Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-12-21
CHAPTER XII

CI1AI L En- Al.
1t was now more than eighteen months
since the Hardys had been fairly estab-
hshed at Mount Pleasant Everything
was prospecting beyond Mr. Hardy's most
sanguine expectations. More and more
land was monthly being broken up and
irrigated. Large profits had been realized
by buying lean cattle during the dry sea-
son, fattening them upon alfalfa, and
sending them down to Rosario for sale.
The pigs had multiplied astonishingly;
and the profits from the dairy were in
creasing daily, as more COWS were con-
stantly added The produce of Mount
Pleasant was so valued at both Rosario
and Buenos Ayres that the demand, at
most remuneratiye prices, far exceeded
the supply.
Charley was now eighteen, a squarely
built, stardy young fellow. From his
life of exposure in the open air he looked
older than he was. He had a strong
idea that he was now becoming a man;
and Ethel had one day detected him ex-
aiming his cheeks very closely in the
glass to see if there were any signs of
whiskers. Hubert was nearly seventeen;
he was taller and slighter than his broth
er, but was younger both in appearance
and manners. He had all the restlessness
of boy, and lacked somewhat Of Char
ley's steady perseverance.
Maud was fifteen. Her constant out
of-door exercise had made her as nimble
and active as young fawn. Ethel want
ed three months Of fourteen, and looked
under twelve. She was quite the home
bird Of the family, and liked nothing bet
ter than taking her work and sitting by
the hour, quietly talking to her mother.
The time was now again approaching
when the Indian forays were to be ex-
pected.- Late one afternoon Mr.. Fitz-
gerald had gone out for ride with Mr..
Hardy. Charley had gone down to the
dam with his gun on his shoulder, and
Hubert had ridden to a pool in the river
at some distance off, where he had the
day before observed a wild duck, which
he believed to be a new sort The cattle
and focks had just been driven in by
Lopez and two mounted poems at an ear
lier hour than usual, as Mr.. Hardy had
that morning given orders that the ami
mails We're all to be in their Enclosures
before dusk. The laborers in the fields
below were still at work blowing. Ethel
was in the sitting room, working with
Mrs. Hardy, while Maud was in the gar
den, picking some fruit for tea.
Presently the occupants of the parlor
were startled by a sharp cry from Maud,
and in another instant she flew into the
room, rushed at a bound to the fireplace,
snatched down her light rifle from it's
hooks over the mantel, and, crying,
"Quick, Ethel, your rifev' was gone
again in an instant
Mrs. Hardy and Ethel sprang to their
feet, too surprised for the moment to do
anything, and then Mrs. Hardy repeat
ed Maud's words, "Quick, Ethel, your
rif1e!'
Ethel seized it, and with her mother
ran to the door Then they saw a sight
which brought a scream from both their
lips. Mrs. Hardy fell on her knees and
covered her eyes, while Ethel, after a
moments pause, grasped the rifle, which
had nearly fallen from her hands, and
ran forward, though her limbs trembled
so that they could scarcely carry her on.
The sight was indeed q terrible one.
At a distance of two hundred yards HUI
bert was riding for his life. His hat was
off, his gun was gone, his face was dead
ly pale Behind him rode three Indians.
The nearest one was Immediately behind
him, at distance of scarce two horses
length the other two were close to their
leader All were evidently gaining upon
him.
Ito be continued.)