The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-09-26
A REAL TEST
OF COURAGE
One Girls May of Proving That All
Girs Are Not CowardS.

'N NA"hN StN Vl tIle oNnct side or the
campfire and told the mos; blood curdl-
ing stories OF HIS long life in this noun.
tain wilderness, as placidly rs if Il were
broad daylight.
Catherine Walton sat on the loe beside
ner brother, listening intently, and as she
felt the cold shivers creep over her. she
wished that either she or Dave Brant was
somewhere else. She wished that she had
gone with her father and mother and
Ben Brant to meet the party Of friends
at the stage station. five miles away: she
wished that Dave. instead OF his brother
Ben had gone as driver; she wished that
tornado would sweep over the camp or
that wild beast would leap out OF the
darkness in to the circle OF firelight: she
wished that something. no matter what.
wodld happen TO break the spell Of tina,
great silence and loneliness all abou,
them.
And, in the meantime, she listened with
terrified thrills OF rapture to Dawes next
story.
Presently an owl hooted. somewhere in
the woods, not far away, and Catherine
caught her brothers arm and looked IN
nervous fright over her shoulder.
There, Dave Brantr' she said: when
you have scared the very owls so that
their voices shake like that, think It is
about time 10 stop"
''oh, bother,'' Rob broke out. masterhu
and superior, as some boys are In dealing
with timid sisters; what's the use Of a
girl. anyhow, There never was one yet
that wouldn't have fit II mouse locked
at her. You're shaking yet about thar
owl. Thought 1t was a wildcat, didn't
you? I'd just like to see what you'd do
II a wildcat should jump into the camp.
Go on, Dave; tell US another. You needn't
be afraid. Kitty. for there's nothing nj
these woods now to hurt anybody; is
there Dave?"
Dave answered the question with an
other
What dye think ye'd do II a wildcat
was to jump into the camp. right now?"
Il know what I'd dol" Catherine an
swered promptly. I'D run into the house
and shut the door,"
Rob laughed derisively.
You wouldn't even do THAR" he cried
You'd lose your head the first second,
and run OF into the woods with the Wild
cat after you. Girls always do They
never keep their wits about them when
there's any danger"
What would you do?"
What would 1 do? Well. In the first
place I'd keep my head: that's the main
thing, always. In the next place, /
wouldn't turn my back to the beast for
a second. or take my eyes of him. Then, |
when he crcuched down 10 spring, ia |
take steady aim and shoot him right |
between the eyes. That's the best place |
TO shoot EN-, isn't it, Dave? Right between |
the eyes"
Catherine admired her brother, and |
looked up at ham, and never doubted that |
he was greatly superior to any mere girf
that ever lived; still. she was not always |
entirely submissive to his patronizing |
ways
'Of course that would be a great deal |
better than my plan" she said, but just |
now the guns are all in the cabin; ana |
while you and the wildcat were looking |
at each other"
"oh, I'D get a gun, quick enough" SAID |
Rob. a little taken aback.
Dave chuckled across the fire.
GOOD doctrine" he said. Keep yer |
wits about ye, that's the main point. And |
right right between the eyes is the best |
place to aim fer--if ye happen to have
a gun to aim with. I'm right glad ye |
know all about it, fer there is lots O.
wildcats in these woods yit; and painters,
too"
They both knew that this last word was
Dawes name for panthers. Catherine
shivered and drew closer to Rob. Rob
himself had felt a little chill creep over
him. but her movements reminded him
OF his holiness; he stood up and looked
mis- fercest challenge at the dark woods.
Painters is the worst kind Of varmlnt
there is in these mountains" Dave went
on. IN his calm. monotonous tones. Why
# was only last year, in this very camp
that we had"
David Brant, don't you dare" cried
Catherine.
why I thought ye'd want to hear that
one. It's about one o. the ladies that
camped here with us last summer l tell
you. she had grit; grit clear through!
But that's nothin new; when boys has
lived in the woods till they're old men,
they mostly find out that the women
folks has the heft O. the courage. The
gals and the women don't know 1t, not
til the time comes; but when the time
does come, they're right there, ev'ry time
They're easy scared when there's nothin
TO be afraid Of. but when real danger
comes their way, they Jest git up and
shake hands with It.
Thank you, sir!"
Catherine got up of the log ana mace
him a sweeping courtesy. Rob laughed
In his most offensive maner; and Dave
stood up and stretched himself.
Thine fer me TO be goin' 10 see II airs
right amongst the livestock" ne SAID
.sye amt afeard Ito stay few minutes
With hunter that knows how to shoot
wildcat. be ye? And say, don't let me
fergit to shet the winder o that cook
cabin afore / go to bed. The cabins all
made fast but that one winder; left that
open while to cool the place off little"
fHe went away into the deep darkness {
of the woods, as calmly as If wildcats I
and panthers were all creatures of pre- {
historic times.
..Why. he went right past the cook
cabin, almost while he was talking about
it, said Catherine, looking after him.
..T wonder why he didn't shut the window