The suburban citizen., 1900-03-17

ready with your gun, but don't nre
until give the word"
Another hour slipped by. They
were sbivering, and their legs were
numb below the knees, from kneeling
on tho frosty ground.
"We nights well go home," chat
tered Lon at last, "they prob 'bly
know we're here"
The words went out in gasp. They
both heard twig crack sharply, and
thon the cautious rhythm Of footsteps
on the soft ground. They peered out
across the open space to the hulkly
shadows where the sledge track was
lost.
"I hear 'em" whispered Lon,
shaking with excitement not unmixed
with fright
keep quietl' ordered Dirk, rising
and bringing the stubby stock OF the
rife to his shoulder.
1t had begun to snow. They felt
the flakes settling on their hands like
icy pin-pricks. AS yet they could
see nothing, but the breeze brought
them the slight sound of one OF their
sap-boats sliding from its support OF
chipg. An instant later there was the
sharp crack of sumac spout.
Lon now stood beside his brother,
clutching the shotgun. Both ham
mers were cooked.
A dark form grew from the blur OF
shadows, and paused before one of
the trees. It was followed at q dis
tauce of few PAGES by a second. To
Dirk's straining eyes appeared what
he thought the outlines of one OF the
Babbitt steers.
Surely Babbitt was step behind,
driving. He would now be STOPPING
over to lift tho sap-boat-Dirk heard
it slip from its shelving support.
The angry blood rushed hot to his
face.
"Lon," he whispered, "you take
the steer; I'll take the man"
He stepped out boldly from behind
the bushes. He wanted a clear view,
so that ho would not miss his aim.
Lon was only pace behind. Both
saw the "steer" start back in alarm.
"Fire!" shouted Dirk.
There was q binding flash of light,
followed by report that shook the
forest. As Dirk lowered his rifle he
caught a glimpse Of Lon sprawling
and struggling in the hazel brush,
where the vicious old gun had kicked
him. Then he heard terrific grunt-
ing aud snorting. Evidently the steer
had been hit.
An instant later, some great object
came thundering up the track.
Through the clearing smoke Dirk saw
o pair of great moose plunging straight
toward him. IT was their shortest
road Of escape, aud they, Of course
confused and terrified, had run to-
ward the fash, as deer often DO when
fred upon by iack-light hunters.
For moment Dirk paused in ter
ror. Recovering himself, he threw
the rifle with all his force at the head
of the nearest moose, made q single
desperate leap, seized a sapling maple
with one hand and spun around it as
a boy would do, playing tag.
The great animals, coming at head
long speed seemed to be charging furi-
ously. In his excitement Dirk's foot
caughtin dead limb, and he sprawled
at full length on the ground.
At that Instant Dirk was deafened
By the crash Of two rifles almost ovec
his head. He glanced back, shudder-
ing. One Of the moose staggered and
fell with Il below of distress. Then
he felt himself half buried in smoth-
ering avalanche Of hair. The second
moose had rolled almost over him. He
felt the blood dripping in his face.
"Help helpw he called, struggling
feebly under the weight of the moose,
and uncertain whether il had been
killed or not.
The huge body was pried up little,
Dirk rose up, and there stood the Bah
bitt boys. When they saw that Dirk
was not injured they doubled up on
the ground and laughed until the
woods rang. It was this uncanny
sound that met the ears of the terrified
Driscoll family as they came hurrying
down from the shanty, axes i'll hand,
prepared to fight any number Of in
furiated moose over Dirk's dead body.
what we're you tryin' to do with
them moose?" gasped George Babbitt,
as soon as he could get his breath;
and Dirk, like the man he was, blurt-
ed ous the whole story.
"I'm ashamed of my part, too" he
said, frankly, grasping the hands Of
the Babbitt boys.
Thatsallright, responded George
Babbitt, heartily; "we'ye got tho
thieves" and he tapped the mighty
body OF the nearest moose. "We
found EN- stealing sap--there's moth
ing a moose likes better and we've
been watching your bush to catch
'em."
Next day Mother Driscoll roasted
huge piece of venison, and all the
Rabbits came to dinner. Youths
Companion.
Fairly Good TiIne.
cA-1 -..z...1 . fU,,,oIro ro;Iwo.1