The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-15
SELECTED STORY.
Sandy's Pluck.

Hampshire grants, where they had already
purchased lands
Only four OF the party escaped-a Mr..
Gurkland and his wife, their infant daugh-
ter, Af1ie, and Sandy, whom Mr.. Murkland
found lying under log, badly wounded
and hugging tight in his arms his fathers
hast gift, his puppy, Boone.
Though their stock was driven off, their
goods were untouched, and n large sum OF
money belonging to Sandys father was
found undisturbcd, leaving Sandy very
rich--for those times
Sandy, who was a boy of uncommon in.
telligence and bravery, lived with Mr.
Nurkland until III. He was then l5years
old, large, strong and well disposed, in
Bpite Of the fact that he had spent his time
much as he pleased. Money then, as now,
made difference in the treatment of boys
who had it, He roamed the woods all day
with Boone and his gun, returning at nj ht
to pet ard caress the little Affie, on whom
he seemed to have bestowed the entire af
lection of his orphaned heart
1t became known that Sandy's money
wns kept in Mr.. Murk lands cabin, and one
night the cabin was broken into and an at
tempt was made to steal the gold. The
worry that this gave Mr.. Murkland deter
mined Sandy to take care of his property
himself, and though Mr.. Murkland had al
ready allowed the boy to take up his fa-
theirs land and had helped to build his
cabin be objected to his taking the money,
the new cabin being at considerable dis
thnce from the older settlement.
''You needn't worry about it," was San
dy's sturdy reply Pm not going to keep
my money in the cabin. have got place
for it that no living man can find"
This ended Mr.. Murkland's objections,
and Sandy was moved with all his belong
tngS to his own cabin.
About the time of the breaking In of Mr.
Gurklands cabin there came to the place
one Hub Hanson, who Immediately at
tached himself to Sandy, hunting and trap
ping constantly with him. He had no
family but he had numerous following
of both English and Indians, which drew
great prejudice upon him.
People grew suspicious of him and ex.
pressed their suspicious to Sandy, but all
that the boy said was, "lf Hanson is after
that money. he'll have to hunt for it,"
Contrary to Mr.. Murkland's hopes, Sandy
made little progress in clearing up his
land. Most OF his time was spent in hunt
ing and trapping yet he had some notion
of improvements for during the winter he
busted himself evenings in scOoping out a
cellar underneath his cabin floor While
thus occupied he discovered by the falling
In of some loose stones and dirt a small
natural cave.
Taking a torch, he followed it's zigzag
course for what seemed to him long dis
lance, coming suddenly out, much to his
aStonshment, between two immense bowl
ders
MY. but this is a queer flndr' he eiac-
ulated, hastily backing in to conceal his
torch, for bubbling from between the
rocks not more than two feet from where
he had come out was the very spring into
whose friendly mud he had consigned the
box containing his money.
"Faithp' muttered the boy as he hurried
back TO remove all traces of his work, IN
take precious care that Hanson don't find
out that I've been digging cellar"
As spring opened rumors Of Indian dep
relations reached the settlement, and the
blockhouse in the middle of it became the
scene OF many an anxious discussion among
the inhabitants for their mutual safety. 1t
was whispered that renegade Englishmen
usually led these attacks, and Sandy,
though he said nothing to his mates about
IL, took it upon himself to watch Hub Han
son. In spite of the watching, however, he
and all his followers suddenly disappeared
This happened about the middle of June.
The next day after their mysterious flight
candy returned from a long tramp over
their common hunting and trapping ground.
His usually impassive face was clouded
and anxious, for not n trace of the man s
whereabouts could he found.
After finishing his supper and raking up
his fire he said, taking down his gun,
"Boone, we've got to go over to the settle
ment, for Hanson has gone off for no good,
and the folks must be told" AS he closed
the door after him he murmured, There
ought to be scouts out, and III offer myself
70 20 a. one to hunt the wretches away
from here
Sandy had gone no more than so rods in
the now rapidly darkening woods when he
was suddenly surrounded by the very
wretches of whom he had been speaking.
"They're bound for the settlement
flashed Immediately through his mind
The next instant the half circle of men and
boys in front of him was knocked into con
fusion by u powerful blow from the butt
of his gun. and he had bounded far in front
of them.
stop hm' shouted one and added i'm
mediately after. Don't shoot him" all in
good English.
But scores of arrows Clipped among the
trees rs Sandy fled for his cabin, intent on
leading the chase away from the settle
ment. 1t was Il race, swift and noiseless
but one befeat hered wretch bounded into
the cabin side by side with Sandy, saying
In broken English as he shut and bolted
the door after them, prisoner
"Hol Am |, Hub HansonP" was Sandy's
quick retort.
"Waughl Vaughn
Sandy's blood was up His long famil
iarity with Hub Hanson had bred contempt
fH him. and now that he had caught him
In false position his anger and contemp
blazed above his fear. you may 'waugl
waugh and paint yourself as much a
you're mind to, you sneaking tory" h
cried, but you'll never be half as decent a
4 redskup
Angered at the scathing denunciation
Hanson threw off all attempt at disguise.
well, then, as you know me so well,
he said coolly, perhaps you can tell wha
] want of your"
you want the money you failed to &c
when you broke into Mr.. Murkland'
house, more than n year and Il half agor
'Sho, nowl Then light up"-advancn
and kicking open the smoldering Goals