The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-01-27
A Brave Young Lad.


the first eighteen years of his life. And
many interesting and amusing incidents
were crowded into these years, one OF
which. my dear young readers, l shall
relate for your diversion.
From his cradle he had learned to be-
heve that proving wolves and proving
bears lived somewhere among those
hills, and yet up to the age OF IL he had
seen nothing but the picture OF wild
animal He lived in hopes, however.
of some day exercising that boldness
and bravery which were among his
characteristics. For, with this shadow
ever hanging over him, he had educated
himself to the highest standard of cour-
age and intrepidity, also studying the
habits and natures of various animals.
There were none he dreaded so much
SIS the catamount. When | say dreaded,
I do not wish it to be inferred that he
would trv to avoid them; on the con
trarv. he was ever on the alert to find
them. 1t was their cat-like, stealthy,
treacherous nature that he despised.
He would much rather have n pawto-
paw tussle (as he termed it) with bear.
But beggars must not be choosers. !"
Although giving little credence to the
exaggerated stories of the neighbor-
hood there was shadow of reason
for believing that catamounts or pan
theirs inhabited those regions. Once or
twice. while engaged in doing his even
ing chores at the barn, he had heard n
veil or squall in the distance, which he
we'll knew was foreign to the barn yards
Of that locality, and which ut once sug-
gested these animals. The nearest set
Element to his fathers home was some
six miles distant, reached only by two
roadside main road winding along the
base of the mountain; the other mar
row one which cut through it, making
the distance shorter. 1t was seldom
patronlzed. however. on account OF It's
wildness, the steep ascentS on either
side looking very suspicious and Forbid
dinS
Returning from mill late one alter
noon, with his two bags OF griSt IN front
of him on his horse, he ventursd -
turn into this short cut, cheriShlnS the
hope at the same time that his >i>pl-
cions might be verified. and that hs
might so home with a true Story. lie
had gone about mile when suddenly
Dollvs ears few back. and then - Tx <
Nv straightened themselves ont IKE 1a~-s
of distress. He Remembered hearing Is
father say that the prieklnS OF Dolly :
ears was enough warning when &lrs,er
was at hand He watched anG v1lls'i
so long for that sign. and now 1-a5 =
had come IL sent ! thrill Ct 1err,cls -CT
through him. and then he berhGu.g,ln
himself # his reclessress. fer IL llal
not thing with which a. -ieIgnu I'M
self Still be d1d nCu. .uvIErt Ike. 1TIU
heel - his horse IL rIsV sI-ralc,IIellett
himself n his saddle. letting 0lIv -Jslie
her 0 WI ~. Tl1-e Ia ss3.nlesl after
side Of Inn. Al irsE us II szIlGtlr
sound y i caIg-luUs --IEItInIc, Is -1-ta
- n STA a1IF 1urnetl II -1le JUNCTION ITl1n
which Z came. IL IGre s2lIt lE-auIr.-
10 vas Acc -liI.lrEsl VIII -ue 1AlilI6 II
sid animals M --lt-.iTf.iIr-.llr-- lie
auIet1ess al silelIce vinu,1 prevailed
convinced I'm l. 1nce NIT e;;ITaInul1-l-
or panther I believe -.ley- IL me Iuit
the sare-E --lla-.Ir-les. tl-vls-s ,:i--iss.
them caaI--CglrS vIs lGIC Hi n-U-I1
IL an Zlcue1- ccTluca IDGu nm A4er-
In- his ewes 1gcn ne DGr vleilcI. the
r1st.l1g issued IL A-v 3lseiE g-L7
creature stel4 sig u --,sm -llcA tI-I--l
OF wood a16 1cl.,srt.r-i.sil 7 -1Ic-ss,l -
# 20 spring
Quick a. though ~ ri vl51 ga es.s.
whlrled Il, ter 16sast- - 1--Z2 = i-s
air. feeling s-rs s-sl1 re 11ovsl-sz.-
would Us -rscr "a rIazs. No- VII szv
that YOU see 70 orLTsry - sEla- les,
but was -Ecre 1cr cT------. ard tDse-
thouaLt. D0ss z Eo- slo-g rLst n any
emergency lie wolId - cool. and not
cOwardly. He astIaI.sssl. -.OweveE, tina,
IN this instance IL wa foo. hardy, for
he had rushed night .lto danger IN
guarded, and had It MT leel for his cap
he would have hal rothIEZ % aid him
in his strategy. After ridil2 safe dis
lance. he yentured b iook back, and,
sure enough, there in the din light and
distance, he saw something being pretty
roughly handled by . Ively-loOking
beast which he had 10 reason To
doubt was his cap.
This was enough. He put heels to
Dolly, who seemed 10 take IN her young
masters feelings, for there was no let mp
to her until she brought him safely
around to the back door.
Take the bags quickr' said he to his
father. who came ont 10 assist him.
I've a story NOR 10 tell, that you'll all
believe, guess"
''But where's your csp?" qneried his
father.
''Ah. thereby hangs a tale Come in,
while | call mother and the boys, and
we viii have it out" And 50 lie re-
counted his adventure in a very few
words. and the absence Of his cap proved