Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-10

to think he was lacking in respect for him.
At the same time he thought perhaps the
professor would like to go hunting, because
he liked to play ball and to Join with the
boys in nearly all Of their games when he
was not busy. That was one reason why
the boys liked the professor better than
any teacher they had ever had at Beech
Grove. s-fL
I'm ever so much obliged. Frank, for
your invitation" responded the professor.
"but 1 never go hunting any living thing
any more since had aslesson taught me
once when I was about your age. You
haven't time to listen to it now. but some
Of these days I'll tell you about it."
Frank quite eagerly, E"Iu take time to
listen to it, u-sraF
do you think the squirrels can waltz"
smiled the professor with a twinkle in his
eye.
The idea of the squirrels sitting around
in the trees impatiently waiting for him to
come to shoot at them made Frank laugh
SO heartily that the professor had to smile
under the academy portico, and Frank,
leaning the gun against a post, sat down
beside him. -.-.
"Well. WELL" said the professor, rubbing
the bald spot on his fine. big head, 1T has
been so long ago that 1t had almost es-
capped my memory, but remember the les
son very distinctly. My father, as yours
Is. was fond Of hunting. and when I was
your age, had gun with which I made
sad havoc among the birds and beasts Of
the forests, though I never shot anything
larger than a crow or 'possun, and those
only once or twice In my whole career
as a hunter. But I got other birds and
squirrels. and many times I shot birds
merely for the sake Of shooting. That is
the bloodthirsty trait in mankind which
makes him go to war and kill his own kind
I was no more cruel than other boys Were
or are today, but any boy Is cruel when he
hos in, h 10 hop nd and "a h y,cr
he can shoot without having to answer for
it. except to his conscience. I had become
quite hunter after small game, being a
very expert woodsmaA for boy of thir-
teen. and one summer / went with my
father and a party Of men ON a camping
expedition in the mountains of Kentucky.
The real object Of the expedition was to
make surveys Of land. but several of the
party took guns along and you may be sure
had mine."
ut was fine in the mountains, which
had never seen before. though 1 had been
much in the hills, and every time 1 went
bring bear home with me some fine day.
There are bears in those mountains, but
they are scarce, and really never thought
I would find BEAR"
"Or that one would find your" Frank in
terrupted. a,
Every good, very good" laughed the pro-
fessor. but did not go into particulars. II
did find birds and squirrels, though, and
every day I brought in some kind of
trophy as sign Of my skill. Sometimes
two or three Of the party would go with
me. and several times my father and
went together. but was the chief hunter
Of the camp. and often went by myself.
Zone day I was up on the mountain side
opposite the valley where the camp was,
and about two miles from it, and in prowl-
ing around among the rocks 1 suddenly
saw something that thought was woolly
dog. 1t was waddling around on the rocks
and did not get good look at it at first.
but slipped around where 1 could see bet
ter. and then I saw that it wasn't a dog
at all. but bears cub. just like one had
thought of any thing but what a surprise
it would be to the camp for me to really
bring a bear in with me. and what hero
would be when I got home, because
knew that boy who Killed a live bear in
the forests couldn't help being hero So
without waiting to look before I leaped.
and shaking all over like people do who see
deer for the first time,gI banged away at
the cub. The wonder was that hit any
where near it, but actually hit it, though
only to Craze its skin. and with screech