The age-herald., 1897-09-19

darkness into the circle of firelight; she wished that anything, no matter what, would happen to break the spell of that great silence and loneliness all about them.
 And. in the meantime, she listened with terrified thrills of rapture to Dave's next story.
 Presently an owl hooted, somewhere in the woods not far away and Cathe- rlne caught her brothers arm and look ed in nervous fright over her shoulder.
 There, David Brantp she said; ;S'when you have scared the very owls so that their voices shake like that, I think it is about time for you to stopw
 "Oh, brothern Rob broke out, mas terful and superior as some boys are in dealing with timid sisters; whats the use of girl anyhow! There never was one yet that wouldn't have a fit if a mouse looked at her. You're shaking yet about that owl. Thought it was a wild cat, didn't you? I'd just like to see what you'd do if wildcat should jump into the camp. Go on Dave; tell us an- other. You needn't be afraid, Kitty, for there's nothing in these woods now to hurt anybody; is there, Dave?"
 Dave answered the question with an- other.
 What dye think ye'd do if a wildcat was to jump into the camp, right now?"
 q know what I'd dol" Catherine ans wered promptly. "1'd run into the house and shut the door,"
 Rob laughed out derisively.
 You wouldn't even do that" he cried. You'd lose your head the first second. n,,I Offt t.,to 1r. xxrffh hA wildcat after you. Girls always do. They never keep their wits about them when there's any danger"
 What would you do?"
 What would l do? We'll in the first place I'd keep my head; that's the main thing. always. In the next place, l wouldn't turn my back to the beast for a second, or take my eyes off him. Then, when he crouehed down to spring, I'd take steady aim and shoot him right between the eyes. That's the best place to shoot 'em, isn't it, Dave? Right be- tween the eyes"
 Catherine admired her brother and looked up to him, and never doubted that he was greatly superior to any mere girl that ever lived; still, she was not always entirely submissive under 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; and while you and the wildcat were looking at each other"
 "Oh, I'd get gun, quick enough" said Rob, little taken aback.
 Dave chuckled across the fire.
 Good doctriue'' he said. Keep yer wits about ye, that's the main point. And right between the eyes is the best place to aim ferA-if ye happen to have a gun to aim with. I'm. right glad ye know all about it, fer there is lots of wildcats in these woods yit; and paint- CTS, too"
 They both knew that this last word was Dave's name for Panthers. Cath erine shivered and drew closer to Rob. Rob himself had felt a little chill creep over him, but her movement reminded him of his boldness; be stood up and looked his fiercest challenge at the. dark woods.
 Painters is the worst kind O var mint there is in these mountings," Dave went, in his calm, monotonous tones 'Why, it 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; whsn boys has lived in the woods till they're old man, they mostly find out that the xx,,a~ G1l1 1,a | The gals and the women don't know it, not till the time comes; but whsn the time does come, they're right there, ev- | 'ry time. They're easy scared when there's nothin' to bs afraid on, but when real danger comes their way, they jest git up and shake hands with it." Thank you, sirp
 Catherine got up off the log and made him a sweeping curtesy. Rob laughed in his most offensive mannsr; and Dave stood up and stretched himself. "Time fer me to be goin' to see if alps right amongst the livestock" he said. ''Ye aint afeard to stay few minutes with a hunter that knows j=st 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 cab in's all made fast but that one winder; left that open a while to cool the placs off a httle.'
 He ewnt away itno the deep darkness of the woods, as calmly as if wildcats | and partners were all creatures of pre- historic times.
 "Why, he went right past the cock cabin, almost while he was talking about ft,' said Catherine, looking after | him. 1T wonder why he didn't shut the | window then? I must not forget to re- mind him when he comes back, A
 painter might get in and steal our | breakfast"
 Nothing more was said by either of l them for few minutes; then Catherine asked a question.
 | Rob, have you noticed that this camp looks as if the people here expected visits from -ths Indians? All the cab ins are built of heavy logs, and all the | windows are guarded by thick plank | shutters that a. sledge hammer could