St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-13
UNCLE BRAD'S ADVENTURE
A Story That Will Be Fou nd In
teresting to Boys.

"Iell US one or your hunting stories,
Uncle Brad?'
Yes; bear story. Did you ever
shoot bear?"
Yes; tell us about the first one you
ever shot at?''
"Did you kill him?"
swell, he didn't kill me, which was
the most astonishing poiut OF my first
bear shooting"
That's the story we want to hear,
Uncle Brad. Go on, please"
Two or three lively boys settled them
selves to listen with eager interest.
my father" began Uncle Brad, twas
an enthusiastic hunter, and made up his
mind that his boys should early learn to
handle guns. He used to take US out
on long camping expeditions when we
were quite small boys. One summer he
ter, whose name was Dan, to go and
take charge Of us.
1--WE took a ride by rail to a small
town on the border of one of the small
Canada lakes. Here we secured our
canoes and supplies, and after padding
around its smooth shore, came to small
river. This was our jumping-off place,
for half-breed's hut at its mouth was
the last yestige of civilization. We
spent the night there, and the next
morning were making preparations to
paddle far up the stream in search of
game and fishing, when the first hitch
came.
"pve got to go back to town." said
Dan.
what for?' arose in chorus of three
dismayed voices.
1.-The box of canned meats wasn't put
in.'
"What lot of stupids!"
Lets go on without it,"
''That wouldn't do" said Dan. ''I'll
be back here with it, tomorrow"
"Well," said. then We'll go on up
the stream and find 4 good camping
place and be all fixed when you come"
NO" said Dan, that wasn't accor-
dim to the 'greement with your father.
You can stay here till tomorrow"
Jack, Phil and l grumbled in great
discomfort but there was nothing else
to be done. Dan got into his canoe and
swiftly padded out of sight.
81 say, Phil" l said, "wby couldn't
we go up the river by ourselves now in
stead of waiting till to-morrow?'
II don't believe father'd like it," said
Phil.
Nonsense! Are we never going to
be big enough to take care of ourselves?
What harm could it be? We can Just
paddle up till we find good spot and
pitch our tent. Dan couldn't miss US
tomorrow"
Phil objected little, but the end of
it was that within an hour we left the
message for Dan with our last pight'S
host and started up the stream.
1t was rather hard work, but the
crisp, invigorating air seemed to put a
new spring into our limbs, and we
oil ifrht inn fnrt 49,
and every glance of the sun from sky or
water. We padded with will until
we had put long distance between
ourselves and all other human beings.
At length we came to place which
seemed the spot of all others the best
fitted for camp, and with one cOnSenl
began settling ourselves.
How we did work! Our enthusiasm
was at fever heat when, as the tent
cleaned white among the green sur
roundings, we unpacked our supplies
and by a roaring camp fire, which felt
pleasant in the chill of approaching
night, made supper suited to such appe-
titles.
The work was over and we began to
realize how tired we were. The sun
sank low as we fingered around our fire,
and the tall trees above US seemed to
grow taller and darker every moment.
a hush in which was something awful,
oppressive, settled down with the twi-
light, broken only by mournful sigh
ing of the wind through the tree tops,
or the half-wailing note of some night
bird.
Our animated chatter soon died away.
81 wish we were back-don't you?"
asked Jack after a silence. speaking as
if he were half afraid of being laughed
at or scolded. But he received neither
rebuke nor ridicule, for it suddenly
dawned upon me that / was in my
secret heart wishing the same thing
with all my might. began to wonder
how l had dared to take the RESPONSE
bility of bringing my two young
brothers into this solitude.
mo. don't wish | was back" said
Phil, bravely. Its lots of fun to be
off here all alone--of course it is. But
L wouldn't mind II Dan was here"
HE will be here all right Tomorrow"
l said. "Wouldn't it be something to
tell of if we should shoot deer or some
thing before he got here?"
'Or BEAR" said Phil.
81 guess We'll have to go farther than
this before we fluid any BEARS" said /.
Phil skinned squirrel which he had
shot, and we proudly calculated that our
first breakfast would be off our own
game. Then we went to bed. The other
boys soon fell asleep but II was long
time before followed their example.
don't know how long / slept before
/ was suddenly awakened. / knew it
must have been by some noise, for with
my first conscious moment l was sitting
bolt upright.
For few seconds all was still. Then
| heard a cracking of branches and
presently the sound of boulder rolling
down the bank. Its splash into the
water awakened the others.
''What is it?" whispered Jack, creep
ing close to my side.
SSH don't know" l said, "a deer,
suppose, coming to water"
a LETS get our guns ready" said Phil.
B Don't make bit of noise," eau
toned.
There was more cracking and scram-
bling among the stones. With trem-
bling hands 1 raised the tent cloth far
enough to peep out.
There was no moon, and the starlight
which struggled down through the trees
was dim and misty, so that could OBJ
tain but an indistinct view of what was
going on outside. / could only make
out a moving object among the bushes.
working its way toward the rock on
which Phil had left his squirrel and its
skin.
at length, reaching it. it seemed to
rise on its hind legs. but could discern
nothing more than a huge black object
with clumsy and unweildly movements,
even to my inexperienced eyes far diff
ferent from the graceful form of the
deer hoped to see.
What was II? Could it have been
drawn here by the smell of the squirrel.
II so, it would be surely turning its at
tention further before long.
"What shall wSdo?" said Phil in
breathless whisper at my side.
Than oarpa 0var 10 Tho full avforf 20