St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-04-30


turned that side to the fast
approaching beast, and held the
knife pointed straight out in true
line with his arm.
With hoarse. raging cry the boar
came on direct for the menacing
weapon, but his shaggy, lowered
head effectually guarded his throat,
and in the desperate hopes of thereby
reaching his brain, the brave young
savage drove the knife into one OF
the brute's eyes. On this, the mon
ster suddenly stopped, drew violently
back and jerked the knife, fast
caught in the bony eye socket, from
the grasp of the now defenceless boy.
The check was but momentary, how
ever, for, goaded by pain to
redoubled fury, the boar charged
again. But, half blinded and dizzily
staggering, the upward lunge OF his
deadly tusks entirely missed the
puny foe, over whose PROSTATE body
he harmlessly passed ere he could
stay his mad career. Swiftly wheel
ing then the baflled brute plunged
forward once more, his uninjured eye
glowing with revengcful fire; and
this time the Indian youth, who had
sprung to his feet, must have been
borne down and torn to shreds had
not the gallant Beaumont boys come
at this Juncture TO the rescue.
The elder and stronger brother
being better trained in it's use, had
taken the sabre from Ben, giving
him the empty pistols, and just as
the boar's froth.covered snout was
almost touching his enemy, the blue
steel flashed high in air and de-
scended crosswise upon it with all
the danger-incited force of the young
hero's arm.
The 6nely-tempered keen blade cut
clear through wire-like bristles and
tough skin deep into the bone itself,
well nigh severing the upper jaw
directly back of the protruding
tusks.
The boar's offensive might being
by this lucky stroke nearly annihil-
ated, he stopped short, dazed and
bewildered.
Meantime, the curved sword being
designed wholly for cutting, not
thrusting, George showered blow
after blow upon the savage Great
ure's head and neck, inflictine
wounds, serious indeed to look at
but such as could in no wise kill the
animal.
The young Indian hunter, however
was we'll acquainted with the fact
unknown to many older persons
that no beast of equal size is sc
easily stunned as is hog, provided
it be struck squarely one inch above
the level of its eyes. Awaiting him
self with ready wit Of this knowl
edge, Peter Johns snatched one o
the pistols from Ben, caught it by
the barrel with both hands, whirlet
it high above his head, and brought
it down with all his strength upor
the vulnerable spot, and lightning
bolt could scarcely have been NOR
effective. Instantly on receiving tina
one deity aimed blow the huge boal
sank, senseless as an earthclod, t.
the ground, and in two seconds
thereafter Peter, wrenching his owl
knife from its lodging place, had lie
out the creatures life through {
mighty cash in it's throat. Then HI
turned to his rescuers and said, will
true Indian sententiousness:
"The young white braves hav'
saved Peters life. He will never for
get"
but | got no chance to do any
plaintively protested little Ben.
You did most of ALL" gravel,
replied Peter, who spoke English per
fectly. Both George and | would
have been killed at last, in spite O
the sword, if you hadn't so bravel,
come with him and brought tn
pistols. The white chief will b
proud of his young warriors"
After telling how he had, befor
coming on the litter of pigs, expended
= all but three OF his arrows i'll shoot
: ing partridges-a string of whic
| was hung in the grove-Peter cut OF
the hams of the boar-the only par
of the carcass fit for food-rigged u
= a sort OF rude carryall out of few
t poles, placed all the game thereon
and, by the aid OF his two com
, panions, drew it to the Indian camp