Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-03-30

ness, Rebecca Morley started toward
the forest, and in a little while she
and her son had passed the fringe and
stood underneath the trees. Benny
held the torch above his head, while
the mother looked on every side in
hopes of seeing a living target for the
family rifle
Mother, said the boy, what if the
bear was an Indian.
Mrs. Morley glanced down at the
little speaker and for moment seem
ed to smile.
An Indian, boy?
Why not? Haven't you noticed the
strange marks on the ground between
here and the pens.
have not been looking down very
closely.
Then let us go back a little and [
ground is soft.
Mother and son retraced their steps
and all at once pointed to the ground.
It was at spot where the ground
was still soft from recent rains, and
very few leaves were there.
Here is one of the tracks, mother,
said Benny. Don't you see it is shap
ed like human foot and that the toes
turn inward? I saw good many In
dian tracks on the old sand bar last
Indian ones.
The settlers wife had taken the
torch from her sons hands and was
looking at the ground at her feet. The
light fell full upon the spot and she
could make out the outlines of a
human footmark in the yielding soil.
Our bear may be a redskin, said the
boy, watching his mother.
There was no reply, as Mrs. Morley
rose quickly and looked toward the
cabin, where she had left her husband
and the little ones asleep.
Come, she said hastily. If an Indian
has been here we must reach the cab
in as soon as possible.
In another moment mother and son
were fastening toward the little home
but suddenly cry from Benny's lips
startled the mother, and she stopped
and looked at him.
The bear, mother the bear! said the
boy, pointing toward the house, but
few rods away.
Mrs. Morley leaned forward, her
eager eyes searching out the dark
places which the light of the torch
did not fully penetrate.
Benny had fallen behind his mother
and was holding the f1ambeau above
his pale face and his little hands
wound ABOUT the fagot with resolu
ton.
I see no bear, Benny, said Mrs. Nor
ley.
Neither do [ now, but he was right
over yonder among the bushes, for I
got glimpse of his eyes and
Hush, Benny. I see him now!
The light had sought out the clump
of bushes designated by the pioneer
boy, and Mrs. Morley had stepped
back a pace and thrown the rife to
her shoulder.
pered Benny Don't shoot till you
can take him between the eyes.
Never mind Benny. He shall get it
there or not at all.
The glistening targets which both
mother and son now saw were near
the ground as if the bear had crouch
ed and the fire light enabled them to
see them plainly.
Benny Morley watched his mother
while he held his breath, and wonder
ed if the bear when killed would turn
out to be large one, or weakling as
he fully believed-not large enough |
to carry off pig after attacking the
pen.
Seconds seemed minutes to the boy
who held the torch for the determin-
ed woman, but suddenly the rifle rang
out on the night air, and there follow
ed a wild scream while the two fiery
eyes near the ground vanished in
You hit him, mother, cried the ex-
cited boy.
Mrs. Morley, standing like a statute
in the fire light, made no reply, but
the boy noticed that she was deathly
pale and that the rifle trembled in her
hands.
He is over there among the bushes,
continued Benny I did not hear him
run. Mother, that was one of the best
shots Of your life.
Without word Mrs. Morley ad
followed by her son, to the
clump of bushes, but she instinctively
drew back, and for moment passed