Evening journal., 1898-12-24
MERGER'S BEST SHOT

Pressing his way through the under
growth and tanele Of canebrake, Mercer en-
tered the open, where he stood for a few
minutes, breathing the pure air and cooling
his eyes with the silver sparkle Of flowing
water aud delicate green OF spring foliage
He was straight and strong ike q young
oak, figure in harmony with the wilder
ness and it's lonely grandeur He was mo-
tonless, yet even in fepoee he seemed 10
be the highest type Of physical life and en-.
erpy, more than six feet Of stature, and
frame all bone and sinow Blue eyes
cleaned out Of a face turned TO the brown
Of leather by life that knew no roof-tree,
and the uncut locke Of hair fell down from /
the fur cap that set lightly upon his head.
Around him the wilderness was blazing |
with all the hues Of spring in full bloom. |
The dense foliage Of the forest formed
vast green veil between him and the sun;
some wild peach trees in early blossom |
shone in cones Of pink against the green
wall; shy little flowers Of delicate purple |
nestled in the grass, and at his feet the
waters Of the brook cleaned In the sunshine
in alternate ripples Of silver and gold, while
the pebbles shone white on the shallow bot.
tom.
Standing there, he seemed to ct into the
wilderness, 20 share its colors and become
its own; the strength of his figure, the look
of content in his eyes, like that of a wild
beast that has found a lair to suit him, made
him part of It. His dress, too, matched the
fush Of color around him; the fur cap upon
his head had been dyed the green Of the
grass; the darker green Of the oak leaves
was the tint Of his hunting shirt Of tanned
buckskin with the long fringe hanging al.
most to his knees, and Of the leggings Of the
same material which rose above his mecca.
sins of buffalo hide. But the moccasins and
the seams Of the leggings were adorned with
countless Indian beads Of red and blue and
| yellow, giving dashes Of new colors 70 the
green of his dress, just as the wild flowers
/ and the peach blossoms and the silver and
gold Of the brook varied the dominant green
note Of the forest. A careless eye would
have passed over him, his figure making
no outline against tho wall Of forest behind
him. II was the effect that he sought, to
pass through the wood and canebrake and
across green open, affording slight mark for
the eye, for he knew that all alike were in.
Tested by foe perhaps no wilder than him.
self.
Mercer loved the wilderness; il was his
home by choice. It had no beauty that he
did not know, and he wished to know no
otheri he was a lover Of nature who had
no words for his song, nor wanted them.
As he stood at the edge Of the forest, which
stretched its depths in limitless miles be.
hind him, and looked at the open coun.
try before him, he thought that In all his
wanderings he had never come upon fairer
spot.
Far of a range Of hills showed a faint blue
tracery against the sky Of deeper blue AT
their foot was a band Of silver, the Ken
lucky, the river TO which the brook that
FLASHED before him was hurrying. Every
where tho grass grew rich and rank. show.
{ ing the depth and quality Of the soil be.
, meath. hundred yards away buffalo
? erazed as peacefully as II man had never
come, and farther on herd Of deer raised
! their heads to sniff the southern wind.
IL was pleasant to Mercer to gaze upon
o tho place. The beauty Of the country, the
< abundance of game and the absence Of other
. men delighted him. So he stood awhile
g longer, gazing, his rifle resting across his
n shoulder, the sun glinting along It's long
I slender, blue barrel. Then he lnelt down
r. TO drink, choosing a place where a current
d Of the swift little brook had cut into th,
d soft bank with a circular sweep and formed
Z a deep pool of cool water az clear as the day
] IL was curious TO note how he retained
a all his caution as he knelt down to drink
J. a caution become nature through life
8 time Of practice and necessity. Ills kneei
Z made no noise as they touched the earth
i not a leaf moved, not a blade Of grnsl
II iustled; the rife remained upon his shoul
: der, his right hand grasping Il around th,
4 stock, just below the hammer, The barre
e projecting in the air. Even as he rested
e his weight upon one elbtw and bent hi
mouth TO the water he was a man ready fo
d instant action.
" A thrill ran through him, but he made NJ
e movement; the blood was leaping in BIZ
veins but his nerves never quivered; in thl
{ water he could see his own shadow, as stil
y as the shadow that had come beside il.
n In that supreme moment he did not know
n what were his own thoughts, save that the.
IS were full Of bitterness. II hurt his pride 4
be trapped 80. Though life was full an'
ie glorious TO him, he could have yielded 1t will
a better will in fair battle. He had pride'
himself upon the skill with which be ha'
! practiced all the arts Of the wilderness, an'
ID now he was caught like any beginner.
D. But while these thoughts were ruunin
d through his mind he retained complete CON
! mand OF himself, and by no motion, no el
ly elomation, showed his knowledge that h
En- was not alone.
" ne nhhluM III Ant MhAtA h''ANN Ht' Nv
x was distinct He could see the features
y the hair drawn up at the top Of the hea
and gathered into a defiant scalpock, Oh
@. outstretched hand holding the tomahawi
ID He gazed at them intently. He believed tha
", he could divine his foes triumphan
thoughts.
er The south wind freshened a little an
came 10 Mercer sweet with the odors 9
peach blossom and wild flowers. The broo
III murmured quiet song in his earsi the hri
liant sunshine flashed alike over grass an
." water. II was beautiful world, and ueve
Lad he been more 10th TO leave it. He wor
At dered how long IL would be until the blot
N fell he knew that the warrior, ancordin
or to the custom Of his race would prolong h
triumph and gloat little before he strucl
n Given a chance with his rife. Mercs
would have asked no other favor The clutc
p Of his fingers on the stock frightened an
IS, the involuntary motion sent new thougl
through him. The rifle lay unmoved acrol
k his shoulder, its muzzle pointing upward
e. before him in the water the shadow sti
IN shone in the same position beside dis owl
rh He kept his eyes upon the shadow. mark:r