The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-09
UNDER THE NAPLES;
Or, the Test of Character.
A Story of Village Life
w A L T E r N. H ~ NJ A N.
A Story of Village Life


just Ut bllc luOltlGAlb lnb lcIIlQC DtllOW
of the bull, not far away, interrupted the
discourse, and turning. they saw that he
was charging them. The boy was instant
" over a log that lay across the creek.
The gentleman wavered, undecided for a
moment. and then made a brilliant dash
down stream. The bull took after him
and gave the boy leisure to escape. Luck
lily, the stout road fence was not too far
away, and the long slim legs of the inter-
ruDted lecturer made it In safety
The boy made long detour TO the road,
and when he came mp TO where Mr.. Dow
dali sat on the bridge and was resting and
hopping off the perspiration caused by his
exertions, the gentleman said in a crest
fallen tone: Il didn't exactly run from
the brute, Ira, but if you mention this to
any one You may admit that l did some
rather tall walking"
Presently a man drove up the road and
invited the clergyman to ride, an invita-
ton which he eagerly accepted, and the
boy was left alone on the bridge. He sat
on the square-hewn log which served as a
railing. with his elbows on his knees and
his hands clasping tightly each cheek.
tie was rather silent boy with compan-
ions, but like most other country boys
and grown people too-he had a habit of
talking out his thoughts 10 himself when
he was alone.
"Mr. Dowdall knows lots of things, but
he don't know what'l cure warts. l wish
l did. he said, earnestly, and he gazed at
the three large ones on his left hand
There's another robin but, by ginger
they ain no good ! amt had even a
club or sinner bite today" And he
looked reproachfully at the bird, as if it
were matter that it was entirely res pom
sible for.
A succession of shrill screams from the
pasture caused the boy to jump to his
feet
by ginger" he exclaimed, them girls
is In fix"
About half way across the lot were three
girls, screaming at the top of their voices,
and running toward the fence near which
he stood. In the distance the bull was
paving madly and believing out tho
warning of a charge. The boy knew the
danger, for that bull had reputation for
viciousness the country round. He had
gored one man to death, and had tossed
and trampled the life nearly out of an
other, and had chased fishermen and
Others, as he did Mr.. Dowdall, out of this
same lot times without number. He
watched the paving animal and the fleeing
girls anxiOusly.
If them girls 'ud veil less and run faster
they might fetch ii, he muttered Then
he ran TO the fence and put his hands up
to each side of his mouth and shouted
loudly, stop your hollerin''
The girls heard the shout, and stopped
screaming, but in moment after the bull
started. To the boy it seemed doubtful
thing II they ever reached the fence, and
even If they did, he knew they could not
90 over fence like boy. The thing
was awfuily serious, and he looked over
the field to see If anything could be done.
a little to one side OF the girls course was
huge stump surrounded by a pile of
cobbe stones which had been picked I'D
from the stony field and carried there by
the men of the farm. 1t was perhaps fiji
teen feet in diameter and eight feet high.
His quick eye noted this dangerous place
OF refuge, and he decided what to
90 at once. He united a great
Turkey-red handkerchief that was wound
around his throat, and, waving it as best
he could, ran toward the pile of stones,
shouting to the girls TO keep straight
ahead and not mind him. With head
lowered and tail erect the bull was thun-
dering on at a terrific pace, and rapidly
gaining on the girls. Just as the boy got
opposite them the last girl, turning her
head for moment. stepped on loose,
round stone, and with a cry of pain fell,
and lay moaning on the ground. He in
stantly changed his course and ran direct
~ at the bull, waving his flag and shout
ing with all his might. The beast saw the
glazing flag, changed his course, and, with
greater fury than ever, charged direct
ly at the insulting challenger. III
the boy had not been the best runner and
the quickest dodger and turner of all the
boys in this region, this would have been
his last race. As he whirled and made
Tor the stone pile he could see the blazing
eyes and frothing nostrils of his maddened
pursuer, and fancied that he could feel
his hot breath. On a straight line he must
have been OveTtaken Immediately but he
zigzagged his way to the stone pile. round
ing 1t with the bull at his heels. Now he
had slight advantage, and il he made no
slip and met with no accident, he could
more than hold his own for a time. for he
could turn the circle faster than the long,
unwieldy brute. Finally he threw away
the reckerchief. 1t was lucky act, but
IL made rags OF cherished relic of his
grandfather for the bull dashed for it and
stamped upon ii, shook and tore it with
his horns, and did not leave it until the
boy had climbed up the pile and had be-
gun pelting him with heavy stones. Then
he dashed wildly at the pile, but was met
on the nose with stone that staggered
him and brought him to his knees; an
other and larger one followed as well di-
rected, and the maddened brute, roaring
with pain and fear, fled.
The boy saw that the two girls who had
been in the lead had bravely returned to
their fallen companion and had assisted
her to the fence and were helping her over
into the road. "She had close call that
time, an ! guess she's hurt herself bad,
toe" said he. and he jumped to the ground
and Tuefully picked mp the muddied rem
naut OF the ruined bandana. He shook il
out az neatly ms he could, and put it care
fully in his pocket.
A farmer with light spring wagon had
luckily driven up as the girls cleared the
fence, and by the time the boy got there
all were loaded in. Even if he had cared to
ride there was no room for him.
"Oh, Stubby. you've saved Lauras life.
an she spraned her ankle. an we've got
to take her right home" shouted one Of
the girls.
The two girls were holding the injured
one, and the boy felt uncomfortable and
embarrassed, and kept from getting too
near. He had a vague fear that in their
excitement they might attempt to kiss
him-they looked as if they were inclined