The National tribune., 1881-09-03

Arthur, young as he was, had already become
an excellent marksman, having for two years
possessed a rife of his own, which father had
bought him, and which was almost always in his
hands. We had no doubt that, with anything
like an ordinary chance, he would put a ball
through the turkeys head and return in triumph.
But somehow, after he went out, sudden
thought seemed to strike mother. Wasn't If
strange that turkey should come far out of
the woods, and keep up such gobbling in the
hollow? No. not strange, perhaps, nor very un-
usual and she wondered at her own uneasiness.
But her nerves had been shaken by poor Jason's
accident
The house had a halfstory in front, with two
small windows above the ground rooms, and
mothers feelings impelled her to up there
for better view She wished to where
father was, and perhaps might discover some
thing of the wild turkey.
| was close at her side. We saw father with
his rife away off across the field, and the negroes
AT a distance from him engaged in their work. The
stump. too, was visible nearly to its foot, and at
intervals we caught sight of Arthur carefully
working his way in a halt-circuit toward the
gully.
was warly approaching the spot where it
seemed to he. His halt-stooping posture showed
that he feared the bird might oct upon the stump
and see him.
Suddenly mother started, and her face had a
look OF chastity terror. Something which certainly
was no turkey rose little above the stump, be-
tween its shattered rim and the grass of the bank.
| saw it too and my blood ran cold.
1t was something that greatly resembled the
head of an Indian. We felt that the face must be
peering through the grass toward my father, while
we saw the black, cleaning hair behind.
Without doubt it was a Seminole warrior III
ambush watching fathers approach
Mother gave an agonized cry. What shall
do ?-oh what shall do?" she exclaimed.
Would not any signal or Outcry she could make
be misunderstood at such a distance, and only
hasten the catastrophe, since father still thirty
rods beyond the Indian, and eighty from the
house? Then where was Arthur, who had now
disappeared? And should she by sudden alarm
cause him to show himself might not the Semi
mole rise up and shoot him on the spot? She was
dizzy with her sense OF the dreadful situation.
But in a moment l called out to her. " There's
y
among the rank grass, lying fiat upon the ground
within good rie-shot of the stump, which he
seemed to be watching intently.
Once again the Indians head was shown
slightly, and we got an instants glimpse of Ar
thurs rife. But the black hair disappeared, and
the weapon was lowered.
Father was now SO near the scene OF danger that
we had no alternative but to watch. Terrible
was her anxiety, mother now felt that Arthur
had discovered what kind OF game the old stump
contained. She knew that the Indian could not
fire at father without exposing his own head, and
that tie moment it appeared it would be covered
by her brave boys rife.
How our hearts beat for the few moments that
intervened Another gobble came from the
stump. Father was working his way stealthily
toward it in anticipation of prize, and Arthur
lay still as death in the grass
All at once we the sunlight glance upon a
mass Of long raven hair that slowly above
the gnarled wood which had hidden it. Father
was within six rods Of the spot. 1t was dreadful
moment.
Our eyes turned to Arthur. The grass in front
of the slight knoll where he lay was not high
rested on the ground. We could see him drop
his young face against the breach Of his gun
The barrel cleaned for a single instant, puff of
smoke streamed from the muzzIe and he leaped
to his feet.
But there was still more sudden leap from
the old stump for an Indian, with flying hair
and with his rifle still clutched in his hands,
sprang up and fell dead against the slope which
had concealed him from fathers view.
The reunion which followed, when we all ran
into each others arms joyful, Yet thrilled with
CONSERVATION, Will not dwell upon.
We found the dead enemy to be tail young
warrior hideoUsly painted, and having in his
belt hatchet and knife
He had no doubt entered the gully from the
swamp, and seeing father at distance had at
tempted to decoy him within gunshot by imtat-
ing wild turkey.
The occasion proved to be the only one on
which the seminole war was brought home to
us. rs the successes Of the United States troops
atvrward kept the Indians at distance from
neghGorhood
WORDS OF WISDOM.
Every fox praises his own tail
Go after two wolves. and YOU VIII not even
catch one