Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-07-20
TED BRADY'S SHOT.

Il lID DLOLAD Il ~ I'LL -
Among the families that crossed the
AlleRhanies for settlement In western
Pennsylvania few years ago before the
outbreak Of the famous Pontiac war was
bne Of the name of Brady.
The head of the little household was
stalwart Irishman, q man absolutely with
put fear, and 1t was but natural that his
only child, son, should possess the same
bravery.
Ted Brady from the first was fearless
Young rover of the woods, and, gun In
hand, he was often to be seen 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
n very small bear cub, which he carried
home without trouble He raised the cub
by hand and had a great deal Of fun with
him as 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, he would turn his face
toward the cabin, and In one corner Of 1t
was sure to find q sleeping place till morn
Ing.
With the uprising Of the Indians, led
by Pontiac, the Ottawa chief, one Of the
bravest and most relentless Indians Of his
day, the whole frontier passed from the
sunshine of pence 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, flew
tho Britith flag.
In consequence of the war the frontier
Of Pennsylvania was In danger of the
tomahawk, and the borders OF Virginia
and Maryland were threatened
The Bradys heard Of the coming storm
some time before 1t reached them.
1t was reported that Indian spies were
abroad in the land, spying out the weak
hesses of the settlements preparatory to
O 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 stoi and quick for his 10 years,
though not v0iy large had become an ex-
pert in trapping tho fur bearing animals
Of forest and stream, and his stock Of furs
was known to be the best and most valu-
able of any in 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, the father, thought that
the whole frontier should be made 40
guainted with the true situation regarding
the Indian uprising, and as he had picked
up good deal of reliable information ne
deemed it his duty to spread the news
Therefore he set out on his mission one
day, intending to be gone nearly week
t'Watch tho house well, 4" said the Celt
"Know everything that approaches 1t, 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.
IT know it is, and I want my instruo-
tons carried out to the letter. These In
dams are the most cunning fellows on
earth, and they will play all sorts Of tricks
on the whites to carry out their designs
Jack is all right, and so are the near
heighbors, but don't open the door to any
bne you do not know"
For three days after the settlers depar-
ture nothing occurred to break the monot-
bny Of forest life
Now and then rumors came to the set-
Element Of Indian battles, but these were
reported to have taken place 30 far away
that the people began to laugh at the
stories and to conclude that perhaps the
Pontiac uprising had been greatly exag-
gerated-
Ted attended to his traps as usual, and
Jack, after roaming about the forest
would come home at shutdown, and Mrs.
Brady, II Ted was not In, would open the
ioor 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 to have the light of
the full moon. The sky was perfectly
clear, and the crisp leaves that Uttered the
ground gave forth musical sounds as they
cracked underneath the boys feet.
That very day Ted had taken the rifle
Apart to give 1t thorough overhaullng,
and every part had been inspected and oil
kd. With the weapon slung over his shout
Her the Irish boy tramped through the
woods, found the traps all right, and aft
pr 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
light roso the full orbed moon, and more
than once Ted stopped and watched II In
lts stately ascent q.