The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-01

Inc SnOOllnB organ, nut 6DmenOW u
was unusually had. After twenty shots,
the Patgo's ribbon plumage still waved
defiance. Neither wings nor head had
been brought down.
Will not monsieur take some chances?
said one of the judges, in very good En-.
glish, approaching the stranger.
Yes, will take four, but after Jean
Baptiste Avran. 1t is his rurn, now.
Jean Baptiste's first shot was tOlerahle
as 1t struck the wing of the bird, but
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 but
three chances, aud his last shot was 20
deplnrably wide of the mark, that a
mOcking laugh from the competitors
salutyd il.
Aha, Jean Baptiste! cried one, thou
didst not say thy prayers last night. Get
out of the way, mon gdrS and let the
strange monsieur try his luck.
The officer took his rife from Jean
Baptste, and smiled at his dOwncast
face. He examined the weapon, loaded
it IN his cool, deliberate manner, and,
taking his position, carelessly raised it,
anu "lNllpuL i'NhihS oN VIZ
Patgo, called out:
This for the right wing Of your bird!
The shot rang out, and the wing lay
on he ground.
This for the head!
The ribbons which had adorned that
portion of the Patgo gave last flutler
as it swOnprd down.
And this for the pony!
As the b rd fell, perfect storm Of
rage arose in the crowd.
UnfaI! Cheatery! The Patgo should
MT have fallen for an hour vet! He is a
sorcerer he is devil ! R0bber ! Vile
American!
The officer did not understand them,
bul he saw threatening faces and K, site
ulating arms AS the crowd pressed clOse
ly to him. He cooly loaded his riff,
and standing with his back to lagre
tree, waited for an attack. his impassivp
face "a calm AS if he had been among
friends. Jean Bapisre. his boyish face
glowing with Indignation, and his eyes
fl lshing def sprang to his side.
z is mad he cried. ley want to
fight you! Cowards Ahp, ] has gun I!
holding it up. will help you.
Two against two hundred, said the
officer coolly. with smile. LIS long
odds, my boy. but I'll Try tn hold my
pos You must keep out of the mess.
For the life ui me don't know what
the beggar5 are hOwlng about. hut all
the same if they attack me. I'm ready.
But there were =, me cool heads in
that crowd. They dashed about among
that tul buent crowd, scolding at the
very top Of their voices, and giving
heavy blows right and left to some OF
the furious youngsters who were shak-
ing their fists and bowling curses AZ the
cool stranger
You must hexcusP ze boys, monsieur,
said one of the judges courteously, to
the officer. Boys are fools, and you spoil
ed z fun by bringing down ze Patgo so
soon. 1t is all fair, and you haf re prize
but lose their heads when you tell
just where you going to hit. We nevaire
a k stranger their name, but if mon
sieur will tell us, he's so wonderful a
marksman, | will be much crafty.
Ny name is Scott, said the stranger,
Captain Scott from the barracks al Ba-
ton BJuge,
There was minutes profound silence
as the name of the most celeb atcd
marksman in the country fell upon their
ears. Not man there, not a man hard.
ly in the whole United States. hut what
had heard of the wonderful feats of
craftsmanship of that gallant young of
ticer.
Then suddenly ,as with one voice, there
arose deafeniDg cheer.
Captain Scott Hurrah for Captain
Scott!
Men crowded around to gaze at him,
to shake bands with him. A voice cried
out in good English; We are proud Cap
tain Scott, to have seen you, Wed have
given two ponies willingly just to have
a peep at you. And you're worth it too
Captain Scott laughed and turned tc
the Judge, who, leading up the prize
pony, laid the bride in his hand.
It's beautiful animal, he said admir-
ingy, but of course it's not up to my
weight. ! didn't win it for myself Here
my boy. to Jean Baptiste, l shot for you
Mount your pony. he added with q
laugh, and let us see you gallop into the
great world.
Jean Baptiste gasped for breath, then
before Captain Scott could prevent him
he had thrown his arms around the as
lnshed captains neck, and kissed hin
on both cheeks. The crowd cheered
Jean Baptiste, with an Indian yell,spranl
on the pony and galloped over the prai-
rie. But he did not gallop into the wOrlC
that day, nor before year, when
through the influence of Captain Scot
he was placed in good school,
The world was kind to the prairie boy
md he became a wealthy and Influential
man. A few years ago he died at al
advanced age, but his most treasured
pos ,ession was a p cture of Capt. Scot
in the glory of his manhood. That gal
liant officer died shortly after the picture
was taken, but there are probably man!
living now who remember the lnclden
of the Patgo.-[Youth's Companion.