The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-02-05

By NJ. j. HArGOOp.

The last trap was about to be reached !;
and ms we entered the thick dark cluster
of spruce and found II missing, the oNpe-
ricnced eye of the old hunter, *qulck-
ly recognized his game,
''llERE, WOLF, BEHIND !"
Eagerly the eye follows the trail of broken
branches, twisted saplings, and uptumed
leaves. The fellow that tore that root in
his enragcd flight from the very bowels
of the earth is not to BIZ sighted Full
of dread and yet of eager expectation, the
we think, a few we know, will bring into
view the right royal game.
How nervcd suddenly becomes each
sense Every twig that snaps under the
foot falls heavy upon the ear. The rustic
of leaf, caused may be by the spring of
bird as it starts alarmed from our intru-
| sion, sends thrill through every vein.
Thud, thud, goes the pump of swelling
flesh under our coats, as the lfe-current
pours in upon it with redoubed force.
Strange we never noticed it so before
"Halloa there !" A start as though we
We're shot, from our track,-a glance like
flash to the right and the left-when
suddenly the sight becomes riveted upon
a pair of wild glazing eyes deeply set ia
their groundwork of black forty yards
in front of us. We thought, in times be
fore, that we had met with eyes that were
matchless. But We were mistaken. No
maiden ever gazed upon us with half the
fascination that now so intensely held u.s.
We never had dreamed that there could
exist such eyes before. We never imag-
ined that they could fire up so when we
saw the owner of their kin laying and
a lolling like dog in the cage of me
nagerie.
We don't rush up. Somehow the con-
viction steals over us that we had better
stand still awhile. When, at last, we step
forward at all, we step careful. If we
could withdraw our gaze long enough to
notice it, fifty to one that we should find
the gun in our hands cooked and our finger
upon the trigger,
But stop don't needlessly mar the |
smooth symmetry of that countenance or
dim the fiery luster of those eyes. He is
harmless now. The thick steel jaws with
their heavy two-inch spikes, have pierced |
and now hold fast the sinewy arm within
which, a day ago, lay concealed the
strength that could with light tap-such |
as you would use to brush kitten from
your knee-hurl you headlong from its
reach
But the monarch of the forest is cap
tive now. And as he sees us, conscious
of his impotence, step within ten feet of
him. and insult and trample upon his
hitherto undisputed sovereignty; he
hno'es ii too One solitary grasp at the
relentless steel, one bold look of proud
defiance at his purSuers and he hides his
head in grief and shame. You can drive
the cold lead INTO his brain now for You
have already broke his heart
But stop, don't be ina hurry. Don't tor
ment and tantalize him, but stand there
awhile and calmly study him. 1t will do
you more good than any ordinary sermon
or book and the lesson you won't soon for
get. Speak gentle word to the crouch
ing brute who is now quivering in fear
a" aiting, he knows not what from your
hand. Let the tones of the human voice
that are for the first time to fall upon his
ear, be, not harsh but gentle. 1t may do
him good; as | know it will Yourself.
And so thought the old hunter as he
stepped up still closer to the covering
brute and with a word in a language
which know not but hope to sometime
learn, caused the frightened beast to
glance up with Il look of mingled shame
md fear, as he lay chained fast upon the
ground
And now they stand face to face and
eye to eye-a kingly beast and its still
more kingly master !
*Zeuo X. Cone