The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-04-04

aloud. "You shan't be baked Of your
shot. You shall take my rife; it's first
rate one. You'd better try it now, with |
the other marksmen, till you get accus-
toned to its weight"
If he had rescued Jean Baptiste from
terrible fate, the Acadian could not !
have been more vehement in his express
siOns of gratitude In queer patois OF
French and English, mixed with hyster-
ica sobs, he poured forth his thanks.
The stranger sauntered leisurely after
him, and watched with keen eyes the
Workmanship of the Acadians.
"Iean Daptiste isn't half bad shot,"
he said to himself, "but the boys too
nervous Dare say he'd have done bet
ter if he hadn't been tearing his nerves
to fiddle strings this evening. Funny
people, these Acadians Too excitable
and noisy ever to make good marksmen."
That night, In the loft which Jean Bap-
tiste shared with him, the boy confided
TO him his reasons for wishing to win
the great prize lie sat on his mattress,
his great brown eyes luminous with ex-
citement and his expressive gestures
piercing out his imperfect speech.
"You see, monsieur, vas born here,
and nevaire haf l been feefty mile from
re prairie. You see a tall tree far off in
ze mdrdisl / haf neyaire been more far.
climb It, look far out. | say, Jean
Baptiste Avran, if you had a pony
for your own, you could run away. You
could gallop, gallop into re big world,
and, who knows, make a heap of money.
"Ah, grand Dieu, / is so tired - throw
ing out his arms with tragic gesture.
~ is not COW | is not horse, to be
glad and satisfy because re grass is fine.
| want to go far off to see people, to learn
to read. Monsieur, when strangers come
here, not good, not kind like you, zey
laugh at us. Zey say: You cannot read
or write; you know nothin'; you are no
more Zan your beasts Non, aoR," strik-
ing his breast, 81 will go away 1 will
not stay herel
"YOu would leave your father, your
friends2" the officer said gently. "My
poor boy, the world isn't quite heaven"
1T may be bad, yes. 1t may hurt me,
but it will not be re prairie. All, l choke
here "
Z" In plain words, you want a change"
and the officer laughed. "You want the
pony to gallop off into pitfalls, and
stumble against walls, and to get so
many knocks and tumbles that all the
Kings horses and all the Kings men
couldn't piece you into the old Jean
Baptiste again. You don't understand a
word | say! | was just talking to my
self you see, and you needn't understand.
Go to sleep, and sleep soundly If you
want to shoot well. Nothing like good
nights rest to steady the nerves.
About ten o'clock next morning sew
eral hundred people assembled at the APP
pointed place. In the open prairie, the
patgo fastened to a tall pole tluttered its
gay streamers in the breeze, and the at
tention of the Acadians seemed divided
between the bird and the stately young
officer who lowered above them all, his
keen eyes taking in every detail of the
scene.
"He looks like st. Michael, " whispered
one. "The picture in the church"
"Bahp answered the other. st.
Michael is angry, he is trampling the
dragon. That man looks as cold as ice,
his face never changes, though he is
handsome. Yes he is beautiful
The shooting began, but somehow il
was unusually bad. After twenty shots
the Patgo's ribbon plumage still waved
defiance. Neither wings nor head had
been brought down.
"Will not monsieur take some chancef
said one of the judges, in very good Eng
/ lish, approaching the stranger.
eyes, | will take four, but after Jean
I Baptiste AviaR. i is his turn, nov"
Jean Baptiste's first shot was tolerable
as it struck the wing of the bird, bu
without bringing it down. In the next
his nervous excitement had got the bet
ter of him, and his shot flew over the
head of the bird. He had taken bu
three chances, and his last shot was 81
deplorably wide of the mark, that /;
mocking laugh from the competitor
saluted it.
"Aha, Jean Baptste" cried one,
night Get out of the way, mon gars'
and let the strange monsieur try hi
luck"
The officer took his rifle from Jear
Baptiste, and smiled at his downcas
face. He examined the weapon, loaded
it in his cool, deliberate manner, anC
taking his position, carelessly raised it
and, without apparently looking at thu
Patgo, called out:
This for the right wing of you
birdln
The shot rang out, and the wing lay
on the ground.
This for the headi"
The ribbons which had adorned tina
portion of the Patgo gave last fiuttel
as it swooped down.
"And tins for the ponym
As the bird fell, perfect storm o
rage arose in the crowd.
"Unfair!" "Cheateryl" "The Patgt
should not have fallen for an hour yet
ale is a sorcerer!" "He is a devil
"Robberm "Vile American!"
The officer did not understand them
but he saw threatening faces and gestic
ulating arms, as the crowd pressed
closely to him He coolly loaded hi
rifle, and, standing with his back to
large tree, waited for an attack, his i'm
passive face as calm as if he had beef
among friends. Jean Baptiste, his boy
ish face glowing with indignation, anC
his eyes flashing defiance, sprang to hi
side.
'Zey is mad !" he cried. "Zey want
TO fight youl Cowards Aha, l has
gun ln holding it up. 81 will help you.
"Two against two hundred" said tn
officer coolly, with a smile. "It's lonl