Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-12

Among the families that crossed the
Alleghanies for settlement in western
Pennsylvania few years ago before the
outbreak OF the famous Pontiac war was
one Of the name Of Brady
The head Of the little household was n
stalwart Irishman, man absolutely with
out fear, and Il was but natural that his
only child, a son, should possess the same
bravery.
Ted Brady from the first was a fearless
young rover Of the woods, and, gun In
hand, he was often to be socn In the forest,
either In search Of game or setting traps
for the smaller animals that abounded In
the locality
During one OF these excursions into the
woods the boy had the fortune TO capture
a worry small bear cub, which he carried
home without trouble. He raised the cub
by hand and had greet deal Of fun with
him an he grew older. At last he became
the pet Of the household, and often he
would follow Ted into the forest.
At the approach Of night no matter
where Jack was, no would turn his face
toward the cabin, and In one corner OF 10
was sure 30 find sleeping place till morn
ing.
With the uprising Of the Indians, led
by Pontiao, the Ottawa chief, one Of the
brayest and most relentless Indians of his
day, the whole frontier passed from the
sunshine OF peace into the shadow OF war.
Post after post fell before the strategy
of this red king Of the forest, and at last
not one of the many forts along the lakes,
with the single exception Of Detroit, uew
the Britith flag.
In consequences Of the war the frontier
of Pennsylvsnia was In danger Of the
tomahawk, and tho borders Of Virginia
and Maryland were threatened.
The Bradys heard Of the coming storm
some time before IL reached them.
It was reported that Indian spies were
abroad In the land, spying out the weak
nesses Of the settlements preparatory to
q swoop upon them, and one day several
were seen In the Vicinity OF the Brady
cabin
Ted had been trapping along little
stream near home for some time The boy,
who was stout and quick for his 10 years,
though not very large, had become an ex-
pert In trapping the fur bearing animals
Of forest and stream. and his stock OF furs
was known TO be the best and most valu-
able Of any I'm the neighborhood On some
Of his visits to the traps Jack, the bear,
went along with him, but for the most
part the animal went where he pleased,
and Ted did not see much of him.
Michael Brady, tho father, thought that
the whole frontier should be made nc
quainted with the true situation regarding
the Indian uprising, and as he had picked
UP good deal Of reliable information he
doomed IL his duty to spread the news.
Therefore he set ont on his mission one
day, intending 20 b. gone nearly week.
"Watch the house we'll, " said the Celt.
"Know everything that approaches it, and
on no occasion open the door TO anybody
but Jack"
"That's pretty sweeping. father" said
Ted, looking up from the trap he was
mending on the floor.
"I know It Is, and want my instruc-
tions carried out to the letter. These In
dians are the most cunning fellows on
earth, and they viii play all sorts of tricks
ON the whites to carry out their designs.
Jack Is all right, and SO are the near
neighbors, but don't open the door 20 any
one you do not know
For three days after tho settlers dcpar
ture nothing occurred To break the monot
ony of forest life.
Now and then rumors came TO the set
Element OF Indian battles, but these were
reported to have taken place SO far away
that the people began TO laugh at tho
stories and To conclude that perhaps the
Pontiac uprising had been greatly exag-
gerated.
Ted attended 10 his traps as usual, and
Jack, after roaming about the forest,
would como home at sundown, and Mrs.
Brady, II Ted was not In, would open the
door to him.
One evening the boy went out TO his
traps He had that morning carried them
to a new trapping ground, and he thought
best to take another look before leaving
them for the night
The night promised 30 have the light of
the full mooa. The sky was perfectly
clear, and the crisp leaves that Uttered the
ground gave forth musical sounds as they
crackled underneath tho boys feet
That very day Ted had taken the rifle
apart to give II thorough overhauling,
and every part had been inspected and oil
ed With the weapon slung over his shoul-
der the Irish boy tramped through the
woods, found tho traps oil right, and aft
er seeing that the triggers were well set
turned and began the homeward trip,
by this time the sun had gone down, and
the long shadows Of dusk were falling be-
tween the trees. But over the hill on his
right rose the full orbed moon, and more
than once Ted stopped and watched it In
Its stately ascent.
But he was expected home by his moth
or before night came fairly on, and think
ing Of the Indians he quickened his gait
and ran nimbly over the trail
He had reached a little stream near the
sabin and had set his feet on tho footlog
for the purpose of crossing II when he
caught sight Of something moving toward
the cabin.
He could see the house through an open
ing In the forest. The moonlight fell
around Il, revealing IL In the little clear
ing with uncommon distinctness.
1t is JACK going home, said Ted, with
o smile, when he had watched the NOV
ing object little while Hes been of
on another excursion and Is just getting
in"
Then he thought Of surprising the bear
with one Of his shrill whistles and placed
his fingers to his mouth to sound it when
he suddenly stopped.
The bear had stopped too.
Not only this, but the next moment Ted
Brndv's heart took leap into his throat.