
I'll be your boy, father, and stand close
beside you, and we'll show the redskins
some tall shooting"
"You're a trump, Hanny, regular
little brick" choked Eben, feeling a
lump in his throat and he passed his
hand softly over the girls thick hair
But that old gun is no good. You
shall be my other hand, and help me
load. Only, child, when the firing be-
gins, you must get behind my back.
"Hist !" said Eph, listening with his
mead Dent low. near tlem coming
through the woods.
Bessie, in the obssurity of the cabin,
flung herself down at Eph's feet
"Oh, Eph, !" she moaned, "you told
me the other night you loved me, that
you had never loved woman before.
If you love me still, promise that you
will kill me before fall into the hands
of those savages-before they do to me