The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-02

y the questions, and it was much easier to
follow her than to puzzle them out
alone.
When went by Lettie's fathers home
that morning to build the fire in the
schoolhouse Lettie came to the door and
said that she would start for school in
about half all hour.
About half way between Mr.. East
mans and the schoolhouse there was a
"slew," or water hole, surrounded by
thickets of gray alder, and the timber
here came down to the road 1t was No
vember, and the night had been so cold
that the ''slew'' was frozen over.
1t was hardly sunrise yet. The thin
blue fog lay low on the bright frosty
ground, and the smoke from the settlers
houses in the distance rose straight up to
great height, for the air was very still.
AS I went past the "slew" I had
glimpse of something, Icould hardly tell
what, amongst the thick alders, four or
five rods from the road, and in a moment
more heard the ice crack. My first
though was that some hunter was in
there.
''Halloo" I called. 'Shot anything?"
There was no answer.
Then thought for an instant that it
might have been deer. But deer,
when started, goes bounding off at full
spring, making plenty of noise in the
bushes; whereas I had only heard one
cautious snap of the ice. Then it occur
red to me that it might have been a bear,
for bears were quite common in that To-
cality.'
| set down my dinner-box and books,
went quietly in amongst the alders, and
stood looking about for some moments,
but did not see any object nor hear a
sound. 700 - ..' g.. o..
u 1t seemed odd, for was positive I
had had glimpse of some moving OBJ
ject. However, had the fire to build,
and SO went back to the road and hurried
to the schoolhouse. Yet kept thinking
that there was something odd about the
noise and what had seen. -
By the time I had the schoolhouse
warm and swept, nearly all the scholars
were there except Lettie. A few minutes
after Mr.. Fitield arrived, and raped for
us to take our seets Lettie had said she
would start in half an hour. If sac had
started, she ought to have been at the
Then thought OF the noise had heard
at the "slew," and though did not be-
lieve it was caused by anything that
would hurt her, it made me feel I'M
easy.
The windows of the schoolhouse were
small, and so high that could not look
out from my seat. But behind me there
was a chink between the logs, from
which some of the children had pulled
| the Eastwood bark which had been stuffed
into it. It was a little crevice not half
an inch wide. All the time we were read
ing in the Testament kept peeping out
at this crevice, for it was on the back
side, and I could see the road along
which Lettie had to come, and out into
the timber above the road.
She was nowhere in sight.
| The master reprimanded me for look
ing out, for had lost my place in the
Testament, when nay turn came to read.
/ "We shall have to stop that hole up"
Mr.. Fi6eld said. That made Clint and
MERGED Bean laugh, for the two knew
why I was peeping through it. .:
Then the first class In arithmetic was
called. This was my class; but as I
got up stole another glance through the
crevice, and strange object caught my
eye.
Out in the edge Of the woods, where
the burnt piece which had been cleared
for the schoolhouse bordered the tim
Der, I caught a glimpse of some object
crawling slowly forward from behind
root. .-..t
There were dry tire-weeds and sprouts
in the way. / could not see the object
distinctly. But it crawled along to the
blackened stub Of a great yellow birch,
and Strengthened up behind it, as if about
to climb it. Then I saw an Indians head
thrust stealthily out from one side of the
old stump, and the savage looked toward
the schoolhouse.
I. I cannot describe the feeling that the
sight gave me. It flashed into my mind
in ar instant that it was an Indian that
had seen down at the ''slew'' and that he
had waylaid Lettic. ..." u
"George". cried Mr.. Fifeld, sharply,
"take your place in the Glass;
"Master," said I with very white
face, I suppose, there's an Indian out
doors!" - "' IA
| "What?' exclaimed Mr.. Fifeld.
"There's an Indian with gun, watch
lug the schoolhouse" I repeated. ''
Mr.. Fitield started to go to the window.
But Clint exclaimed: j..
Don't look out, master, I wouldn't
look out, master" '"'
II don't believe there are any Indians
watching the schoolhouse," said Mr..
Fifield, rather sternly, for he was out of
patience with me for behaving as had.
"Then come here, sir,' said 1, "and look
out of this crack" 5''h'
Instead Of doing that, he walked bold
~ up to the back window, and with his
face close up to the glass, looked out
The next thing rccollect was hearing
the sharp report of a. rifle, the shivering
Of glass, the fragments of which flew
across the room, and seeing Mr.. Fifield
fall back into the aisle! He never uttered
a word. He was killed instantly.
Two or three frightful war-hoops came
at the same moment. Imagine if you can,
what panic there was in the school
house The little scholars all beoan to