The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-04-28

| GUS movements OF the willy rObber. he
was thinking vigorously at the same
time. What if he should let him depart
with his booty? He knew only too well
that such course meant further thefts,
more daring advances, and in all proba-
bility, unreasonable demands upon the
isolated, unprotected family, not stop
ping short of the cruel murder of them
all. if once blood began to flow.
What is he killed himP A dozen other
redskins might be hiding within sound
of his gun, ready to spring to the help of
their comrade. That, too, meant the
speedy destruction of himself and all
who were dear to him.
He weighed the question carefully.
He made up his mind. A moment later
a bullet whistled through the frosty air.
With yell of agony the Indian leaped
from the ground, then fell upon the
snow, and lay motionless. When the
smoke had cleared away, Asa looked
around with searching glance; his ears
were keen to detect the slightest sound;
his hastily reloaded gun was drawn up
to his shoulder; not moving muscle,
he waited. But he saw nothing; he
heard nothing. Minute after minute
passed. Then, still silently, trying to
look in every direction at once, he VEN
tured to slide down the rock; he made
his way toward the PROSTATE Pequot
Bending above him, he saw that his aim
had been sure. The bullet had gone
straight through his heart. He would
steal no more beavers from the white
mans trap.
And now arose another question of no
small importance. What should be done
with the body? Again Asa Parker CON
sidered. Again he made up his mind.
His face was set and stern. The work
of the next few hours would be no
child'S play. 1t was attended with no
little danger, but he did not hes tie.
First of all, he set the trap. Then he
turned to the dead Indian. As he did
so he heard quick steps approaching. He
seized his gun and pointed it toward the
dark object he could dimly see among
the trees. But the next instant he low
cred it. Phinaes was running along the
trail. His face was white, but his eyes
were blazing and he brandished his club.
"Oh, father" he cried, 81 heard the
gun, and couldn't wait therer'
Hush, boyw said Asa sternly point
ing to the lfeless body at his feet.
Phinaes looked down, and his eyes
grew round with establishment. He had
seen but few Indians, for he was sell
dom allowed to go far from home, and
they were always objects of great curos-
lty, never of dread. But now he felt a
strange thrill all through him as he
gazed wonderingly at the large brown
features, gay with paint; the long, coarse
plaits of hair; the feathers; the leggings;
the moccasins, the blankets of this one,
lying there so quietly. He watched
every movement of his father, breath
lessly, as he wrapped him securely and
ccmpactly from sight in his blanket.
This done, Asa hid the beaver behind
the rock covering it with snow. Ho gave
his powder horn and gun to Phinaes,
saying, briefly:
watch, and make no noise"
Then he lifted his uncanny burden up
on his shoulders and started toward
home. At each step he feared, indeed
expected. to be surrounded by In ians
in any thiug but a friendly frame OF
mind. Every moment of that silent
march through the forest, with his
father and his fathers awful companion
his net vss at the highest tension of ex-
element, alert, vigilSnt. yet feeling
brave enough with the gun to meet the
whole tribe of revengef'tl Prauots, was
remembered to his dying day by Phinaes
Parker. On and on they went as swift
ly as possibly and as nois0lesslv. AT
last, after what seemed to the boy a
thousand years they came within sight
of their little cabin. Tncn, for the first
/ time Asa spoke to his little son:
"Patdjwn the gun, ?hinaes," he said
very softly. "Go and tell your mother
to take all the childred up into the loft
| -. .ntil
come Say no more! Then come back
to me-"
Phinaes few to do the errand.
Esther Parker was brave woman
Her cheek grew pale; but she, too, haC
learned to obey unheaitatinglv. She
gathered her six little ones and sent
them up the ladder before her. She
sang to them; she told them wonderful
tales; she kept them amused and con
tented; hut all the whilo her thoughts
and her heart were outside with Asa anC
their boy. What were they doing! VIVA
did those strage dull continuous
sounds apparently beneath the house
mean? Would they never cease? Gould
they come from the small cellar which
had been dug. at her special request be
fore their cabin was begun? How little
she had dreamed then that this very eel
lar was to furnish n grave for, one of tho
bravest young chiefs of Hop river val
ley!
But it was so. After long, hard labot
on the part of the farseeing, determined
set Ter, the burial-place, was safely hid
den from sight or sound of any of th'
tribe. 1t remained forever unknown t.
them; and the beaver trap of Asa Par
, ker was never again mOlested.
For days and weeks and even months
the father and mother and oldest son o
this little family kept a strict watch fol
/ signs OF revenge on the part of possible
spectators OF the tragedy. But timt
/ passed on and, at length they became
, convinced that, if, indeed, observed a
, all, it had taught wholesome fear o
the speaking gum"
One hundred years later, the children
of Phipaes' children built handsOm'
residence upon the very site of the ole
Lighthouse Before the foun6 z lions vet'
laid. the cellar was deepencd and en-
larged. In the course of this work tin
spades OF the men ratified against some
strange objects One by one they were
Il